Evening star., 1949-08-28
Millions in Damage
Reported by Cities
In Hurricanes Path
By the Associofsd Press


MIAMI, Fla, Aug. 27.-Reports
of hurricane damage to Florida
cities:
WEST PALM BEACH-Dam-
age set at more than $4,000. 900
by Red Cross as city dug itself
out from beneath tons of debris.
Twenty-nine persons treated in
hospitals for injuries, five of them
classed as serious. Some 1000
of city's 1000 homes damaged.
More than a million dollars
worth of planes damaged at West
Palm Beach International Air.
port, including six GAG cargo
planes which were tossed into
twisted masses of metal and
wires. Two companies of Ma
tional Guardsmen called in to
prevent looting. Winds hit 155
miles per hour unofficially and
WJNO's 196-foot radio tower
blown into Lake Worth.
PALM BEACH-Streets mass
of fallen wires, trees, shattered
glass and splintered boards.
Ocean dumped tons of sand onto
front lawns of ornate villas along
ocean boulevard. Two sections OF
that well-known highway slid
into ocean between Joseph p.
Widener estate and Lake Worth
Casino. Nearly completed cabana
and pool collapsed. Compare
lively little structural damage
found.
STUART-Damage estimated
at more than $3,500.000 with 500
reported homeless. Three sections
of le-long Jensen Bridge lead
ing to Port Sewall ripped out and
airplane hangar and beacon fiat
tened. Six persons reported in
jured in city. Auto repair shop
flattened and fronts and backs
of many buildings in business
district blown out. Electric power
still off.
BELLE GLADE E-eLake Okee-
chobee levees withstood winds up
to 122 miles per hour for seven
hours with only minor damage
from erosion reported. State pris-
on shed roof collapsed on $50, 600
worth of trucks. tractors and farm
implements. Two barns destroyed
and all power lines on farm down.
City officials estimated damage in
area at more than $1,000, 900.
Tower of Radio Station WSNE
toppled. Much damage to trees,
roofs and windows.
LAKELAND - Early grapefruit
crop said to have been hit terrific
blow with spokesman estimating
damage might run into millions
Many citrus trees uprooted. Power
and telephones out except for one
underground cable. Dozen streets
blocked with fallen palms and
giant oaks and downtown Mum
Park heavily damaged. Hundreds
of homes at least partially un-
rooted and water damage said to
be tremendous.
TAMPA-Fred Johnston, gen.
eral sales manager of Florida cit
rus exchange. said grapefruit and
oranges had been badly hit in the
citrus area and estimated damage
at more than $1,000,000. Loss re-
ported very heavy in Pinellas
county.
FORT PIERCE - Millions of
gallons of water poured on city
and probably did most damage.
Streets Uttered with trees. Power
lines and poles Seven persons
stranded at radio station WIRA
by high water evacuated by Ma
tional Guardsmen. Two persons
reported injured.
JACKSONVILLE - 70-mile-per
hour winds ripped metal roofs
from Craig Field hangers. Doors
also stripped off.
DELRAY BEACH-Beds flew
out of third floor windows and
wooden and metal doors were car
ried through the air in this hard
hit section. At least half the
houses suffered some damage. A
metal house trailer was scattered
over more than so feet of road
side by heavy wind. Three of four
radio stations in Palm Beach
County had towers blown down
and went off air. One house had
entire back wall shorn by hur-
ricane.
POMPANO BEACH - Three
houses destroyed and wing of one
apartment reported badly dam
aged. Fronts of restaurants and
warehouses crumpled in and WIN
dowS and roofs damaged. No in