, 1926-10-13
The Miami Hurricane

Inc following letter was received
by Mr.. and Mrs. John Nielsen,
Fred Walters and sister, Mary Say,
last week. 1t paints such a vivid
picture of the terrible storm which
visited Florida that the Enterprise
is printing it for its readers. The
writers are well known Cody people
and their friends here are glad to
know thai they escaped serious in
jury in the storm.
"All day Friday, September 18th,
we had a very high wind and to-
ward midnight it began to rain and
We were up to see that all the win
dows were closed. From then on
it increased and at 800 a.. IN. we
realized that it was no ordinary
storm so Ben and l dressed and
found everything on the north
porch wet. We cleared the porch
the best we could, covered the day
bed (Which was already soaked
through with rugs and got in
doors. The awnings and drop cur
tains were holding their own. We
then found the rain had been beat
ing through the living room win
dows and contents getting wet. We
moved what we could back into the
dining room, when a window gave
way. We took the breakfast table
and nailed it over the window and
packed rugs between it and the
screen. Next the shingles began to
blow off and we had showers com
ing through the ceiling. Ben was
moping water to save the plaster in
apartments below when a window
blew in the front bed room. Moth
er's room being next we moved her
into our room and closed all doors
between. The vacuum was so great
that it felt as though our ears
were pressed inward. We put a
mattress in the broken window and
piled furniture before it. The
storm was increasing in volume ev-
cry minute and above the roar of
the storm we could hear the
clashing of the iron rods in the
curtains inc awnings against the
screens and at five o'clock they be-
gan to give way and by six there
were no awnings, screen or cur
'tains left and we propped all the
doors shut with chairs. When it
came daylight we la roofs all
about us. We were not afraid for
our building but thought the roof
might go. At seven there was a
lull in the storm and we got moth
er (who is over 500 down stairs
to the south apartment which would
be more safe if the roof should go.
The storm came from the northeast
and after a half hour lull came
back from the southeast with more
force than ever, tore buildings
down, unroofed others and dam
aged most of them in some way.
The roof was torn from the house
next door and knocked two holes
in our roof. Tore the roof off the
entrance to our garage and all the
screens on south windows. Our
warehouse and all material therein
was a total loss. This was the ex-
tent of our loss. We are FORUM
ate, indeed, as thousands are home
less. On the bay front the boats
+ strewn up on the streets like
little toys. In Royal RAIN park,
which is fully 90 feet from the wa
ter front, there are six or eight
large yachts and boats, one a five
mast schooner is beached. Below
town you see barge after barge
and boats of every description up
in peoples yards. A wall of water
10 feet high swept them out of the
bay. Now everyone is busy repair
ing. Red Cross is here in force,
taking care of injured and taking
every precaution against fever, etc.
words cannot picture this scene,
so imagine the sights if you can.
But there is a wonderful cheerful
spirit with it all, so much to be
thankful for. Sunshine and good
breezes help dry out IL wet bed
ding, clothing, etc, so if it were
cold it would be much worse.
Greetings to our folks and
friends in Cody and say we are
very thankful to our dear God.
"Your sister and brother,
anna and Ben Walters,
UNTionf E1orido