New Britain herald., 1928-09-17
Storm is Headed Across State Alter Devastat- ing Eastern Section Expected to Pass Out Into Gulf of Mexico Today.
Relief Expeditions Leave Miami, But With All Wires Down Brief Radio Messages Are All That Come Through.
(By The Associated Press)

Striking destructive blow at the Palm beaches least night after spreading death and devastation through Porto Rico and other islands of the West Iindies, the trop- ical hurricane today was blowing across the Florida peninsula toward the Gulf of Mexico.
 Wire communications were down or temporarily disrupted over wide area along the Florida east coast and in the south central portion.
 Deaths Reported
 Reports of casualties and heavy property damage were received from Palm Beach and West Palm Beach via amateur radio operators who picked up messages which they said were signed by station 4AFC. Palm Beach amateur.
 One message, received at Jackson vile by Clifford Grange stated that an undetermined number of persons were injured and many houses were wrecked.
 Oranges message was signed ID. H. Conkling," which is the name of the publisher of the Palm Beach Post.
 It stated the Red Cross had made a temporary hospital in the Pennsyl- vania hotel because the hospital there had been partially destroyed. Two Reported Killed Another message stating that two persons had been killed and fifty injured was picked up by station lBN at Tampa. The message also stated that many buildings In the business district of West Palm Beach were damaged.
 Relief Started
 Meanwhile. relief parties proceed ed into the area from Miami but nothing of what conditions they found there had come to the outside world because the section was with- out wire communications.
 Senator Joe T. Robinson, demo. cratic nominee for vice president. was in Miami for a speaking engage ment today but was prepared to cancel the address and hasten to the storm area if necessary.
 Red Cross units were mobolixed and ready at several other points for service in the area should survey of the district demand aid.
 Added to the estimated death list of 1000 in Porto Rico was the threat of famine and disease and the Wash- ington government took steps to send relief.
 Reports from the west coast of Florida. where the weather bureau said the storm was headed said that no serious wind conditions prevail ed early this afternoon. There were reports of minor damage from some central Florida cities and these ad- vices said the citrus crop had suf- fered in some sections.
 Miami Escapes
 Miami escaped lightly, according to dispatches received before all wire communication was lost. Noth- ing definite was known about the extent of the storm from West Palm Beach north to Fort Pierce, . dis tance of approximately 60 miles. but meagre reports indicated that heavy winds swept the area.
 The weather bureau said that Titusville. 90 miles north of Fort Pierce, had reported hurricane winds from the east with the ba- rometer at 1924. The disturbance was described as still "a severe storm.''
 Estimates of damage were impos- sible.
 The message received by Grange continued:
 "The buildings which are stand ing are filled with refugees.
 Center of the hurricvane is be- lieved to have entered Florida at Ded Ray. 20 miles south. Wind changed northeast to east and to south at daylight and dropped to 27 miles an hour.
 Paper Partially Destroyed
 The Times, evening newspaper building, was partially wrecked. The Post, morning newspaper. practical ly intact.
 "No estimate of damage possible.
 Hospital partially destroyed. Red Cross has temporary hospital.
 Grange, who is credited with hav- ing obtained the first message from the Miami hurricane area In 1S2s and was commended by the navy department for his services. said the message today was being transmit- ted to an amateur station at TA. wares for re-transmisgion to New Or leans. Signals of the Palm Beach get, evidently operated on batteries. were weak, he said, and Tavares may not have received the mesoaga, which was being repeated over aed over.
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