The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-27

Vivid description of the Florida
hurricane at Coral Gables, is given
in letter by Charles McIlvaine, OF
Coral Gables, to his mother, Mrs. A.
S. McIlvanie, 1888 Washington Blvd,
McIlvaine wrote the letter during the
storm in the little wooden shack
in which he and Joseph Patterson
are living.
Both men are employees Of the Sin
clair Oil Company there.
The letter begun Friday night re-
lates all phases Of the storm.
The letter follows:
"Of course, we were all warned of
the hurricane that was coming but
none thought about how terrible a
hurricane could be.
Starts With Breeze
About o'clock, left my station
out in Cocoanut Grove and came
home. There was nice breeze
blowing which felt good after a hot
day. Patti and I went to bed about
10 o'clock. Patt said he was going
to sleep in his clothes and be ready
if things got too bad. I assured him
that nothing was going to happen
and to undress and come to bed
right. However, he wouldn't do it
so Patti slept in his clothes and /
in my pajamas. 1t seems that /
must have dozed off and slept for
about three hours, because when /
awoke I found Patti seated by the
window watching and listening at
the storm which was blowing pretty
hard by this time.
IT got up and put on my clothes
just as "a precaution. Sat around
for about an hour smoking. At
2 o'clock the wind was blowing
hard enough to bend the pine trees
across the street to the ground.
Every minute was worse than the
preceding one.
Debris Falls
"Two-thirty and we could hear
debris falling all around our house
and the wind was bowling way ur
in the Heavens. The house trem
bled all over and the awning tapped
against the sides, sounding just like
our little wooden shack was pound
4ng to pieces. Pat played the uke
and 1 sang awhile as 1 watched out
the window. BY this time all he'll
had broken loose. Any minute might
take our house away.
Heard a racket out back and Their
a dull thud. My garage parted com
pany with the rest of the house
Pat suggested a drink, which wa:
very fitting. Had two quarts o.
Long John. I didn't feel nervou:
or scared at all. In fact, we rather
enjoyed the sensation.
"Our greatest trouble was keeping
the window sashes intact. Used coat
hangers, screwed into the walls, t.
help hold them in. At about 1885,
Blacks house went down. They liv'
in a two-story right back of us
storm getting worse all the time
Looking out the windsws, we coulC
see things flying past all the time
but didn't know just what they were
Lights Out
Stuff kept falling on the roof ant
on the filing station next door
wouldn't be so bad if we coufc -
but the current went out and we
were in utter darkness. Storm qui
suddenly at 6 o'clock. We went Out
to see what had happened.
my garage had blown away, bur
my car was untouched. Not {
scratch on it. Trees in the entranc,
to Coral Gables were broken off OF
pulled out by the roots. Down the
street a new group of store rooms
had crumpled up. Not so bad for &
hurricane.
People came out on the streets
and a few cars were about. Went
down to the drug store and had q
coke
"Seven-fifteen. The storm turned
around and came back, this tims
more terrific than before. Patti ant
I herded about a dozen people into
our house. Several women ant
kids, who were shiveringwith colo
and wet to the skin. Gave them al
a coat or blanket to warm them
Hope 1 get them back. Patti takes
a drink and gets bawled out by two
women.
The women and children were al
praying for dear life. Every one il
quiet and orderly. The wind is blow
ing now from the south. Just oppo
site from the night before. A ril
and the part just under the roo
blew out of our house, which let il
the wind and rain. Our roof is leak
ing all over. The side walls benz
in about foot Can't hear nysel