The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-13
NOW LIKE A DESERT WASTE.
st. Vincent Island Almost Swept Clean
of Vegetable and Animal Life.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov. 2.-The results
of calm investigation have proved conclu-
sively that so far from being exaggerated
the first reports of the destruction wrought
by the cyclone at st. Vincent were rather
short of the actual facts The island was
literally swept absolutely bare of vegeta
ton. The governor of the Windward islands
has now sent out an appeal to the neighbor-
ing islands stating the facts and asking that
roots, slips and seeds of potatoes, cassava,
yams, peas and other economic plants be
forwarded as soon as possible to enable
cultivation to be restored His Excellency
declares in brief but significant descrip-
tive paragraph that the whole aspect of the
landscape has been changed. Instead of the
pervading green common to all tropical
prospects, it is now uniform dirty brown
color, only relieved by long white poles-the
decapitated columns of palm and cocoanut
trees Nothing in the way of vegetation es-
capped the sweep of the wind and the sub
sequent securing out by the deluge of water
and the island is practically a desert Per-
haps the most impressive feature, he adds,
is the absolute stiffness that prevails, not
only, through the absence OF the familiar I
rustic of vegetation as the trade wind
sweeps over it, but also because of the alb
sence of animal and even insect life, Birds,
lizards 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 popu-
latiOn is most disastrous. Already several
hundred deaths have occurred from expos
ure and privation, and diseases common to
low vitality are rapidly developing. among
the people principally in the form of ulcers.
At present about five thousand men are en-
ployed on the reconstruction of roads and
other public works, but these represent only
the eighth of the population, and the others
have TO be provided for by the distribution
of daily doleS Of food as this comes in. But
the quantity is barely sufficient to keep them
alive consisting of a few biscuits, hand
full of rice and a small piece of salt meat
or fish Owing to the complete destruction
of vegetation there is not even any fuel 10
be found and many have to eat their allow
ance raw, which tends TO augment the SICK
ness.
saw that amid this fearful state of affairs
one feature particularly struck him. That
was the devotion Of the distressed people
to their families and relations As an Illus
tration he cites the case of an old man
whom he met limping along with bandaged
feet. He was taking two biscuits and little
flour and rice to his sisters sick children
in the mountains This had been all the
allowance his appeal had elected, except
two other biscuits which he had eaten On
the way he stopped occasionally 10 gamer
small chips of wood and dry grass Win
which to cook the -four and rice, for when
he was very thankful, but expressed mucn
anxiety as to whether he would procure any
matches wherewith to make fire. On the
correspondent handing him a box or matches
his gratitude was unbounded.