Times staff
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Immediately after a board of county commissioners meeting came to order, the question of relief for the hurricane sufferers on the east coast was brought up.
L.P. Artman, publisher of the Key West Citizen, said Miami is a city in ruins.
Leaving Key West by train, Mr. Artman said he found the storm much worse as he headed north.
"I believe the damage will run to half a billion dollars," he said. "It is difficult to conceive of a city so badly wrecked as Miami seemed to be. I was unable to get out in the streets, but there was debris everywhere, so far as I could see. Right in the middle of Flagler Street there was a big launch, stranded. Fortunately, Key West escaped entirely. If such a wind ever hit us, there would be no city left."
L. Gibbon White, a Washington businessman who went through the adventure at Coral Gables, said the people of Miami and surrounding towns stood helpless in their homes during the hurricane's blast, awaiting its end, or theirs, with all possibility of escape cut off.
"It was midnight last Friday when I had returned to my house for bed," White said. "A wind had sprung up and was blowing with increasing violence. I arose and watched the streetlights disappear one by one or in rows, and then the lights went off in my own house. The wind was roaring through the blackness, carrying solid sheets of water when the windows commenced to smash in my home."
White said after eight or nine hours of merciless wind, the blowing stopped for one hour. He stepped outside to see the whole resident area around him wrecked.
"But hardly had we gotten our bearings when the wind pounced down again, this time in the opposite direction, and the rain came with it in solid sheets," he said. "Back in the house again, this time with the dim daylight making the neighborhood fairly visible, we went through the whole night's experience again. I saw no men venture out throughout the day, but I caught momentary glimpses of two automobiles which attempted to move, but were zigzagging over the pavement almost helpless under the impact of the gale."
When the storm finally blew itself out, he went out of doors and discovered an indescribable scene of wreckage.
"In Miami, some of the largest buildings are leaning," White said.
The Pinellas County commissioners want to help. Commissioner Sumner of St. Petersburg introduced a motion that an appropriation be made by the county to assist in relief work. Commissioner Hackney of Safety Harbor moved that the sum be made $2,500 rather than a smaller amount.
The donation was unanimously approved.
Attorney Blocker suggested that a telegram be sent to Gov. Martin that Pinellas County had donated $2,500 to be distributed according to the governor's instructions.
Deputy Clerk McQuagge at once wrote a message to the governor, which was dispatched without delay.
An urgent appeal for liquor for the aged and infirm refugees, and for rescue workers gathering in the bodies of the dead at Moore Haven, was broadcast. Primarily the appeal was directed to the federal government, but officials said the stimulants would be accepted from anyone who might have a store, as they are urgently needed.
It was added that the liquors would be administered carefully as a medicinal measure.