Evening star., 1948-09-13
Bermuda Loshed by Hurricane;
140-MiIe Winds Near Center;
All Ships Warned to Flee Path
Storm Now Pointed
At Virginia Copes
Likely to Recurve
By the Associofed Press

MIAMI, Fla, Sept. 13.-Hurri-
cane winds approaching 140-
mile-an-hour velocity swept the
British island of Bermuda in the
Atlantic today.
The Weather Bureaus storm
warning service at Miami said the
center of the severe hurricane was
only IS miles southwest of Bermuda
at 11:15 am. The storm was NOV
ing -northwestward
Winds at Bermuda have reached
hurricane force and will continue
to increase until the storm passes"
forecasters reported.
The center is expected to pass
40 to 60 miles west Of Bermuda
during the next few hours"
Expected to Recurve.
Although pointed in the general
direction of the Virginia Capes, the
storm is expected to recurve to the
north and northeast before any eff
fects are felt on the United States
coast, the storm warning service
stated.
The hurricane for the next IL
hours will sweep the busy coastal
shipping lanes with dangerous winds
and wild seas. Ships we're warned
to avoid or fee its path. The re-
curving movement was expected to
begin tonight.
Bermuda had braced for the blow
Most residents OF Bermuda stayed
at home. Buses stopped. Bakeries.
meat markets and liquor stores
opened briefly to enable customers
to stock up and then closed their
doors.
Power Lines Blown Down.
First reports from Hamilton, as
hurricane wind gusts up to 100 miles
an hour struck, told of power lines
being blown down and streets streWn
with fallen tree limbs. Heavy rain
Whirled about in the shrilling wind.
The island began riding out the
first of the hurricane in midmorn-
ing. The sea was heavy, but the
Eastern Steamships liner Evange-
line rode snug in the harbor.
BY noon, debris blocked main high
ways, roads were flooded and tele-
phone service failed Power failure
at the big King Edward Memorial
Hospital caused attendants to use
oil lamps. An emergency generator
supplied the operating room.
Radio Stations Silent.
Radio stations were silent.
Officials said damage already was
heavier than the 100000 loss from
a hurricane a year ago. The winds
were stronger than those of last
year.
Advisory Issued.
The storm warning services
Miami advisory said:
The hurricane was centered at
1115 am. near Latitude 31.7 north.
Longitude 65.5 west or about IS
miles southwest of Bermuda. 1t is
now moving Northumberland
at about 16 miles per hour. Winds
at Bermuda have reached hurricane
force and will continue to increase
until the storm passes.
Highest winds near storm center
are estimated at 140 miles per hour
and hurricane force winds extend
about 60 miles from the center.
Gales extend outward 200 miles to-
the north and east. The center is
expected to pass about 40 to 60 miles
west of Bermuda during next few
hours. Hurricane velocity is IS
miles an hour
North north-westWard movement
is expected to continue for the next
I2 hours after which it is expected
to turn to the north or northeast.
All precautions should be con-
tinued In the path of this severe
hurricane.
Navy Force Departs.
A Navy task force, including a
22.OOO-ton aircraft carrier and II
hips which arrived Friday on ma
neuvers, left Bermuda yesterday.
Planes at the United States Air
Force base on the island were Or
dered to the United States.
The United States naval operating
base at Bermuda removed boats
from exposed areas and tied down
all loose lumber. The British naval
dockyard took similar precautions.