Thanks Wxman for that model graphic.
For those interested, quote from article posted at AOML on the Labor Day surge:
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Storm_pages/labor_day/labor_article.htmlOver a distance of about 30 miles, from the settlement of Tavenier (about 25°01' N., 80°32' W.) to Vaca Keys, the destruction of buildings, roads, viaducts, and bridges was practically complete. Much of this damage was caused by the overwhelming depth and strong washing flow of the storm tide that piled up on the Keys under the driving power of the storm. The tracks of the Florida East Coast Railroad were completely destroyed where they crossed between islands and were shifted bodily off their roadbed over long stretches on the Keys. An 11-car train, sent to Lower Matecumbe Key in an effort to rescue inhabitants, was washed from the tracks and only the locomotive withstood the force of wind and tide.
The disposition of debris and nature of the erosion of the railroad embankments clearly indicate that the destructive tide flowed with an intense effect over the Keys from southwest to northwest, in the direction of advance of the storm center.
As is usually the case, the destructive effects extended considerably farther to the right than to the left of the path of the center. Had there been no accompanying tide, the damage undoubtedly would have been severe but by no means so complete as that resulting from tidal inundation. The track and crossties of the railroad were in one stretch washed off a concrete viaduct 30 feet above ordinary water level, but wave action superimposed on the tide no doubt play a part in this destruction. Reports agreed in the description of the great rapidity with which the rise of the sea came in from the southern side of the Keys as a "wall of water" or a "high wave."
from J.E. Duane's report
6 p.m.---Barometer 28.04; still falling. Heavy rains. Wind still N., hurricane force and increasing. Water rising on north side of island.
6:45 p.m.---Barometer 27.90. Wind backing to NW., increasing; plenty of flying timbers and heavy timber, too---seemed it made no difference as to weight and size. A beam 6 by 8 inches, about 18 feet long, was blown from north side of camp, about 300 yards, through observer's house, wrecking it and nearly striking 3 persons. Water 3 feet deep from top of railroad grade, or about 16 feet.
7 p.m.---We were now located in main lodge building of camp; flying timbers had begun to wreck this lodge, and it was shaking on every blast. Water had now reached level of railway on north side of camp. (Ed. Note---This was water rapidly piled up from the shallow expanse of Florida Bay, under the drive of northerly hurricane winds.)
9 p.m.---No signs of storm letting up. Barometer still falling very fast.
9:20 p.m.---Barometer 27.22 inches; wind abated. We now heard other noises than the wind and knew center of storm was over us. We now head for the last and only cottage that I think can or will stand the blow due to arrive shortly. All hands, 20 in number, gather in this cottage. During this lull the sky is clear to northward, stars shining brightly and a very light breeze continued; no flat calm. About the middle of the lull, which lasted a timed 55 minutes, the sea began to lift up, it seemed, and rise very fast; this from ocean side of camp. I put my flashlight out on sea and could see walls of water which seemed many feet high. I had to race fast to regain entrance of cottage, but water caught me waist deep, although writer was only about 60 feet from doorway of cottage. Water lifted cottage from its foundations, and it floated.
10:10 p.m.---Barometer now 27.02 inches; wind beginning to blow from SSW.
10:15 p.m.--The first blast from SSW., full force. House now breaking up---wind seemed stronger than any time during the storm. I glanced at the barometer which read 26.98 inches, dropped it in water and was blown outside into sea; got hung up in broken fronds of coconut tree and hung on for dear life. I was then struck by some object and knocked unconscious.
Several things strike me: The big surge from the oceanside coming in the lull in the eye (on Long Key, to the left edge of the eye). The first flooding on Long Key was from the bayside and reached at least 16 feet. To the right of the eye, the train that was derailed was washed toward the bayside (on Upper Matecumbe Key). And the railroad ties being washed off the viaduct "30 feet" above normal water level -- but that being on top of the viaduct, it seems possible there was a seawall effect, the surge smashing into the viaduct and shooting upward much higher than even the waves and surge would have been where it could flow over land.