E.P. Hawkins, Neal Sneed Describe Living Through Miami Hurricane, Sept. 24, 1926

E.P. Hawkins Returned from Storm Area. . . Tells Weird Tale of Narrow Escape and Describes Horrors of Stricken Florida

E. P. Hawkins, local hardware products manufacturer, who was in Miami, Fla., on business when the hurricane swept that city, returned to Murphy Thursday night, bringing the best eyewitness story to Murphy of the terrible disaster which wrought destruction to both life and property in lower Florida.

Mr. Hawkins said he reached Miami at 8:25 Friday evening and registered at the U.S. Hotel in the center of Miami’s business direct. The storm started at 12 midnight, by terrific blowing wind and rain, and the destruction and suffering wrought by the hurricane that followed beggars all effort of description.

His hotel at which he was stopping was a steel and concrete structure, and apparently was little damaged unlike any other building in Miami. However, the top of it was blown off except two rooms, one of which he occupied and one adjoining.

About 3 o’clock Saturday morning, the lights of the city went out, the polies and wires of the town being blown down and the power house??. When the collapse of the tower and lighting facilities of the city occurred, Mr. Hawkins stated he looked out the window and the view presented all over town was that of a great discharge of fireworks, the loaded wires flashing, cracking and popping with tremendous effect when they came together.

He dressed by a flashlight which he carried and entered the lobby, where the people were in an uproar, some screaming hysterically and others praying. A large raft of timbers was blown against the hotel on the side from the wind, and with Mr. Hawkins suggestion, he, the proprietor and others took the timbers and braced the plate glass windows and doors of the hotel so that they withstood the terrific wind. They kept all doors and windows shut and this helped to save the guests and what remained of the hotel.

The storm continued and about 120 o’clock Saturday morning, Mr. Hawkins stated that the elements were so dark that in the hotel lobby one could not see to distinguish anything, and the roaring caused by the wind, sand, water and debris flying through the air made it necessary to yell right into a body’s ear in order to be heard. For about 20 or 30 minutes it was as dark as midnight, he said.

After the storm subsided, which was nearly sundown Saturday, the city was left a mass of ruins, with death and suffering on every hand, and the grimness of it all added materially by a shortage of food and water, night coming on and no lights and candles all blown away.

In Biscayne park, about 200 yards from the wharf where it was docked, was a large steamer where it had been picked up and placed by the storm. Mr. Hawkins said he stepped off 120 steps along the side of the vessel. A government tug about 200 long and 60 feet wide, loaded with stone blocks, was also picked up by the storm and carried 200 yards. It would require a large freight engine to even budge such a load on a min railroad, he stated.

In one instance, he stated, a three story concrete hotel remained intact, with the lower stories flooded. The upper story was dry and it was quickly transformed into a sort of an emergency hospital, and 27 injured placed therein. Later the building collapsed, killing all but four persons.

Local people suffered heavy property damage in the storm area, and is reported the family of Frank Coleman, formerly of this place, who lived in Lemon City, a suburb of Miami, were killed. However, this could not be verified by a representative of this paper, and neither did Mr. Hawkins know if they were. He said he was all over Lemon City, but he did not see or hear anything of the Colemans. The Colemans had just returned to Florida from Murphy about a week ago.

Mr. Hawkins stated that Luther Cooper’s residence had suffered damage, but withstood the storm better than many others. One of Jim Cooper’s houses was blown completely away, and the top taken off of the other, with heavy damage otherwise.

The roof was blown off the house of Mrs. R. E. Sneed and Neal Sneed’s house and all furnishings completely blown away and the ground swept clean. The grocery store house and residence of John Brendle, who recently sold his home in Murphy, were completely carried away by the hurricane.

Mr. Hawkins said he went without food from Saturday noon until late Sunday afternoon, and while walking down Dixie Highways, through Lemon City, he espied a lone sweet potato lying to one side of the road, and immediately peeled the potato and began eating it. On looking around he saw Neal Sneed, who claimed the potato came from Brendle’s store in which he clerked and which once stood on the opposite side of the road. Mr. Hawkins said all that remained of the store house, market and grocery business was a few small piles of debris.

According to Mr. Hawkins, he saw a number of corpses with heads missing, and it was nothing of a sight to see arms and limbs of people killed lying about in the debris. He says that half of the suffering and horrors of the disaster will never be known.

Mr. Hawkins stated that the different relief organizations of Florida were doing their best to relieve the suffering, but that the American Red Cross organization was a God Send to any people in times of distress such as lower Florida was experiencing, and that the Red Cross should certainly have the wholehearted support of the American people.

