The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-08-18
A STRICKEN ISLAND.
One-f1fth of the Porto Rican
Dwellings Destroyed.
GREAT SUFFERING FOLLOWS STORM.
The Number of Deaths Cannot BE
Accurately Told, but Will Exceed
a ThOusand-SurvivOr Need
Food and Clothing.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The fol-
lowing are the dispatches received by the
war department from General Davis yes
tcrday:
"rhe true state of affairs throughout
the island not yet known because of total
destruction of all telegraphic connections
and great destruction on ell roads Not
more than one-fOurth towns yet heard
from, but enough is known to warrant
the statement that one-ffth of the dwell
ings in the island are totally destroyed,
and the owners are without any shelter
whatever or any food beyond what has
been saved from the debris. The coffee
crop and most of the trees are ruined,
and thus reliance for support is gone.
"Fully one-third of the people subsist
entirely on fruit and a small degree on
tubas. All the former is destroyed, and
much of the latter are rottlng IN the
ground Great many thousands of cattle
are drowned, and the debris carried
down by the rivers is strewn over the
ocean with the wreck of the storm and
the dead bodies of animals. The deaths
from falling walls and drowning Will
number more than 1000 and may be
several times that number. The state OF
distress is very great, and when green
fruits saved from the debris are consum-
ed the suffering will be still greater.
81 am relieving the suffering every
where within reach as much as possible,
but in out of the way places are many
thousands who cannot be reached for
some time. The supplies ordered sent by
the government will help much, but Will
last only for a few days, while destltu-
ton must continue for many weeks or
Al, hn hon
from the ground for which five months
at least are required. Food of all kinds
is needed, especially rice, beans and cod
fish. which has been the main support
outside of fruit. Cheap cotton clothing
is also needed, for thousands rushed
naked from their dwellings at night when
the gale broke.
medicines are also needed most press
ingly, especially quinine and other sim
pie medicines. | estimate that at least
1000 tons of food will be required week
" for several weeks. / have constituted
boards all over the island to regulate as
sistance and a general board here to con-
duct the relief work. While | have not
vet full data, | repeat the estimate that
at least 100000 people are homeless and
destitute The relief ration proposed IS
one pound of food per day, composed OF
seven ounces of beans, seven ounces of
rice and two ounces of Goldfish. In addi-
ton to the food ordered by the McPher-
son | ask that $500 tons in the above
proportions be shipped next week. Be
fore this is consumed l will have full
data respecting future needs, but l rear
extensive issues Of provisions Will be
necessary for several months.
81 shall push work on the roads and
give employment to as many as possible.
| hope the charitable people of the
states will contribute food, clothes, medi-
cines and money Colonel Hofer, chief
surgeon of the department, is chairman
of the board of relief, and auxiliary
boards are organizing in all the towns.
Five military posts have not yet been
heard from"