Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16
SWerve in Course May Save
State and Hit Shipping
or Virginia CapeS.
FURY OF GALE UNSPENT
AFTER a. DAYS OF HAVOC
Death Toll to Run High, Five
Killed, 100 Injured in Virgin
Islands-10 Die in Ponce.

Five lives were lost and approx
mately 100 injured in the Virgin
Islands. Naval communications
were advised here at 2 o'clock this
morning in a radio from the naval
station at st. Thomas.
The message said:
Reports from ST. Croix state five
deaths, probably 100 hurt and prop
erty damage in the hundred thou
sands.
Navy buildings at ST. Croix and
st. Thomas were badly damaged.
MIAMI, Fla, September IS Up.
The following cablegram was received
here tonight from Father Lansa Of
Belen Observatory, Havana, Cuba.
Hurricane approaching from
southeast. May reach Florida. Cau-
ton advised"
~ the Associated Press.
The tropical hurricane that has
spread desolation across Porto Rico, the
eastern shore of Santo Domingo and
the Virgin Islands, leaving the threat
of famine and disease in its wake, was
raking the FRahamas today and was due,
unless it Should change its course or
blow itself out, to strike the Florida
Coast tomorrow.
The Weather Bureau expected that
such a change of course, in either di-
rection, might occur today when the
storm was due to reach Nassau.
swing to the west would send the hur-
ricane hurtling between Cuba and the
southern tip of Florida with possible
damage to the Gulf States. and curve
eastward would point it upward toward
the Virginia Capes or completely out
into the Atlantic, where it would menace
the crowded maritime traffic to the
Panama Canal.
Fury Undiminished.
This was the fourth day of the hur-
ricane and it was proceeding with un-
diminished fury along its northwest
ward trail of doom. Friday night IL
passed over the Turks Island In the
British West Indies, destroying ship
ping and causing wholesale damage
ashore, and yesterday it was raising
havoc throughout the southern fringe
of the Bahamas.
Tens of thousands of inhabitants OF
the stricken islands were homeless
Countless houses and business build.
inRs. hospitals and mission schools and
camps were laid waste before the on
slaught of the storm, described IN DIS
matches from the zone OF disaster as
one of the most ferocious and destruc-
tive hurricanes in the history OF the
Caribbean.
Appeals for assistance from the
islands said that relief must be sent
at once If famine and disease were 70
be averted. The stricken population, II
was said, could subsist for a few days
on available fruit. but when that was
gone they would be faced with starVa-
ton.
Red Cross Starts Work.
The American Red Cross yesterday
appropriated an initial $4,000 for q
relief fund and dispatched a trained
disaster crew to Porto Rico on q naval
ship from Charleston, S. c. on tne
reports of those relief experts aItel
they reach the Caribbean ana survey
tn, scene of disaster will be oaSeo pianS
for systematic relief to the homeless
the hungry and the sick.
Communication with the ravageo
areas was still scant and it was impos-
sibIe to tell to what totals the lists OF OF
property damage and loss OF NE mlgn,
Eventually rise. But it was known that
the deaths would run high. Ten per-
sons were killed in Ponce, Porto Rico
alone, and damage to property ashore
and to shipping will aggregate many
millions Of dollars.
Water Supplies Cease.
With their rich harvestS of coffee ano
tobacco largely ruined, their banana
and citrus plantations leveled,, then
homes and hospitals shattered tne
islands were further afflicted by com.
plete disruption of light and power anc
3 cessation of their water supplies. Ont
effect of the power failure was tna! a,sl
newspapers could not be publlsneo, aaa
without this source of authentic news
terrifying rumors ran unchecked among
the frightened populace.
INAGUA CUT OFF