In conclusion he stated that after what he had gone through, it seemed mighty good to get back to Murphy, and that he was thankful that he had been spared by a kind providence to return.

Letter From Sneed

A letter received by W. D. Townson, a relative of the Sneeds, from Neal Sneed, is to the effect that all are safe. The letter was brought by air from Miami to Atlanta. It follows in part:

Miami, Fla. Sept. 20, 1926

Mr. W. D. Townson, Murphy, N.C.

Just a few words to let you know we are all safe. Miami is ruined. Hialeah wiped off the face of the earth. Reported 600 killed on Miami Beach. Everything blown away. Our house still going through the air, I guess. Both Jim Cooper’s houses blown away. Will write you again tomorrow.

Neal Sneed

From the front page of The Cherokee Scout, Murphy, N.C., Friday, Sept. 24, 1926

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Mabel Wellons, W.M. Willets, Delia Sanders, Mrs. Jesse Wellons, Winleigh Pearce, Mr. Mitchiner Write Home, Describe Miami Hurricane, Sept. 24, 1926

Johnstonians in Florida Are Safe. . . Relatives and Friends Receive Messages from Miami Telling of the Awful Desolation

The storm in Florida with so much loss of life and property destruction in its wake, has caused a good deal of uneasiness on the part of Johnston County people who had relatives in the stricken area. All of them have now been heard from, and no loss of life of former Johnstonians has been reported.

Mr. J. A. Wellons had a telegram Monday afternoon from his daughter, Miss Mabel Wellons, who holds a position in Miami, one of the hardest hit sections, stating that she was all right, and there was no cause to worry on her account.

Mrs. A. M. Calais had a similar message from her father, Mr. A. M. Willets. Mr. Calais’ parents and grandmother live in Miami also. Telegraphic messages have been meagre, but news of safety suffice until letters give details of the terrible disaster.

The editor of The Herald received a letter from Mrs. Delia K. Sanders yesterday announcing that all is well with her and her little daughter, Martha Rose. Mrs. Sanders has been living in Miami for several years, having purchased a home there. She states that her home is standing although all awnings, screens and the roof of her kitchen are torn off. Even the tops of the trees around her place were wrung off. Mrs. Sanders in describing the experience says:

“The storm lasted 12 long awful hours. I dressed by candlelight at 2 a.m. and woke Martha Rose at 3 o’clock and had her to dress. At 4 o’clock one of my neighbors came over because their house swayed so, and they had not been in my house 15 minutes when their house fell. It was the blackest night, not even a ray of lightning, and we thought dayling [daylight?] would never come. Between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. the wind blew a terrific gale, and we saw sailing by in the air planks, roofing, buckets, tubs, etc. Trees were popping, windows were rattling, and then a crash would be heard—a roof blown off or a falling house.

“Saturday morning after daylight, a family of five, the youngest a baby four months old wrapped in a blanket, made their way to my house in that raging storm, all of them drenched and exhausted. They did not leave their own ome until the roof blew off.

“The two families I have in my house lost everything they had. I would like to write in detail about what I know personally of the destruction here, but I do not feel equal to it now. Biltmore Hotel at Coral Gables is housing 1,600 homeless people, and The White Temple church has been turned into a hospital.

‘Martha Rose was not the least bit excited during the storm and kept saying, ‘Mother, I just know God will take care of us.’ She kept repeating the 23rd Psalm. The verse that came to me was ‘I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whithersoever thou goest.’”

Others heard from in Miami include Mrs. Jesse Wellons, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Wood. Mr. and Mrs. Wood live in the Polenta section, and they have received a message stating that Mrs. Wellons and her family are safe but lost everything they had.

Mrs. A. Z. Pierce of Selma has received a letter from her son, Mr. Winleigh Pearce, who lives in Miami, and he says it is impossible to get a true conception of conditions from newspaper accounts. Thousands of people are homeless but thankful that they escaped with their lives after the agonizing hours they spent as the storm raged. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce are staying with Mrs. Pearce’s niece, and five other large families are sharing the house with them. Supplies are being sent and among them candles. Mr. Pearce states that Miami is almost completely devastated.

