Evening star., 1935-09-05
Hx the Associated Press.

n4fAuax, Il Aass AsSPetSAAhS~A
little coral strand in the Florida
Archip p6ago-Matecumbe q Key, named
by the ancient Caloosas as "the Place
of Sorrow" so the legend goes-the
hurricane Of Monday night wrought
its worst.
Even now the broken bodies Of It's
storm victims are strewn In the
gnarled wastes Of mangrove, twisted
steel and crushed concrete.
It was on this tiny island that the
Caloosa Indians made their last stand
against the white man. 1t was there,
too, that q host Of World War vet
erans made their last stand against
the might of the tropical hurricane.
Their fates were the same.
To observers who hurried to the
succor Of those few who outlived the
horror of that night 1t seemed that
nothing could have survived.
Men still dazed, in tatters and
blood-stained bandages, limped about,
displaying the same spirit that car
ried them through the Meuse -Argonne
and Belleau Woods.
Two Camps Wiped Out.
Matecumbe, upper and lower. housed
two camps of veterans-camps and
S. In camp S. 1885 men were listed
on the roster. Only a dozen were
found alive. Scant hope was held
that others would be located.
At camp 8, 243 were enrolled
Twenty three were on furlough. ac-
cording to best available information
leaving 220 at the camp. OF thescl
1873 were accounted for.
Tales of terror were told simply
by the survivors. A pirate yacht,
mustered into rescue service yester-
day, brought 50 of the injured men
to Miami for disqualification.
One of the most dramatic stories to
come out of the storm was told by
P. Pugh. top sergeant at camp 3,
whose leg was severely injured.
AT 5 o'clock Monday afternoon
he said, I'VE noticed the first stiffen-
ing of the wind. The men ran for
the mess hall, which rocked and
tottered as the wind increased. The
wind roared so we could hardly hear
each other speak.
Roof Torn Away.
Suddenly at z o'clock the roof OF
the mess hall went flying of. The
men scattered, most Of them seeking
safety on the railroad embankment
Others sought shelter in huts and
other buildings, which began crash
ing around us.
About 10 men grabbed q water
tank car. The wind gained in fury
and it seemed 1000 hells had broken
loose. At the same time the water
started rising We could see it creep
ing up the bank.
"It was hell to Just hang on and
not be able to do anything. Wher
we were in France we had something
to fight against. Down here we just
had to wait for death and do nothing
Men who have known all the
rough edges of life, who hadn't
thought of God in years. prayed that
night. heard them mumbline
prayers as they held to the car ant
tracks with debris pelting their bodies
Suddenly the hurricane puffet
harder and blew up the tracks. Al
| most at the same time the tidal wav'
rushed In, tumbling men back init
the mangroves, where they were bat
tered to death.
I'VE on the tank car Just held on
with our hands raw from the strain
| The water rose higher and higher ant
finally covered the car. but we helc
on Just the same.
Morning Light Welcomed.
"Then the wind stopped and the
stars came out, but 1t was Just lull
1t lasted about 40 minutes. Then II
really started blowing.
Finally morning came, and the
light never looked so good. The vino
slowed down and the water receded
We looked around, and only the 7(
men hanging on the car were to be
seen. We thought all the rest were
dead.
From over In the wreckage Of the
mangroves, however, we heard q yell
Soon there were shouts back and
forth. Many of the men swept from
the embankment had washed over ir
the mangroves and there clung to the