Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-20

done and property loss must have
been great.
Fuel. water ana medical supplies
were urgently needed in the stricken
cities.
Governor John w. Martin ordered
several companies and hospital units
OF the national guard into the storm
swept sections to aid the civil au-
thorities in preserving order and to
aid the needy.
Fort LAuderdals sent request to
Jacksonville for 5000 loaves of
bread, which were Immediately fur.
nished> them.
The Associated Press staff corre-
spondent in Miami was the first to
reach the outside world with the
story from the stricken city of MI
ami. He left that city at 4.15 o'clock
yesterday afternoon and travelled
through woods and railroad tracks
over which water was flowing. In
a binding rain he proceeded on foot
north of Fort Lauderdale. Telephone
and telegraph poles and wires block
ing the road, he walked the railroad
track to Fort Lauderdale and slept
In the women's club with so refu-
gees. Water was so scarce at that
place 1t was portioned out half a
glass at a time. Frightened and
anxious people asked for informa-
ton. The correspondent reached
West Palm Beach today and sent
his story to The Associated Press
members.
Only single structure among the
large array Of skyscrapers in Miami
suffered disastrously, but all showed
the marks of the driving force of the
storm. The new Is story Meyer
Kisser Banl. Building, 100000
structure. received a severe twist in
state razing, although there is no
immediate danger Of the building
topping.
Few windows were left in the va
rious major buildings, among which
are the Commodore and the Meal
lister Hotels. The Everglades Hotel,
on the bay shore, lost its roof. 9th
erwise these structures remained in
tact.
Miami, reported laid waste early
Saturday by the worst hurricane in
the history of Florida, lies on the
extreme east coast of the peninsula,
approximately 1856 miles south Of
Jacksonville. West Palm Beach,
where damage was reported in ex-
cess of $1,000,O00, is IS miles north
of Miami, with Fort Lauderdale
about midway between.
Pompano is coast town with an
estimated population of $4,000. lying
midway between Fort Lauderdale
and West Palm Beach.
Running down virtually the entire
eastern coast of the peninsula is a
series of keys" long narrow islands
of sand and coral formation. and
separated from the mainland by
lakes, bays and inlets.
Miami Beach and Palm Beach are
built on keys lying off the mainland
and fronting on the ocean, Miami
Beach is separated from Miami and
the mainland by Biscayne Bay, hav-
ing an approximate width Of three
miles. Early reports told of the
sinking of all ships in the bay and
OF the virtual destruction OF the ST.
100000 causeway connecting the two
points.
Lake Worth, separating Palm
Beach and West Palm Beach on the
half mile.
Fort Lauderdale, also reported in
early dispatches to have suffered
heavily from the storm. has a deep
water outlet to the ocean in the new
river, said to be the deepest inland
stream in the United States. Fort
Lauderdale is a base for the United
States coastguard unit.
Lying between West Palm Beach
and Miami are approximately a score
of small coastal cities where dam
age is also believed to have been
high.