Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-23
Bermuda Faces Gales
As Hurricane Grows
After Leaving Florida
Damage on Mainland Put
At ST., 000, 900, With
Three Persons Killed
By the Associated Press

MIAMI, Fla, Sept. 23.-Severe
gales of near-hurricane force
threatened the British island of
Bermuda today as a hurricane
that left three dead and an esti-
mated $25,000,000 damage in
Florida expanded at sea.
An II am. Weather Bureau adj
visory said heavy gales will cover
the area from near the Carolina
coast to and beyond Bermuda.
Winds along the Carolina coast
will be fresh to rather strong, but
no dangerous winds are expected on
shore. Small craft were warned to
stay in port.
The storm was centered about $50
miles southeast of Charleston, S. c.
1t is moving northeastward about
l6 miles an hour.
Gales Cover Wide Area.
at is now a very large storm with
gale winds covering radius OF $50
miles or more, and hurricane-force
winds are over so to go mile
radius" the advisory stated.
Winds of over 100 miles an hour
exist at the center.
Heavy gales will cover an area
from near the Carolina coast to and
beyond Bermuda.
Bermuda should prepare for
severe gales of near-hurricane force,
the advisory stated.
Bermuda was struck by q hurri-
cane tive weeks ago, but damage
was not extensive because the island
ers had battened down before the
storm.
The hurricane moved into the
Atlantic Yesterday after crossing
Cuba and Florida. In Cuba, six
persons were killed and the damage
estimated at 100000.
Florida Begins Cleanup.
Winds were diminishing along the
Florida coast as the State began a
mammoth cleanup job under a
bright sun.
The storm took 80 hours to travel
through Florida on 240-mile line
from Key West to Jensen Beach,
attended by winds up to $50 miles
an hour.
Tremendous property damage was
reported at Key West, in the choice
Indian River citrus area and to
vegetable crops along the southern
and eastern rim of Lake Okeechobee.
Kew West alone estimated loss at
81 900 900. principally to its water
front and shipping. More than 100
pleasure and commercial boats were
sunk. Many were smashed to pieces.
A 2O0-foot dock was swept out to
sea and the city's two principal COM
merciaJ docks badly damaged.
Power and telephone lines were
hit hard. The islands sponge and
fishing fleet was practically wiped
out. Damage to boats alone was
estimated at more than $500, 900.
All Schools Damaged.
All schools on the island sus-
tanned some damage About 1000
trees were uprooted in Key West
alone. Ten inches of rain fell
there. Some Navy boats and in
stallations were damaged. but no
official figures were available.
Extensive damage was reported
along the overseas highway, which
was still closed, and fishing camps
in the KEYS were hard hit.
Key West, isolated for three
days, will get first-class mail today
for the first time since Monday.
National Airlines agreed to fly mail
to the island city.
The greater Miami area was buf-
feted by gale winds for more than
80 hours and eight inches Of rain
flooded the streets. Nearly $4,000
telephones in Miami were put out
of order and electric service dis
rupted in many sections. Miami
Beach reported only minor dam
age.
Grapefruit Stripped From Trees.
Grapefruit was stripped from
trees in area hit by the storm and
some of that left on was Scared or
thorned
Agent c. B. HINES of st. Lucie
County estimated 10 per cent Of the
grapefruit there had been knocked
to the ground No estimate was
received from Indian River County.
where some of the States choicest
oranges are produced.
Fields of growing vegetables in
the salad" bowl section around
Lake Okeechobee we're under water
and pasture lands were flooded.
It's going to be hard on cattle"
one rancher said.