The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-31
PATH OF HURRICANE
MAJORITY OF THE TOWNS IN POR-
TO RICO DAMAGED BY STORM
HEARD FROM
FIRST ESTIMATES TOO SMALL

Loss of Life and Destruction of
Property Much Greater Than Re
ure In the Millions - Several
Towns Were Totally Destroyed
Relief Is Still Needed.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
SAN JUAN DE PUERTO RICO, Aug.
IA majority of the larger towns and
cities of Porto Rico in the path Of the
great hurricane of Aug. s, have been
heard from, and the reports show that
the ruin and devastation and loss of life
eccasioned by wind and water, are much
greater than at first supposed.
At this time it is impossible to esti-
mate the loss of life with any degree of
accuracy, but Maj. John Clem, chief
quartermaster Of the department, who
has. visited a number Of the stricken
cities, estimates that at least 1900 people
have been killed by falling houses and
flying timbers or drowned, and that 5000
have been injured.
At Ponce $50 bodies have been buried.
and it is certain that the completed total
of that city and Barrios will aggregate
400. In Adobe 500 bodies have been re-
covered and 100 persons are missing. 1t
is thought that several hundred bodies
were swept out to sea
Reports from the towns made by post
commanders to the adjutant general Of
the department are as follows: Hua-
maco, $50 dead and 800 wounded; Cayey,
"a dead. and town entirely destroyed;
AibOnito 70 dead; Yabucoa, best estimate
175 dead-towu contained a population
of $500, and not house or wall was left
standing; Arroyo, all houses were blown
down by hurricane, and a few hours
later town flooded by water to a depth
of ten feet, sixteen people were known
TO have been drowned and probably many
Others persisted; Guayama, all buildings
excepting the great cathedral, unroofed
or otherwise damaged; thirty people
killed; Juana Diaz, five drowned; Nagua-
DO, town supposed to have been entirely
destroyed; Jayuya, half town swept away
by the river Mameas thirty dead.
Other towns in the path of the hurri-
cane from which incomplete reports
have been received and at which loss of
life has occurred, are: Las Piedras, Jun
cas-, Trujillo Alto Trujillo Bija, Yazs-
bella, Muanaba, Quebradillas, Lares, Ha-
tillo, CiaHes, Yuaco, Grinica, Patillas,
Utuado, Adjuntas.
The towns Of Bayamon and Cuigas,
in the district Of San Juan, suffered
greatly -Four deaths occurred at Ca
euas. The rarge towns Of Caymas, Aqua
and Cagaminta, on the west coast, and
Agualmonto, on the east coast, suffered
very little.
MILLIONS IN LOSSES.
The property loss on the island will
amount to many millions. The coffee
and grain crops have been ruined, and
cther crops have suffered greatly. At
S4,any towns and villages all food supplies
have been exhausted, and despite the
fact that the governor general and post
commanders are doing all in their power
to supply food, 1t Is very probable that
many deaths. from starvation will occur
The coast towns can easily be supplied
by boats from the capital, but there Is
little hope for the destitute in the remote
interior.
The wealthy natives here, with a few
notable exceptions, show little DISPOSE
ton to contribute to the relief Of the
sufferers and in a number Of cases
priests have refused to allow the home
less shelter in the churches.
From any place where soldiers were
stationed come glowing accounts,
through native channels, of their hero
ism and bravery in saving lives and
property. In a number Of cases the SOL
diers gave up their own quarters to the
sick and wounded No soldiers We're
killed, but at least fifty were wounded
while engaged IN the work of rescue.
With the exception of two in Ponce, no
American lives We're lost.
Gov. Gen. Davis has created a perrna-
nent board of charity for the island, and
to it will be referred all applications for
relief The appointments are as follows: