Evening Star Newspaper, September 4, 1930, Page 4

i e WIND STRPS LINER BT SHP ESCAPES Vessel Is Tossed About Like Cork When' Caught in Center of Hurricane. By the Associated Press. SAN JUAN, Porta Rico, September 4. —A battered tropical passenger liner limped into this port today after having passed through the ‘very center of one of the worst hurricanes the Caribbean has known in many years. The ship, the Porti Rico liner Coamo, Capt. Thomas Evans, escaped annihilation narrowly. ‘The Coamo turned back from Santo Domingo, her destination, last night, and for a dozen hours no word came of her fate. Her wireless failed early in the evening and it had been feared disaster had been visited upon the ship and ail on board. Emerging from the great storm this morning, _the _skipper, Capt, Evans, brought the Coamo safely to anchor, P S but he could not explain how the ship missed being wiped out with the storm at its height all about him, amid furious seas, 1] Full Speed, No Adwamibe, Buffeted for more than seven hours, the engineers raced the engines at full speed but could make little or no head- way. The wind stripped the decks of everything movable, tore off hatches threw the vessel so far over on that the oiling machinery was useless. At last Chief Engineer Mc-| Gough was forced to stop the engines entirely so that emergency oiling could be done and fuel ofl ballast could be pumped from port to starboard bunk- ers to trim the ship. In all of this maelstrom not a life was lost and only a few passengers were injured slightly. Capt. Evans said the barometer went to the bottom of the glass while his ship was in the center of the storm. Dr. W. F. Gray, ship's surgeon. who made a further examination ef all in his charge, announced that their in- juries were trivial. Capt. Evans praised the conduct of the passengers and crew and the pas- sengers drafted a letter praising the captain and crew. “With a good crew you can weather any storm,” the skipper declared. “My crew behaved wonderfully.” Passeiigers Give Thanks, “The letter from the passengers said: “The passengers of your boat are very ,-\‘erul to you, your officers and crew for their superb courage and the masterful way in which the Coamo was handled while passing through tatay's storm. In grateful appreciation to you, sir, and your men, to whom we all be- lieve we owe our lives, with the bless- ing of divine providence, we are pleased and proud to thus express in a slight way our gratitude.” ‘The Coamo, due to sail for New York today, probably will be held here at least for 24 hours. Because of storm warnings, the Coamo_ had deplayed sailing from San Juan for Santo Domingo a full day. During the early hours of yesterday the barometer went on a rampage, rising and falling and stopping at 27.75, be- cause it could go no lower. The ship then was 4 miles off Santo Domingo Harbor. The seas were run- ning too high to permit anchorage. Capt. Evans cruised about, hoping for Wind and Rain Blot View. Suddenly a strong off-shore wind and Tain blotted out the island before the 'S . From then until after- before 1 p.m.,, the captain said, ship approached the center of the disturb-| ce. . ance. “In all my years at sea I never have en::;unmed more wind,” Capt. Evans sald. Victor Braegger, representative of the Maryland Casualty Co. of Baltimore in Porto Rico and Santo Domingo, de- gcribing the storm, said: “At 1 o'clock, all of a sudden, the wind subsided as if by magic. We had reached the center of the storm and an oasis of compara- tive calm. Mountainous Waves Roll. “Mountainous waves were rolling past us. The ship became a haven for all kinds of sea birds seeking shelter, cling- ing to the ralling, ropes, canvas and window sills of the cabins. The birds seemed exhausted as if from a struggle of hours in the terrific gale. “It was pitiful to see the birds making their desperate efforts for life, losing their stre at length and being tossed again into the rising wind. Thought Ears Would Burst. “During this period of comparative ‘calm, the atmospheric pressure was s0 mt I thought my ears would burst. I a distinct taste of blood in my mouth. Others experienced the same sensations. This lasted not more than half an hour, We seemed then to re- cover from the terrific strain, but with no fear for the other half of the storm through which we knew we must pass. “Surely enough, at 1:30 P.M., with a terrific pounding and slamming of wind and waves, we were driven right into the thick of it again. Only this time the intensity of the storm and the howl- ln{hlnd hissing of wind and rain to- gether seemed greater than before. Leaks Sprung in Ship. “The ship