The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Santo Domingo Destroyed by
Hurricane-Gfeat Feat
of French Flyers.
ey EDWARD w. PlcKARD

Ey EDWARD w. PlcKARD
CANTO DOMINGO, capital of the
- Dominican republic and oldest set
Element of the white race in the New
world. was almost entirely destroyed
by a tropical hurricane which swept
the city for four hours. Nearly every
building was RACED and the number of
dead in the city alone is believed at
this writing to be about 800. The
scenes Of horror and distress are de-
scribed in brief dispatches that came
through after communication with the
island had been partially restored.
President Rafael Trujillo himself
took charge of the relief work that
was started Immediately, and the en-
tire army of the republic was put to
work to aid the suffering. Officials
and newspapers of Santo Domingo ap-
pealed for help to the United States,
and the Red Cross was quick to re-
spond, as it always is. American
Minister Curtis cabled the State de-
partment at Washington regarding the
situation. He said he had not re-
ceived reports from the interior Of
the island but that the loss of life
there probably was small. In the
neighborhood<of the capital all bridges
were wrecked, roads rendered impass-
able and telegraph wires had vanished.
1t was estimated that the speed of the
wind was $50 miles an hour.
The terrific storm, moving in from
the southeast, was headed for the
eastern end Of Cuba and the Florida
straits. Communications throughout
the entire region were disrupted for
many hours. The Porto Rico liner
Coamo, which was on its way to Santo
Domingo. had narrow escape, pass
ing through the very center of the
hurricane. 1t turned back and man.
aged to reach San Juan in a battered
and stripped condition. There were
indications in reports received by the
weather bureau In San Juan that the
storm might turn out into the Atlantic
and endanger shipping lanes.
The Washington weather bureau
believed the Florida coast was not
endangered.
DOR the first time the Atlantic ocean
has been crossed in a nonstop
flight from Paris to New York. The
feat was accomplished by Capt. Dieu-
dome Coste and Maurice Bellonte in
their famous plane Question Mark in
81 hours, Is minutes and 30 seconds.
During this time. in fair weather and
fog. daylight and night, their single
motor never missed. Following gen.
orally the great north circle route,
they averaged more than 100 miles an
hour and landed at Curtiss field, Val
ley Stream, Long Island, at dusk, tired
but jubilant. A~
Great crowds greeted the aviators at
the field aaI in New York city, and
they and the French government re-
ceived the congratulations Of high Off
Gals from President Hoover down and
of our leading alrmen. Among those
who welcomed them as they landed
were Col. Charles Lindbergh and his
wife. Captain Coste. who had been
planning the flight for a long time,
said they were forced to dodge
through dense mists and around
storms, and their first American land
fall was the coast of Nova Scotia Be
ing informed that Col. w. e. Easter
wood of Dallas, Texas. had offered
$25,0C0 to them if they, would fly their
plane to Dallas, they took off for that
city early Thursday morning. This,
according to hastily made plans, was
to be the start of a tour of the coun-
try, toward the close of which the
Frencllmen will be entertained at
luncheon by President Hoover in the
White House. The Question Mark
will be flown back to Paris by Paul
Codes and mechanic, but Coste and
Cellonte will return by steamship.
Naturally the people of France were
jubilant over the flight made by their
countrymen. Some of the Paris news
papers thought the chief Importance
of the flight was the demonstration to
the Germans and the Italians that
French aviators were not so helpless