Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-09-22
STORM PASSES. BUT ITS DEATH
TOLL INCREASES
Reports from Pensacola Add to List
of Victims Claimed by Hurricane.

of Victims Claimed by Hurricane.
Having taken an almost unprece-
denied toll of life and property as
II swept across South Florida and the
eastern part of the Gulf coast, the
tropical hurricane which came out
of the Bahamas Friday night appRr-
emily had spent It's fury in lower
Mississippi on Tuesday, before reach
ing New Orleans
With the single exception of PEN
saeola and neaby towns, direct COM
munication with the nearly score of
cities and towns in the wake of the
storm has been reestablished.
As relief and rescue work went
forward in the Florida cities first hit,
the list of dead steadily mounted and
was expected to continue TO do so
as workers cleared away the wreck
age of homes where scores of fami-
lies were trapped.
identification of the dead was pro-
eeeding slowly and many of those
who persisted in the worst storm
Florida probably ever has felt likely
will go TO the grave unknown.
Early this morning the lost of the
known dead stood az 1888. but res
cue workers believed the total would
reach 700 in Southern Florida alone.
More than 1900 were more or less
seriously injured and the property
damage was estimated at anywhere
from S50,000,000 to $100, 600 900.
Press dispatches from Mobile said
that city had escaped with a property
damage of only several hundred
thousand dollars and no loss of life.
Property loss was caused by high
winds unroofing buildings and the
rising waters flooding buildings. The
barometer there set a new low record
in the fifty years history Of the
Weather Bureau. Other gulf towns
escaped the full force of the blast,
which veered off into Southern Ala
bana. where there were unconfirmed
reports of loss of life and property
and into Southern Mississippi, where
it was dissipated after warnings had
been issued at New Orleans that the
blow was headed for that place.
Although only forty-eight hours
had passed since a1e hurrican had
swept Miami, Hollywood, Coral
Gables, Fort Lauderohle. Moore Hav-
en- and many other Florida towns,
the work of rescue and relief was
well in hand. Hotels and other build
ings, although roofless and window
less have been converted into tenn
porary hospitals for the injured.
Many agepcies-Federal, State
and fraternal-were pooling their eff
forts in relief work. The American
Red Cross alone had raised
nearly 100000 to suecor the home
less and injured and other agencies
We're supplying funds for rehablita-
ton Of the devastated regions.
Medical and food supplies are be-
ing rushed to the East Coast from
Chicago, Jacksonville and other
cities. Food supplies were going in
large quantities, but the West Palm
Beach Chapter of the Red Cross has
sent out an urgent appeal for tents,
cots, with bedding: oil stoves. cloth
ing, candles drinking cups, lanterns,
camp stools, baby foods. bottled wa
ter, blankets and other necessities.
Through most Of the district sani-
tarv conditions were reported as
bad, particularly in the inland towns.
These were damaged by the storm
as it swept across Lake Okeechobee
and onto the West Coast, where
some lives were lost and property
and crop damage estimated at &c.,
uUU,0UU was caused.
With the recovery and reestablish-
ment of several lines Of communica-
tions refugees have begun to pour
into Jacksonville, where city officials
have arranged to house those who
were unable to continue their north
ward journey.
The outgoing stream was almost
matched by an incoming deluge Of
relatives of residents Of the storm
swept district who were seeking di-
rect word as to the fate of loved
ones.