STORM CATASTROPHE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1926, Page 2

STORM CATASTROPHE.

[by TELEGRAm —PER TP-ESS ASSOCIATION.] A MIAMI REPORT. VANCOUVER, Sept. 20. The latest news from Miami places the number of those known to be deal: in the Florida storm area as the result of the hurricane and tidal wave at three hundred and twenty-five. Up to to-night,, the number of injured is estimated at four thousand. The damage to property is estimated at fifty million dollars. Forty persons are missing. An accurate estimate of the storm i toll is still impossible. DAMAGE STILL INCALCULABLE. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. The damage to property in the State of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi ant Louisiana will total many hundreds o: millions of dollars. Miami alone has suffered a loss thal is 1 conservatively estimated'at one hum tired million dollars. WALL STREET itlT. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. Wall St., which was a heavy investor in recent Florida developments, sav an extremely irregular stock markei to-day. The insurance companies witl policies in Florida have estimated thcii losses would he comparatively small since few would write hurricanes inti their insurance risks. Nevertheless the Wall Street bank ers expected the stock market to- hi flooded with securities released b; these companies to obtain the fund needed to pay on tlicir policies. Thi world ho an extremely disturbing fac ter iij the financial world. The loading hankers are prepared moreover, to place their resources a the command of the .Southern institu lions, which, along with private per sons, will he compelled ,to bear tin brunt of the cost of the property lie struction and of the replacements. There are no indications that the na lion’s financial institutions are unablto absorb the loss to business result iug from the devastation, and the pos siblb cessation of the Florida white resort income, which’ has been an ini portant factor in that State’s‘lndus try; hut plans are lining made t stand the strain, which inevitably wil he placed upon their resources. DANGER. OF TYPHOID. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. The national character of the Florid disaster can be envisaged in the men need and wrecked areas in the face o the material losses suffered, and of tilvast- resources that will he required •both to rebuild and to make life safthere. Hundreds of miles of sewer overflowed when the sea water backei their contents up on the land, and ty olio id is'now a real danger. Repair have to be rushed. Thousands of doses of nnt-i-typhoic and anti-tetanus serums, are lieiiif rushed to the stricken areas, and tb' Pullman Company, which controls al the American railway, sleeping, cai equipment, lias'placed its complete resources at the command of the Ret Cross for the comforts, and for till transport of food and water (which h being rationed in all the towns on : half-glass basis) also for medicinal supplies, nurses and doctors. RED CROSS ARMY SUMMONED. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. Tin*. Red Cross has commanded it? staff in ;l,d0!) communities throughout tlie United States to prepare for being transported into the stricken regions to do relief work. Vast quantises of materials of all kinds are being put on to special trains in many parts of the country for Florida, but the transportation system has been so demoralised, that three days after the. calamity the relief trains are being held up outside the storm-raged, districts, and they cannot enter. President Coolidge took control of all the relief work of to-day, and both the Army and Navy have been called in. Several warships are being despatched to the scene, carrying a thousand troops. The Navy Department, at the same time, has called on all the naval reservists who are in the Florida area to the colours. Airships have been placed at the command of the Red Cross, which, following, upon the issue of a proclamation by tlie President, 'and others by the -Governors of many of the States, has begun the collection of relief funds to the extent of five hundred million dollars. The necessity for military control has become clear, seeing that looting broke out in Miami, and that four , looters were shot. The Army Posts throughout Florida have suffered serious damage," hut the available supplies, particularly of clothing, food and medicines, are being doled out. Tlie. disaster has turned the thought of the country aside from making money, and the contributions for relief are making available supplies of all kinds, including motor vehicles, workmen and I technical equipment. HURRICANE LOSSES. WASHINGTON. Sept. 20. The steamer “Westonk” radioed today that seven lost- their lives, all boats were destroyed land two churches were razeil in Saturday’s hurricane in Mauni Island.