Mr. Mitchiner, a son of Mr. John A. Mitchiner of Selma, was in the mercantile business in Miami and lost both his home and business place.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Sept. 24, 1926

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Friends Harvested Claude Coates' Fodder So He Could Remain by Side of Dying Son, Sept. 24, 1926

Group of “Good Samaritans”

The spirit of the lines “let me live in a house by the side of the road, and be a friend to man” was beautifully expressed by a group of citizens in Pleasant Grove township recently when they went to the aid of Mr. J. Claude Coates, and pulled his crop of fodder at a time when sickness in his family prevented him from attending to it himself. The little 7-year-old daughter of Mr. Coates has tumor of the brain and has been critically ill for several weeks. She has recently lost her eyesight and is not expected to live but a short time. Out of the goodness of their hearts and with a deep sympathy for a neighbor in trouble, these Pleasant Grove folks rendered what service they could in helping to house Mr. Coates’ crop. Someone took a snapshot of the group, and we were thus enabled to reproduce it as shown above.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, September 24, 1926

To see the photograph of his friends and neighbors, go to: newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1926-09-24/ed-1/seq-1/

Recorder's Court Handles 23 Cases, Others Bound Ofer to Superior Court, Sept. 24, 1926

Recorder’s Court Meets Two Days. . .23 Cases Disposed of. . . Number Bound Over to Superior Court

The Recorder’s Court of Johnston County had two full and busy days here this week—Tuesday and Wednesday—and a large number of wrongdoers were dealt with. The following cases were disposed of:

--Sanders L. Lynch, a well known white man of Boon Hill township, was tried on a charge of larceny and receiving. Probable cause was found and he was bound over to superior court.

--L. B. Richrdson, white man, was found guilty of possessing intoxicating liquors in violation of the Turlington Act. Prayer for judgement was suspended upon the payment of cost.

--C.H. Smith was found guilty of simple trespass and prayer for judgment was continued upon the payment of costs.

--Ira Allen and Alfred Allen, white men of the Ingrams township, were found guilty of possessing intoxicating liquor in violation of the prohibition laws. Ira, the younger, was taxed with a $50 fine and one-half the costs, while Alfred, the elder, was taxed with a $10 fine and half the cost.

--Belton Green, a negro, plead guilty to possessing liquor. Prayer for judgment was continued upon payment of cost.

--Dolly Penny, a colored man, was before the court on a charge of larceny. He was found guilty and sentenced to four months in jail—jail sentence to be remitted upon a payment of a $25 fine. There were two other counts against this defendant, in which he was charged with operating a car without lights and the other for operating a car without a license. He was ordered to buy licenses, fix his lights, and was so discharged upon payment of costs.

--David Budd Tyner, a white man of Boon Hill township, was bound over to the superior court on a charge of the larceny of some bags.

--C.A. Smith was called and failed. Judgment nisi sci. fa. and capias was entered in his case.

--Joe Atkinson, colored, charged with an assault and cursing, was found guilty. He was sentenced to go to jail to be worked on Johnston County roads for a term of 30 days, jail sentence to be suspended upon payment of costs and a fine of $50.

--Dortch Holder, a negro from Oneals township, was given a preliminary hearing on a charge of housebreaking. Probable cause was found and defendant was bound over to the December term of the superior court.

--The state took a nol pros in the case of Leachy Adams. [declined to prosecute at this point].

--Jeff Turner, a negro, was tried on a charge of attempted rape. Probable cause was found and defendant was bound over to the superior court.

--Adelaide King and Frank Anderson were before the court on a warrant charging immoral relationship. Both were found guilty. The man was sent to jail for a period of four months and the woman was sent to jail for a period of 60 days.

--Lonnie Atkinson and Louise Wise, negroes from Boon Hill township, were convicted on the charge of manufacturing liquor. Each was given a nine months sentence to jail to be worked on the roads of Johnston County.

--Walter Howell, a white man of Boon Hill township, was convicted of violating the hunting laws—killing squirrels out of season—and was fined $10 and taxed with the costs.

--G. Kirby Thompson was charged with disposing of mortgaged property. The solicitor took a nol pros with leave. [declined to prosecute at this time but may in the future]

--Mitchell McLamb, white, and Jim Gamble, colored, both of Benson, entered a plea of guilt on affray. Prayer for judgment was continued upon the payment of costs.

--The State took a nol pros [declined to prosecute] in a case against J. D. Hargis, charged with pistol “toting.” On a charge of trespass, this defendant entered a plea of guilty. Prayer for judgment was continued upon payment of costs.

--L.B. Anders, white man of Boon Hill township, was found guilty of an assault upon his wife. He was convicted and judgment was deferred.

--Bet Strickland, white woman of Boon Hill township, was before the court on a charge of failing to keep the terms of an existing court order against her. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail to be released on the condition that she refrain from making her home east of the A.C.L. railroad in Johnston county.

--Howard Byrd, white, was charged with the illegal manufacturing of whiskey. He was acquitted.

--Elbert Hudson, white, of Banner township, was convicted on a charge of trespass. He is a chronic violator of the peace, and this trial drew him a four months’ road sentence. He was also required to pay the cost of this action and all other unsettled actions against him.