seemed to spring leaks everywhere. The water came in through cellings, doors, windows, broken skylights—from everywhere and nowhere. All you could see Was here or there a flash of spray. The din was ter- rific. The ship would tip until it seemed it never could right itself.” Braegger said that what they went through until that dark hour had ended was too terrible to describe. He said that all on board the Coamo felt as if they had received a new lease of life when the wind began to slacken in mid afternoon. DIRECTOR EXPLAINS BOY SCOUT VOCATIONAL WORK Lions Club Hears Walter MacPeek Describe Exploration Efforts on Behalf of Boys. “Vocational exploration” work of the Boy Scouts of America was explained to thg Washington Lions Club meeting yesterday in the Hotel Mayflower by Walter MacPeek, educational director of the organizatajon. About-90 trades and professions are explained to the boys in the hope that they will find the particular avocation to which they are best suited, MacPeek said. Richard F. Simmons of Frederick, Md., district governor of the Lions Clubs in Washington and nearby com- munities, spoke on the part that the town organizations were playing in charitable and civic work. Roger White- ford presided. BACKER OF LONDON HOP ; POSTS BOND FOR PLANE By the Associated Press. MONTREAL, September 4.—John O'Brien, New York backer of Capt. J ‘Errol Boyd's projected flight from Mon- treal to London, has arranged to post a bond and fift a writ of attachment on the Bellanca monoplane Columbia, which it i& planned to use in the flight The, writ_was obtained by Roger Q. Williasls. The Columbia is the ‘glane in wh Chamberlin and Lev! flew fmam New York to Germang. 3 Upper: General view of the city of Santo Domingo. - Center: Sceme in the city of S8anto Domingo, showing troops before the Con- gressional Building at the inaugural ceremonies of President Rafael Estrella rena. Lower: The President’s Palace. THIND THREATENS PIGTURESQUE CITY IN TWISTED RUINS Santo Domingo Modern and Medieval, With Many Natural Charms. The charm of the city that was Santo Domingo and stands today so twisted by storm was portrayed for the Pan-American Union last Winter by Sumner Welles, once American commis- sioner to the Dominican Republic. He. drew a ocontrast between “the appearance of antiquity and of medieval charm” and the modern improvements the people had worked so hard for, both of which suffered under the mad rush of wind yesterday. The tourist, he wrote, would find brightly lighted streets and asphalt pavements, a mod- ern water supply brought from moun- tains 20 miles away, and roads stretch- ing through the countryside, “The city of Santo Domingo is hid- den from view until one is almost upon it,” he continued. Land Juts Into Sea. “The steamer makes a sudden turn around a point of land that juts out sharply into the Caribbean, and then the city is spread before cne, risin from the coral cliffs and stretching ou over low rolling hills that lic beyond. “Far away to the north one can see the high mountains of the central por- tion of the island, and to the south, in tiers of luminous blue, the mountains forming the natural barrier between Haitl and the Dominican Republic. *“As one enters the Narrow mouth of the harbor, where the Ozama River empties into the sea, one skirts on the left the high cliff upon which stands the old fortress, which dates from early Colonial days and is still used as & gar- rison for the national military forces. although a portion of the old buildings has been converted into a municipal prison. Halfway up the hillside, -adja- cent to the old city wall, there stands the palace of the Columbus family, its medieval walls hardly impaired by time, although the roof has been permitted to decay. “Theydocks and the customs houses stand just below extending along the bank of the river, The traveler enters the city through one of the old city gates, still standing intact, and from there passes directly into the turmoil of the commercial quarter, which has claimed for its uses the streets and sec- tions camposing the original Santo Domingo of the sixteenth century. “Through this maze of narrow, wind- ing streets, the tourist is suddenly brought into an open, rectangular square in the center of which is & well kept park fringed with large shade trees and admiral, and behind them stands in all its beauty the catnedral of Santo Do- | mingo, of which the foundation stones were laid in the first years of the six- teenth century, and of which the ex-| terfor, today, remains unimpaired by | time or by man's desire for change. The | cathedral is a striking example of a Spanish Romanesque