Aftermath

Last week Florida waves were again quiet, and with the tranquillity of the elements followed cessation of hysteria. Doubtless many an earlier report of damage from the hurricane two weeks before had been exaggerated. Doubtless many a late report from real estate men or "developers" had been underestimated. Few knew exactly, accurately, what had happened. What had happened? The hurricane had cut a swath across Florida principally in the region between the Palm Beaches and Key West, although those two places themselves received high winds and tides, little more. The gale hit hardest in the region north of Miami, around Fort Lauderdale and Moore Haven. Nevertheless, the most property damage was done in what is known as the Greater Miami District, for the simple reason that there was more property there to damage. -In Greater Miami, including Miami Beach, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, the latest checked estimate of dead was 109. Property losses were placed naturally conservatively by the Miami Chamber of Commerce at $100,000,000. In general, property loss had been originally exaggerated. The Carl Fisher Hotels, for example, were not seriously hurt, nor was the home of onetime (1913-15, 1917-21) Governor of Ohio James M. Cox's Daily News. Shacks, small homesteads, frame buildings were demolished. Modern structures (which are constructed to withstand a 300-mile an hour gale) stood. To the north, Hollywood and its suburb Dania suffered severely. Property losses in the two places were put, again conservatively, at $35,000,000 by J. W. Young, the principal developer of the section. Sixty-five were dead, many missing. Here, as elsewhere, most wooden buildings were demolished. Still further north, directly in the path of the centre of the hurricane, was Fort Lauderdale. Few buildings were left intact here. Some 19 died, and the property loss for the immediate vicinity was estimated, again conservatively, at $35,000,000 by city officials. To the west of Miami, Hialeah, site of the famed race track of that name, was torn up to the extent of $15,000,000, conservatively estimated by Mayor Grethen. Twenty-two died. But by far and away the worst disaster, the most complete destruction fell upon Moore Haven, an attractive town situated near the centre of the state on Lake Okeechobee. Here the settlement was flooded, the place almost literally erased from the map. Estimates of dead varied about the same as in most other places--from 41 to 300, not counting Negroes. Probably 176 were killed. In regions such as Floranada few were killed, but the many pretty little buildings built for Anglo-American bluebloods collapsed like papier-mache. Summary. As nearly as it can be checked, some 365 persons lost their lives in the storm, 150 are missing, 1,100 injured, 20,000 homeless. Total property damage approximates $165,000,000. The Red Cross ably took charge immediately following the disaster. Subsequently there was friction, principally because Governor John Wellborn Martin issued a statement which it is claimed minimized the damage. John Barton Payne, National Chairman of the Red Cross organization, then issued a statement: "The officials of Florida from the Governor down, and the real estate operators have seriously handicapped the American National Red Cross in its efforts to provide relief. . . . "The poor people who suffered are regarded as of less consequence than the hotel and tourist business of Florida. The Red Cross feels bound to go forward and do the job just the same, and everyone should help. Our officials on the ground report the greatest need since the San Francisco disaster. . , ." Governor Martin announced that he was "amazed" at such a charge.