Okeechobee and hundreds of others who sought the harvest of the sea in small boats, who had no warning. As a rule such persons do not attract much attention in a community. They lead hermit lives and little if any notice is taken of their comings and goings. How many of these went down may never be known.
I believe the Florida hurricane will be ranked among the most frightful of natural calamities. For this reason the story appears to be of sufficient importance to have a permanent place in public and private libraries all over the land. If it is given such a measure of reward and appreciation, I shall be satisfied that I undertook the labor, though it was performed under difficulties.
These words are written by candle light in the living room of my residence which was riddled by the storm. The roof was taken off, every awning was shattered and shredded, the screens were crushed in, the concrete coping was blown off in chunks and blocked the doorways, the ceiling and the walls were ruined, the whole house was flooded and we were left without shelter. At this time my wife and six children are away, having accepted the hospitality of relatives until necessary repairs can be made. I make mention of these things because I am not writing from hearsay or casual observation. We were in the midst of the storm, and though I had witnessed, or experienced, other hurricanes, I assert unreservedly that no storm of such fierce intensity ever has visited this region, and I believe it well within the realm of verity to say that never before has this country experienced any disturbance of a more terrifying character. This opinion is substantiated by Weather Bureau records.
I have made particular mention of Moore Haven because the mortality was greater there than anywhere and the loss of human life is more to be mourned and considered than property damage.
Miami was the greatest sufferer in property loss, but the number of dead from the storm in Miami was 115; not inconsiderable nor inconsequential, and not to be passed over without sorrow, but, comparatively speaking, Moore Haven's loss was nearly two hundred times greater. The sternest reproach to come out of the storm is probably that the demolition of Moore Haven might have been averted, for it was destroyed by flood waters from Lake Okeechobee rather than by force of the wind. Of this more will appear in the following pages.
THE AUTHOR.
Miami, Florida, October 5, 1926.