basilica. Tomb of Columbus. “Just within the portal stands the tomb of Columbus, where the ashes of the discoverer of the American con- tinent lie encased in & small urn. “The cathedral and the palace of the Columbus family are by means the only beautiful relics of antiquity that are left. There are other churches of almost equal age, some of them still in use, and some in ruins wreathed with a curtain of tropical creepers aad trees; there are the oid fortresses, notably the Fortress of San Geronimo | already referred to; and there are pri- vate houses which date from Colonial days. “All of the old city, however, not- withstanding the modern buildings con- structed within its limits, retains that charm which only antiquity can giv and even the garish symbols of mod- ernity are veiled and softened by that remarkable quality of light with which all of the West Indian Islands are blessed to so remarkable a degree. “Toward the southwest, the newer residential sections, which are being rapidly developed, lie spread for some miles along the coast and on the ridge | overlooking the sea. It is on the hili- side overlooking the harbor that the presidential mansion is situated, whenece it commands as beautiful a view as can be found on the French Riviera. Clustered about are the official resi- denc:‘! of the members of the govern- ment.” PLANE IS SUPPLIED FOR RELIEF WORK Pan-American Airways Gives Craft to Red Cross After Request of Gov. Roosevelt. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, September 4.—Pan- American Airways today authorized use by the Red Cross of one of the com- pany’s amphibian planes in relief work in Santo Domingo. The action was taken at the cabled request of Gov. Theodore Roosevelt of Porto Rico, ‘The plane will be flown from Porto Rico to Santo Domingo this afternoon, company officials said. CAR MOTORMAN FINED In one of the few cases of its kind, a street car motorman, James G. Mel- chior, 600 block of Fourteenth street northeast, was fined $5 in Police Court my for driving his vehicle past a red TOHITIN FLORIDA Peninsula Lies in Path -if Hurricane Holds to Pres- ent Course. (Continued From FPirst ) forecaster said it was possible the storm might pass midway between Cuba and Key West, in which event those places would escape the real fury of the blow. The current hurricane is behaving, so far, not unlike that which devastated Miami in 1926. The paths of the two storms so far parallel each other closely, the 1926 course being slightly to the north. High pressure areas caused the 1926 hurricane to head direct for passing exactly is probably better informed ‘op the wi of West Indian cyclones ‘than any other meteorologist, for he has made the study of them his hobby. First to Disclose Origin. It was as a result of exhaustive re- search in 1924 that Mitchell announced definitely that the West Indian storms invariably originate west of the Carib- bean Sea, contrary to a then popular belief. He issued a lengthy treatise on the subject, and plotted all hurricanes dating from 1886 to prove the easterly origin of such disturbances. Mitchell, a genial scientist of middle age, whose modesty is proverbial, has an unpretentious office adjoining the big forecast room on the first floor of the Weather Bureau's antiquated brick headquarters. The office is occupled also by R. Hanson Weightman, asso- clate forecaster. May Remain There Tonight. Mitchell spent most of the day at a shoulder-high desk in the forecast room perusing reports from the storm area and plotting observations with his little red pencil. Sometimes he would erase part of & line and redraw it. Fre- quently. his eyes shifted to the Florida coast and back again to the. blunt end Just 33 Fashion Park Tropical Worsted Suits They are very desirable patterns, in the distinctive 3.piece models of these famous tailors. Not only for now—but a wonder- ful investment—to buy them and lay them away until next Sum- mer. MORE THAN 35,000 IN STRICKEN CITY Santo Domingo Outstanding 16th Century Spanish Place, Where Columbus Reposed. By the Assoclated Press. The city of Santo Domingo, reported hélf-ruined and in need of medical supplies and water for those suffering from the wrath of the hurricane, held an estimated population of 35,000 three years ago. Located on the Ozama River, a trop- ical stream, it has been considered an outstanding specimen of the sixteenth century Spanish city in the new world. Guarding the entrance to the harbor is an old rock fort, with its historic turreted Columbus tower. In the town 18 the old Gothic Cathedral, where Columbu$ once was buried, and where rest the bones of many notable families