The Montgomery Advertiser
- Official list puts known dead at four hundred
- Wind reaches forty miles an hour in the capital Monday
- Red Cross relief plane goes down
Disaster reporting links Florida’s material needs to Montgomery’s own storm experience and the interruption of a relief flight. The selected regional dispatch emphasizes scarce water, medical supplies and money for people who lost everything. Local reporting distinguishes unofficial wind and rain estimates from observations, and leaves house damage unconfirmed. Baker’s message says both occupants survived the forced landing, while the journey to organize relief still had to continue.
Translation
Official list puts known dead at four hundred
Stories of wreckage that blocked roads and streets, fine homes and buildings in the cities wrecked or badly damaged were brought out.
They reported water scarce and supplies short but with ample supplies coming in. Medical supplies of various kinds, especially tetanus serum, are needed in some places.
Money to care for those who lost everything is the worst need now, however, officials said.
Wind reaches forty miles an hour in the capital Monday
The most violent part of the storm swooped down upon Montgomery about 8 o’clock Monday night, propelling a blinding downpour which transformed the streets into veritable rivers.
A high wind, unofficially estimated at between 40 and 60 miles an hour, lashed the corners, shaking wooden structures to the foundation and uprooting a number of trees along South Perry Street, South Court Street and in the fashionable Cloverdale section.
While no reading was made at the Weather Bureau, it was estimated that approximately two inches of rain fell between 8 and 12 o’clock, which was one of the heaviest downpours of the season.
Motorists attending shows downtown were drenched when attempts to start the motors failed. Electric service in the residential section was interrupted for several hours. Phone service was reported practically normal locally. Trolley schedules were broken, but all cars were kept moving. Slight damage to several homes in the south was reported, but not verified.
Red Cross relief plane goes down
Baker, who is speeding from Kansas City, where he has been in charge of the society’s relief efforts in the flooded area of that region, to take charge of the more urgent work in Florida, sent the following report of the accident to headquarters here:
“Compelled to make forced landing account storm and motor trouble. Ship damaged, but Lieutenant Evans (the pilot) and I uninjured. Will proceed Montgomery fastest way.”
The plane left Memphis, Tenn., today, en route to Montgomery, where Baker planned to obtain another plane to continue his trip to Miami.
Context
Relief after the first deliveries
Food and medical supplies could be brought into the damaged towns, but that did not immediately restore the lives of families whose homes and possessions were gone. The officials’ appeal for money concerns that longer task of support. The passage captures a shift from reaching survivors to sustaining them, even while blocked roads and water shortages were still urgent problems.
The Gulf storm reaches Alabama’s interior
The hurricane made its second landfall near Perdido Beach, Alabama, on September 20. Montgomery’s account brings the disaster inland and into ordinary city routines: theater outings, electricity, trees and streetcars. The coast bore the hurricane’s direct force, but the rainfall and winds also disrupted communities away from the sea.
Relief depended on a chain of journeys
Baker’s planned route linked flood work in Kansas City with Memphis, Montgomery and finally Miami. Changing aircraft was part of the plan before the forced landing. His journey illustrates the practical coordination behind a national relief response: staff and transport had to be redirected between disasters, and bad weather could break a connection just when speed mattered most.
Original
OFFICIAL LIST OF KNOWN DEAD GIVEN AS FOUR HUNDRED
Stories of wreckage that blocked
roads and streets, fine homes and
buildings in the cities wrecked or
badly damaged were brought out.
They reported water scarce and sup
plies short but with ample supplies
coming in. Medical supplies of vari
ous kinds especially Tetanus serum,
are needed in some places.
Money to care for those who lost
everything is worst need now, however,
officials saidT
WIND HITS FORTY MILES AN HOUR IN CAPITAL MONDAY
The most violent part of the storm
swooped down upon Montgomery about
8 o'clock Monday night, propelling a
blinding downpour which transformed
the streets Into veritable rivers.
A high wind, unofficially estimated
at between 40 and 60 miles an hour,
lashed the corners, shaking wooden
structures to the foundation and up
rooting a number of trees along South
Perry street, South Court street and
in the fashionable Cloverdale section.
While no reading was made at the
weather bureau, it was estimated that
approximately two Inches of rain fell
between 8 and 12 o'clock, which was
one of the heaviest downpours of the
season.
Motorists attending shows downtown
wers drenched when attempts to start
the motors failed. Electric service in
the residential section was Interrupted
for several lours. Phone service was
reported practically normal locally.
Trolley schedules were broken, but
all cars were kept moving. Slight
damagetoseveral homes In the south
ewv.jferhafc reported;
btit not verified.
RED CROSS RELIEF PLANE GOES DOWN
Baker, who la speeding; from Kan
sas City, where he has been In charge
of the society’s relief efforts In the
flooded area of that region, to take
charge of the more urgent work In
Florida, sent the following report of
the accident to headquarters here;
“Compelled to make forced land
ing account storm and motor trouble.
Ship damaged, but Lieutenant Evans
(the pilot) and I uninjured. Will pro
ceed Montgomery fastest way."
The plane left Memphis, Tenn., to
day, en route to Montgomery, where
Baker planned to obtain another plane
I to continue his trip to Miami,
Source: Holding institution