Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-08-18
IN WEST INDIES
devastation Wrought in the
Island Of Porto Rico.
DEATH LIST WILL BE LARGE
r.. Property Loss Will Run Into the
Millions-One Hundred Persons Per-
,,hed In Montserrat.

San Juan de Porto Rico, Aug. Ia
A hurricane broke over the south Goa at
and swept northwest. There was no
abatement for nine hours, the greatest
damage being done between and 10
o'clock A. M. The wires were down
and communication with the interior
was for a time impossible. 1t is now
chiefly carried on by couriers.
At San Juan four natives were
drowned in the harbor; 80 houses
where demolished and hundreds were
uuroofed. The damage to property is
estimated at $500.000. Commissary
stores to the value of $50, 900 were de-
stroyed. A dispatch by cable from
Ponce, sent at 10 O'Clock this morning,
saws that the town was almost de-
stroyed. Almost all the frame build
irgs are down, the bridge is swept
away, and there is no communication
between the coast and the city proper.
The damage to the port is estimated at
$780, 900. Two natives are known to
have been drowned. The records and
the property of the customs house are
ruined and all the vessles are ashore.
At Abonito very little remains stand.
Ing except the cathedral and the bar
racks. Four natives perished and three
United States soldiers were badly In.
jured As the town is without pro-
visions, government relief has been dis
patched thither.
El Caney was leveled to the ground,
200 houses being demolished. Two
United States soldiers were injured
there and many cavalry horses killed.
At Catano, the entire plant of the
Standard Oil Company was ruined.
The loss Of the property is 5000. 900.
At Bayamon, a majority of the
houses were destroyed and the rest
we're flooded. Two hundred cattle
we're killed and the railroad was SER
iOusy damaged. The village of Caro-
lima was literally razed. At Caguas
four persons were killed.
A courier who has just arrived from
Humacao, capital Of that province, on
the eastern coast OF the island, reports
awful destruction. The loss to the
pOperty is estimated at $500, 900, but
Wis is the least item in the disaster.
The courier brought an official report
tlOm Captain Eben Swift, of the Fifth
United States cavalry, who says:
"Humacoa was totally destroyed by
the storm. Eight privates of troop G
we're injured. two fatally. Sergeant
King, of the Eleventh infantry, was
injured. North, aedischarged private.
missing. At the port of Humacoa,
VI bodies have been recovered. Eight
hundred people are starving here"
Three persons were killed at Las
rledras, and five at Junoo. Couriers
from the other districts are anxiously
expected at the palace.
The steamer Slocum, Captain
iihomas, enroute from Mayaguez to San
Juan, was caught in the storm. but
uef passengers and crew were saved
,hiough the heroism of Mr.. Single, the
fIst officer.
II, Ihe coffee crop is ruined and the loss
Will reach millions. Very great injury
Jus oeen done also to the orange crop.
NO definite returns have yet been re-
SlVed from the southern section OF the
sland' apart from Ponce. 1t is certain,
however that the food supplies in the
'Nicken districts have been destroyed
auu IN these quarters the quantity Of
sSU,ernment S,e stores on hand is small.
Aslief wagons will be sent tomorrow in
rarlous directions. Geneia al George w.
AVIS the governor-general, has cabled
S' ,ne war department an appeal for
MnnkanrHnA