The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-13
ST. VINCENT IS
NOW A DESERT.
The Hurricane Swept the Island Bare
of Vegetation.
THOUSANDS ARE STARVING.
OF the Population are
Dependent on Charity for Their
Brcad-An Appeal for Roots,
Slips or Seed of Food Plants.

Correspondence OF the Associated Press).
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, Nov. p.-The
results of calm investigation have proved
conclusively that so far from being ex-
aggorated the first reports OF the de-
struction wrought by the cyclone at St.
Vincent were rather short OF the actual
facts.
The island was literally swept abso-
lutely bare Of vegetation, the experience
OF 1lS1 being repeated; but, the full ex-
tent OF the devastation was not at first
realized owing to the difficulty OF COM
munlcation through the destruction OF
the roads and the coastal shipping.
APPEAL FOR AID.
The Governor OF the Windward Islands
has now sent an appeal to the neighbor-
ing Islands stating the facts AMI asking
that roots. slips and seeds OF potatoes,
cassava, yams peas and other economic
plants be forwarded as soon as possible
to enable cultivation 10 be restored.
His Excellency declares in a brief but
significant descriptive paragraph that
the whole aspect OF the landscape has
been changed. Instead OF the pervading
green common TO all tropical prospects,
IL is now a uniform dirty brown color
only relieved by long white poles-the de-
capltated columns OF palm and cocOanut
trees. Nothing in the way Of vegeta-
ton escaped the sweep OF the wind and
the subsequent securing out by tho de-
LUCE Of water, and the island Is practl-
cally desert Perhaps the most Inn
pressive feature. he adds, Is the absolute
stiffness that prevails. not only through
the absence OF the familiar rustic OF
vegetation IS the tra1e-wind sweeps over
IL, but also because OF the absence of
animal and even insect life. Birds, liz
ards beetles, snakes and. in fact, every
form OF animal life seems to have been
blown away or drowned out
The immediate result OF this on the
population IS most disastrous.
MANY DEATHS
Already several hundred deaths have
occurred from exposure AMI privation.
and diseases common 20 low vitality are
rapidly develplng among the people.
principally in the form Of ulcers. At
present about 5000 men are employed on
tho reconstruction OF roads and other
public wrks. but these represent only the
eighth Of tho population. and the others
hare 10 be provided for by tho distribu-
ton OF daily doles OF food rs this comes
in. But tho quantity IL barely sufficient
10 keep them alive. consisting OF a few
biscuits, a handful OF rice and a small
piece Of salt meat or fish Owing TO the
destruction OF vegetation there
is not even any fun 10 be found, and
many have 70 eat their allowance raw
which tends 10 augment the sickness
A tourist who visited the island writes
10 say that amid this fearful state or
affairs one feature particularly struck
him. That was the devotion OF tho dis
tresscd people 10 their families AMI re-
lations. As an illustration he cites the
case Of an old man whom he met limp
ing along with bapdaged feet. He was
taking two biscuits and a little -four and
rico 10 his sisters sick children in the
This had been all the allow
lnce his appeal had elected. except two
other biscuits which he had eaten. On
tho way he stopped occasionally 10 gath
pr small chips Of wood and dry grass
with which 20 cook the -four and rice,
Tor which he was very thankful. but ex-
pressed much anxiety rs 10 whether he |
would procure any matches wherewith |
10 make fire On the correspondent |
handing him a box Of matches his grail |
ude was urbounded.
y MI t+Afl-af III AfAf' isiss1tfs
Tho correspondent adds that he was |
through tho recent Indian famine and |
'pent n year in connection with the re-
ief work. and he had seen heartreading |
'cenes there, but nothing 10 approach |
he distress wrought by the hurricane |
n s. Vincent
The conditions prove how great Is the |
'apacity FOR endurance OF tho human |
rame for unless no had witnessed IL
leeoul1 not have believed that n popula-
ion could suffer so much and vet live.
To feels convinced that the British pub
ic does not realize the magnitude OF
he disaster. otherwise their c0ntribu-
Ions 70 tho relief fund would not have
Been 80 inadequate. Fifty thousand |
pounds would not 60 far in relieving st.
-incent alone. AMI yet the subscriptions
'or the three islands promise 10 fall short
4 that amount.