--Julius Brooks and Geneva Winstead, Smithfield negroes, were convicted of prostitution. Brooks was sent to the county roads for six months and “the woman in the case” was discharged under suspended judgment.

Editor’s Note: Judge ordered sheriff notify S.C. Smith that he must appear at next Recorder’s Court or police will arrest and make sure he appears.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Sept. 24, 1926

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September Session of Warren County Superior Court Begins Sept. 20, 1926

Superior Court in Session

The September session of the Warren County Superior Court convened in Warrenton Monday morning with Judge John H. Harwood of Bryson City presiding.

The following men were drawn as grand jurors: W. E. Davis, W. E. Abbot, J. L. Caps, J. L. Painter, S. E. Allen, Earnest Whitby, W. E. Mulchi, B. D. Wright, R. S. Thompson, D. D. Bobbitt, W. S. Shearin, J. L. Smiley, W. H. Walker, J. R. Alford, E. H. Neal, O. A. Brauer, E. L. Whitaker, B. C. Hilliard. W. E. Davis was appointed foreman. R. L. Bell was appointed as officer to the grand jury.

Judge Harwood then delivered a very exhaustive charge to the grand jury. He was especially strong on the increase of crime in our land and country. We only wish that more of our fathers and mothers could have heard what he said about the increase in crime.

The criminal docket was completed Wednesday afternoon, but we were unable to get a list of all the cases tried, and will defer the matter for this issue.

There was much interest in the civil case brought by Brady Traylor of Norlina against the Seaboard Air Line Railway for $75,000 for damages received while he was at work for the road.

Another case that promises interest is brought by Evelyn Wicker against Sheriff G. H. sohnson [Johnson?] of Halifax county and Deputy R.H. Gray for $30,000. The plaintiff alleges that these officers killed S. J. Wicker in a whiskey raid without provocation. This case was sent to this county from Halifax County.

From page 5 of the Norlina headlight, Friday, Sept. 24, 1926

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Raleigh High School Graduates Now at College, Oct. 5, 1926

High School Students Attending College

Thelma Partin, N.C.C.W.

Hattie Williams, N.C.C.W.

Dorothy Evans, N.C.C.W.

Saide Rae Barnes, Peace

Octavia Bryan, Peace

Madeline Barnes, Peace

Katherine Pittman, Peace

Archie Allen, Carolina

Francis Houston, Carolina

Jimmy Barker, Carolina

John Harris, Carolina

James Allison, Duke University

Landon Winstead, N.C. State

Marion Plyer, N.C. State

Dick Bell, N.C. State

Carol Oldham, N.C. State

Norris Jeffries, N.C. State

Richard Tucker, N.C. State

Herbert Acton, N.C. State

Dick Mason, N.C. State

G.N. Henson, N.C. State

Charles Belvin, N.C. State

Lynn Maddry, N.C. State

Eugene Worth, N.C. State

Ada Spencer, N.C. State

Addison Simms, N.C. State

Burke Billisoly, N.C. State

Joe Trent, N.C. State

Bernard Crocker, N.C. State

Mortimer Forrest, N.C. State

Robert Simms, Wake Forest

Graham Denton, Wake Forest

Al King, Buie’s Creek

Mitchell Shipman, Buie’s Creek

William McNeal, Buie’s Creek

Editor's Note: N.C.C.W. is now UNC-Greensboro; Carolina is UNC-Chapel Hill; Buie's Creek is Campbell University.

From page 2 of The Raleigh Student, Oct. 5, 1926

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E.G. Adams, Pinebluff, to Head New Volunteer Fire Department, Sept. 24, 1926

Fire Protection for Pinebluff. . . Volunteer Fire Company Organized to Handle New Equipment

Pinebluff with their large new water system has purchased a nice fire truck. It is a Child’s equipment on a Reo chassis, a double tank chemical, and the have 1,500 feet of hose. Hydrants are on every corner in town. With their new large Desol engine and pump, it will force a stream of water 100 feet in the air.

The town commissioners appointed E. G. Adams fire chief.

On September 16, at the assembly hall at 8 p.m. a meeting was called by the fire chief there, and a good attendance.

The meeting was called for form a volunteer fire company. Officers were elected as follows: H. F. Gibson, assistant chief; D. G. Rose, captain of chemical company; Claude Ferguson, lieutenant of hose company; C. L. Austin, captain of hook and ladder company; Norman Van Boskick, lieutenant of hook and ladder company; and Levi Packard, secretary and treasurer.

The town is ordering a double siren for the fire signal, which will be put on a tower and connected to the telephone central office to be run in there.

From the front page of The Pilot, Vass, N. C., Friday, Sept. 24, 1926