The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-08-23
TWO THOUSAND PERSONS KILLED
PORTO RICAN STORM.
One Third OF the Island Deprived Of Commu.
nication-Many Children Dying From
Hunger-Crops Destroyed.

The appalling conditions existing in
Porto Rico as the result of the hur-
ricane of August s were made more
fully known to the war department
last Thursday by Gen. Davis in a dis
patch, which says the deaths outright
IN the island will reach 1000. while
many are dying daily from injuries
and privations. Gen. Davis adds:
The stores coming on Mcpherson
VIII be in time. for | am supplying
most pressing needs at all accessible
points with stores now on hand.
80 great is destruction Of roads that
there Is no communication yet with
one-third of the island. The command
ing officer at each of the IL posts is in
spector of relief for his district and he
is detained in every municipality col
lecting data and relieving most press
ing needs. | have furnished each in
spector with similar funds and given
authority to issue food from army sup
plies one soldier died of injuries;
other injured will recover. Many
thousands private cattle and horses
drowned. Larger part Of deaths Of ma
tlves from drowning"
A dispatch from San Juan says:
Communication with the distressed
districts Is still only partly open.
Arecibo was devastated by the hur-
ricane and later was flooded by the
Arecibo and Manati rivers. Two hun
dred bodies have already been recover
ed and hundreds more are missing. 1t
is thought they were swept into the
sea.
The town was inundated to n depth
of six feet. The town is now rapidly
filling up with starving persons from
the country. Only four soldiers were
drowned, but all are without shelter.
Capt. McComb and his men did valiant
service In saving life. Forty persons
were rescued from floating wreckage.
thousand head of cattle were lost
there.
At Naranzatio two persons are known
to have been killed, a thousand are
homeless. Meretus Is destroyed. At
Ciales 20 persons We're killed. Many are
missing at Barcelonita. Seven resi-
dents were killed. At Cayeye the death
roll is at least 90.
1t is impossible to estimate the loss
of life and property in the country dis
tricts. Every river Is still swollen and
passage is well-nigh impossible.
The crops are totally destroyed.
Children are dying by hundreds from
starvation and exposure. All the peo-
pie are floclOing to Bayamon for food
and shelter.
A courier has arrived from Yabucca.
He says that the town was demolished
by the storm. Already so bodies have
been recovered, and 1t is estimated
that 200 persons are wounded. What
makes the present distress greater is
the fact that a month ago all public
improvements We're stopped owing to
the lack of appropriations. Thousands
of persons We're then thrown out of
employment \ renewal of public
works would be n great relief.
Gen. Davis says the latest reports
show the disaster to be greater than
he had anticipated and extends over
the whole island He is doing every
thing in his power to alleviate the suf-
fering and has every confidence in
generous results from his appeals tn
the American people. Where possible
the troops that lost their shelter in the
hurricane have been ordered to San
Juan.