The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-11
CUBAN HURRICANE DEATH
LIST RISES TO HUNDREDS:
SEA DESTRO IS TOWNS
Wall of Water 20 Feet High
ThunderS Over Coast
Villages.
DAMAGE is MILLIONS
Relief Work Organized on
Large Scale, as Refugees
Flee Horror Scene.
BY LAWRENCE HAAS
United Press stan Correspondent

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov. II.
Relief work on a large scale
was modified by the govern
ment today for the hurricane
stricken inhabitants of Cam
aguey and Santa Clara prov
inces, where unofficial esti-
mates placed the death list at
from 1000 to 1920.
The injured were estimated at
more than 1000. None of the esti-
mates was officially confirmed. COM
munication being fragmentary and
mostly by radio
The town of Santa Cruz del Sur
was destroyed by wall of water,
twenty feet or more high, which
moved in from the sea in the path
OF the hurricane, carrying away
houses, men, women, children and
animals in its rush of destruction.
Bodies were scattered a consid-
cradle distance inland and hun
dreds were reported missing, pre-
sumably swept to sea.
Death Estimate
The Camaguey correspondent of
the newspaper Heraldo quoted
Mayor Rodriguez as estimating the
number of dead in the citv at
forty-seven, with 200 injured.
Earlier direct reports placed the
Camaguey toll at approximately
eighteen.
Some reports received here said
only 300 persons escaped at Santa
Cruz del Sur, but the reports were
regarded as the guess of excite
refugees. If all but 300 of the popu-
latlon were lost, the dead at Santa
Cruz alone would be around 5000.
A survivor from Santa Cruz
which is on the south coast and
was directly in the path of the hur-
ricane, said the cyclone drove the
sea into the town and converted it
into a great lake" The survivor
said hundreds we're trapped.
Crops Are Ruined
Most of the material damage was
done to tobacco, sugar, and banana
crops. The property loss will be
millions of dollars. Railroads and
utilities companies suffered severely.
In Jamaica two were known dead
and property damage was estimated.
at $5,0O0,O0O.
Meanwhile, the hurricane was
moving seward east and south of
the Bahamas.
In its path was the naval tug
Scotia, which signaled that it was
sinking, and then was silent. The
Scotia is believed to have crew
of thirty-flve officers and men. Her
position was 200 miles east of the
Bahamas.
Warnings Posted in U. S.
The tail of the hurricane aroused
gales along the western American
gulf coast. Storm warnings were
posted from Mobile, Ala, to Browns
vile, Tex.
High gales that whipped the east
ern states causing heavy damage
had blown themselves out.
A relief train is leaving for CANA
guey and Santa Cruz this afternoon,
carrying physicians, nurses, and
medical supplies.
The most dramatic story of the
fate of Santa Cruz del Sur was
telephoned to Havana by a survi-
vor, Elroy Garcia Figueroa, who
reached Jatibonico, on the railroad
in Santa Clara province, lis miles
northwest Of Santa Cruz del Sur.
Escape Through Swamps
Figueroa, accompanied by his wife
and a small child whom he rescued
when its parents were swept to
death in the torrents, reached Jati-
bonco after an arduous trip across
the difficult, swampy country.
Figueroa said the dead would ex-
coed 300, most of them by drown
ing. One family of thirty-two per-
ished.
Santa Cruz del Sur is an impor-
tant fishing, lumber, sugar and cat
tie port, and is used as base by the
United States feet during annual
maneuvers.
Three hundred survivors reached
Camaguey last night by train. Ten
of them died en- route and eighty
others were hurried to the hospital
in critical condition.
Guard Against LOoting
The military was in charge in
Camaguey and the surrounding
region, and strict measures we're
taken TO prevent footing.
Camaguey itself was badly dam
aged, but the casualties there did
not appear to be high.
Reports from town after town in
the stricken area came in Slowly
over disrupted communication lines,
reporting small numbers dead and
injured here and there, and terrific
damage. Thousands were homeless.
Judge Johnson Hears First Case
CHICAGO, Nov. II. - Federal