Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
Ry the Associat ated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla, September
22.-Measures for relief of the area
ravished by last Sundays tropical hur-
ricane gained momentum today as Of
fetal estimates fixed the death toll at
between 1000 and $500, with more than
$4,000 homeless, and disease and hunger
threatening refugees in parts of the
Lake Okeechobee region.
Rapidly co-ordinating its program, the
American Red Cross allocated phases of
the work to branch headquarters in
Jacksonville, Tampa and Fort Myers.
The latter two cities will handle Sec
tions of the lake region inaccessible to
headquarters here, while Jacksonville
will supervise the refugee situation.
Rising waters and lack of adequate
transportation facilities handicapped
the emergency relief work and the re-
covery of bodies within the stricken
lake shore district. Urgent appeals for
boats came out of the area which re-
turning officials have described as
corpse-strewn and desolate, with thou
sands of refugees in immediate need
of food and shelter.
Whole Everglades Flooded.
Gov. John w. Martin declared the
whole Everglades was f1oodeds and Fred
G. stuck. secretary of the Florida Isaac
Walton League, appealed to members OF
the league to furnish outboard motors,
saving that due to inadequate drainage
the flood waters continued to rise from
recent rains. Men were sought to man
boats. which will be put to hauling sup
plies, refugees and bodies.
Clipping official red tape, after per-
sonal inspection through portion OF
the back country, Gov. Martin ordered
food and other supplies purchased WIN
funds from the State treasury. AT the
same time the chief executive, VINO Sheo
tears at the tragedy he witnessed IN the
lake country, issued another call 1or ine
neople of Florida to contribute quickly
and generously to the relief. The
state highway department was ordered
tn clear the debris-clogged roads into
the district to facilitate the movement
of trucks and other vehicles.
Determined to delve deeper into the
actual needs of the region, the gov
ernor went back into the flooded coun-
trv todav. with Belle Glade and neigh
horjnp communities on the itinerary OF
his official party.
Federal Aid Asked.
Federal aid to cope with the Sltua-
| ton was sought by United States Sena-
tor Park Trammell who telegraphed to
president Coolidge asking that repre-
| sentative be. sent to Florida With the
view of obtaining all possible govern
mental assistance.
AS the rescue workers, SWamped With
| duty and hampered by flood and debris,
| continued their inspection of the coun-
trv new reports of disaster reached
| the outside world. The Pelican Bay
district where several hundred sugar
cane laborerS were believed to have
been caught by the hurricane, remained
| the one Isolated spot in the devastated
area, For six days the citizens of that
| community, If any are left, have been
| without relief. Coast Guardsmen were
engaged in clearing the roads to the
place. The highways were covered with
muck and debris to the depth of feet
in places, newspaper men reported.
| Great need for emergency relief Of
residents and farm lands within the
vast expapse of the Everglades country
was pictured before Gov. Martin today
by civic organizations and citizens who
presented various plans for immediate
drainage OF the marShy countryside anc
for preventing future overf1ows. Follow
ing the conference, which continued for
about 80 minutes, the chief executive
said no decision had been reached, but
Continued on Rage 6. Column 81.