in early American history. Extremely Rugged Country. The country over which the storm wreaked havoc is extremely rugged and woody. miles and has three major mountain ranges running east and west. Along the southern boundarv of the Great Plain of Vega Re- ‘hich is 140 miles long and 15 '» 40 miles wide, stands Loma T:na. the highest mountain in , reaching upward 10,300 feet. Irregular mountain, spurs break the remainder of the country, while water- falls dot the myriad streams in the valleys. While the climate is tropical, it is considered healthful, because of ocean winds and" the elevation. The usual dry season extends from December to June, while precipitation in the wet months causes the growth of luxuriant forests in which such trees as mahogany, satinwood and cedar pre~ dominate. Although mining once was the island’s major source of revenue, that industry of late years has been at a virtual standstill, but the extent of some mineral resources has not been deter- mined. Cattle and goats are raised in con- siderable numbers, feeding on the lux- uriant grass, but sugar cane, thriving in the tropical soil, constitutes the major agricultural product. = Some coffee, bananas, cocoanuts, cotton and cecao are produced. Most of the re- public’s revenue is derived from customs duties. Dominica is the largest of five presi- dencles in the colony of the leeward islands, British West Indles. It lies between the French islands of Mar- tinique and Guadaloupe, about 25 miles from each. Tt is 29 miles long and about 16 miles wide and has an area of 201 square rpiles, The inhabitarfts of the island num- ber about 37,000. The majority Ne- groes. The capital is Roseau, populas tion, 6,800. Portsmouth is the only other town. Dominica was ramed by Columbus in 1493. Its people are en- gaged mostly in the growing of sugar, nuts and fruit. . of the red line in Northeast Haitl. He was wondering. He will be there late today and maybe tonight. It is certain he will be there night and day if developments of the next day or so confirm the suspicions that have formed in his mind. He got no sleep during the 1926 hurri- cane and he gladly will sacrifice his slumber again if he can be of service to those who are waiting and watching, TURNS AWAY FORM CUBA. Observatory Officials Declare Storm Will Miss Island by Turning North, HAVANA, September 4 (#).—Cuban observatory officials announced shortly after noon today that the course of the ‘West Indies hurricane had turned north toward the open sea after hitting Santo Domingo and would miss Cuba entirely. Announcement that danger to the Island of Cuba had been eliminated by the new course of the hurricane was made both by Rev. Gutierrez Lanza of Belen Observatory and Dr, Jose Millas of the National Observatory. Belen Observatory reported early this afternoon that the hurricane then was north of Baracoa, Oriente Province, Cuba. The statement said the speed of the storm had diminished but slightly. The observatory was making observa- tions in reldtion to Florida's prospect of feeling the storm, WINDS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA. Tropical Disturbance Moving North- westward Toward Bahamas. MIAMI, Fla,, September 4 (#).—R. W. Gray, government meteorologist here, issued the following statement regarding the West Indian hurricane at 10:30 a.m. (E. 8. T) toda; “The tropical disturbance which passed over the Dominican Republic Wednesday afternoon, attemged by winds greatly in excess of 100 miles per hour, appears moving' northwestward toward the southern islands of the Bahama group. If the storm continues its present course it probably will cause strong winds over extreme South Caro- lina Friday night. Further advices will be given out today and tonight. That Were $50 to $65 Here are the sizes: Regulars . Shorts Longs Stouts The Mode—F at Eleventh ‘The motorman had been warned by an inspector of the car com Ky with the blossoms of tropical shrubs. the center rises the monument to Columbus, the efligy of Alterations at Cost ¢ Fo It covers 19,332 square | | the 50,000 Hungarian soldiers who fell HARRLS The Wembher Bureau was one of the busiest places in Washington today as ' _the Caribbean hurricane issued here. bove .Jhmrl'll the course of the wtorm is being plotted. | Left to right the man are: Norman Ban- field, Norman R. Hy:gen, T. R. Brooks, A. J. DeMars and P. D. Marks. Below. Forecaster Charles L. Mitchell, in charge of the work. —8tar Staff Photos. 