The Topeka state journal., 1899-08-10
PONCE IN RUINS.
The Town and Port Are Totally
Wrecked.
Hurricane Caused the Rivers to
Overflow.
TWO HUNDRED DROWN
Damage to Property Over Half
Million.
Two Hundred Houses Destroyed
In st. Kits.
Island Of MOntserrat Complete
ly Devastated.
TWO HUNDRED DROWN

Ponce, Aug. 1O.-A hurricane struck
mere at O'Clock Tuesday morning and
lasted until p. m The rivers over
flowed, flooding the town. 1t Is esti-
mated that 200 persons were drowned
The town and port are total wrecks. 1t
is believed the damage done will
amount to over $500, 600. No news has
been received from the interior since
the storm broke.
200 HOUSES DESTROYED.
St Thomas, D. W. L, Aug. 1O.-Later
sdvices from st. Kits said that on
Monday afternoon a very severe hurri-
cane, with a velocity of Y miles, des-
troyed about 200 small houses in the
towns and did considerable damage to
the estates. No injuries are reported
Antigua also suffered severely in
damage to estates and buildings in the
towns. There were few fatalities. Later
report from st. Croix increase the
amount of damage done there. Nearly
every estate has been wrecked, the large
buildings in the town have been un-
rooted, stock has been killed and a min
imum of eleven deaths has occurred
among the 1aborers.
COMING THIS WAY.
Kingston, Jamaica, Aug. 1O.-Turzs
Island reports that the cyclone passed
during the night after doing trihing
damage. The center of the disturb
ance is apparently progressing north
ward toward the American coast.
100 KILLED ON MONTSERRAT.
ST. Thomas, D. w. L, Aug. 1O.-The
island of Montserrat, British West In
dies was completely devastated by
hurricane Monday. All the churches,
estates and villages were destroyed and
nearly 100 persons were killed. In addi-
ton many were injured and rendered
homeless and terrible distress exists
among the sufferers.
GREAT DAMAGE IN GUADALUPE.
Paris. Aug. 1O.-Advices from La
Pointe-a-Pitre, Island of Guadalupe,
say the cyclone did enormous damage
to the interior of that island, a number
of coffee and cocoa estates being de-
vastated. Me MOurle, a suburb, was
half destroyed. There were a. number
Of fatalities.
St. Jean advices say the cyclone caus-
ed great destruction in Porto Rico,
whence it passed northward to DOnin-
lea and thence to Cape Haytien and the
eastern end of Cuba
THOUSANDS HOMELESS.
Washington, Aug. 1O.-The secretary
of war today received the following re-
port from Gen. Davis, commanding in
Porto Rico, on the cyclone of last Tues
day:
San Juan, Porto Rico, Aug. 9.-Hur-
Porto Rico yesterday. The principal
military loss at San Juan, one tenpOr-
ary company barrack wholly destroyed.
Some quartermaster property damaged.
No personal injuries yet reported but
all wires are down. No injury to ship
ping here save two small local schoon-
ers sunk, two sailors drowned. San
Juan lights temporarily disabled. Gable
reports from Ponce say all shipping is
ashore Custom house sheds badly
damaged and goods therein. AIessen-
gers from two interior posts tell of bar
racks unrOOfed and personal and public
property damaged. The losses by the
Inhabitants are very great and extreme
suffering must result The last hurri-
cane as severe as this was in 1876 when
owing to loss of houses, fruit and pro
visions, there was famine. I would sug-
gest public notice in the United States
to the effect that contributions of food
clothing and money for the destitute
would be received with the greatest
gratitude and will be applied strictly
TO relief of destitute. Have appointed
q board to supervise destitution. There
are many thousands of families who
are entirely homeless and great distress
must follow. (Signed),
DAVIS. COmnanding"