30 DEAD, 300 HURT IN WAKE OF STORM Santo Domingo City Is Razed Loot Ruins. (Continued From First Page) ways, Inc, at its Santo Domingo aire port, except the terminal buflding, were blown away during the hurricane that struck the city, according to radio advices received here today by Dunton. Dunton said the barometer at the air fleld drogped to0 -28.00 &uring the storm and then blew away. Officials and employes of the alrways concern escaped harm by taking refuge in the terminal building. Employes of the company were un- able to get from the air port to the city of Santo Domingo up to naon today, because of wreckage, the message to Dunton said. The radio report was sent by S. J, ‘Williamson, Pan-American pilot, who landed the rellef plane at Santo Do- mingo, Willlamson said that in flying over the city he could see that many small bylldings had been blown away. Williamson left San Juan, Porto Rico, this morning. He also carried a sup- ply of food in the plane. ‘Willlamson’s report said the wind blew as high as 150 miles an hour dur- ing the storm yesterday. The Ilast previous report received by Pan-Ameri- can yesterday was that the velocity of the wind was 136 miles an hour here, The radio tower at the airport was blown down. Plan Soldiers’ Cemetery. DOBERDO, Italy (#).—Cemeteries for on Italian soil in the World War are to be ‘constructed here and on the Isonzo River, Headquarters for the graves registration service will be in Padua. Motor cycles are growing popular in Finland. NAVAL STATION SAFE ‘The American Naval Station at Guan- tanamo Bay, Cuba, in the southeast | corner of the island, escaped damage in the West Indian hurricane, officials at the Navy Department were advised today in dispatches to Washington. The authorities were informed that all was quiet at the naval station, the Winter maneuvering grounds for the fleet, but information relative to conditions in ?;h:]r parts of the archipelago was cking 3,133 CARS OF FEED 10 DROUGHT AREA Railways’ Report to Secre- tary Hyde Shows 1,254 Des- tinations in Virginia. By the Associated Press. Permits for the shipment of 3,733 carloads of feed Into the drought- stricken areas have been reported to Secretary Hyde by the American Rafls way _Association. . Of the total, 1,254 carloads were for destinations in Virginia, 784 for West Virginia, 357 for Maryland, 72 for Penn- sylvania, 611 for Ohlo, 305 for Ken- tucky, 53 for Tennessee, 285 for Indiana, 7 for Ilinois, 4 for Arkansas and 1 for Mississippi. The shipment was made up of hay and straw to the extent of 48 per cent; 44 per cent was mill feed, 3 per cent corn, and 5 per cent oats. The permits were issued for trans- portation under the reduced_pailroad Tates upon certification by agents of the Department of Agriculture that the féed was needed because of conditions created by the drought. Secretary Hyde today designated a group of departrental officials to handle Specific phases of drought relief closely related to their ‘regular activities. C. W. Warburton, director of exten slon work, and secretary of the Federal Drought Relief Committee, was given general responsibility for the correlation of Federal activities and the work of State groups. While a liner, on its way from New York, was within 35 miles of Plymouth, England, recently, a homing pigeon in an exhausted condition alighted on the bridge and was caught, but resumed its westward journey as ,soon as it had ested. One More Day ~—Of Our Removal Sale— Friday Only —during which we shall make a clean up of -the: remaining merchandise—at pittance prices—for there isn’t "to'go to the.new store an item of this stock Remember, It’s C}ish,and Carry —and that while'lots are bi‘oi{en—you’ll . All Shists \, —fancy’d ‘and whit dress. ~ Values up'to by Hurricane—Bandits \| ° find it profitable to “rummage through.” - oatrect atid” §7.50.. 55 Yeeew 95c All Underwear up to $3.50 Men’s and boys’-~light, medium and ‘heavy weights. Shirts, drawers and wnion suits......... : xAll Underwear Men’s shirts, draw suits RS oka All Underwear Men'’s athletic and knit union suits; Summer weight .,.. All Collars English and American makes of stiff collars™uf L. . ot ad o All Hosiery up Silk, lisle and £ayon iy e op All Hosiery up ", b and 1014 reg.. vouw o All Bathing Trunks All wool. Values up All Gloves s Street, dress and driving. Values UP LGB 3 < oo aio v roinng o cdaens All Mufflers English squares and r wool. Values up to $5. . .uaw. All Belts A variety of styles. S s iiiaciin All Shoes Oxfords and high shoes; black, tan and patent leather. Values up to $10... .. Fine silk, lisle, etc.—sizes 914, 10 - 69c up to $8.50 ers” and ‘unmion $9 .69 up to $18 52.69. Sc to $1.75 ¥ .39c¢ to $3.50 ' 69¢ 89c 89c $1.29 K to sesssenen eefers; silk and ale Values up to 29C ) All Boys’ Felt Hats : Suitablefor all boys’ (17,27 28 1 SR ages. Values