Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-14
OVER 1000 DEAD.
Death and Ruin in Track Of
West Indian Storm.
Fully 100000 People Estimated to Be
Homeless and Destitute.
Gen. Davis Cables That They Must Be FED Tor
Several Months.

Washington, Aug. 1.-Two dis
patches from Gov. Gen. Davis Of Porto
Rico giving additional details Of the
fearful havoc wrought by the hurri-
cane Of last week were received at the
war department. today They We're i'm
mediately sent 10 Secretary Root. who
already has taken measures for dis
patching relief to the people Of the is-
land.
The secretary expects that the trans
port Mcpherson, with a large quantity
Of rice and beans, will leave New
York. tomorrow, ana this win be fol
lowed by other vessels Az fast as ar
ranEemcnts can 10 made for sending
supplies.
lie thinks il ~ the duty of tho gov
eminent ID make provisions Tor feed
ing the people until the ala voluntarily
given ~ the citizens " the country
reaches them and ne viii exhaust every
means al his disposal 10 this end.
The secretary coniemplatrs supple
mrnting the appeal made, last week, to
mayors u assist IN raising subscrip-
lions. ana. tomorrow. Mil issue an .ap-
peal to the governors NJ the states
with ylrw jo arnusing general inter
rst il tI- relief work
The dispatches received from Gen.
DAVIS We're sent Ia nv President III
Lake thampI1iH tonight.
The following ARE the dispatches re-
c-iycd hy thc war department from
con. Davis. tudy.
san Juan. Via Iayti
The ,rur state uf affairs throughout
| til, island NOT yrt known, because No
thr total destruction "a a'l Geographic
connections ana great destruction uu
ll rut,s. Nut more than fourth
towns yrt heard from. but enough is
known ~ warrant tine statement tina
"n"-ffth NJ thu dwellings IN tn Stands
Irr totally destroyed ana their owners
arv without any shelter whatever. W
u,y food beyond what has been Styrd
from tha debris Thu coffee crup ANA
most of the trees ar. ruined ana thus
reliance fur support is gone.
Fully thirI Nj TIN people sub
si@t entirely un fruit ana small a.
gree uf tuhas. All th- former IN NV
stroycd ana much w thr latter art rut-
ting in the ground. Great many thoua-
1nds of cattle are drowned ana tile
debris calF,od down hy the rivers II
. 'ailt'NA II 'Nti liit- tttIN Win ttlt' Nit'- a.
~ the storm ana the dead bodies uf
animals.
The deaths from falling wallis ana
drowning win number more than 1000
ana may ~ several times this number.
The state NJ distress ~ Very great and
kWhtn green fruit saved from the debris
al" consumed. the suffering viii b.
vesy great.
"a am relieving the suffering every
wher within reach Az much as posi-
HE. Iut in out-Df-the- way places arc
many thousands who cannot b. reach
"a for-sume time. The supplies order
"a by On government viii help much
but VIII lasI only for a few days. while
destitution must continue FOR some
weeks or even months until the ban
anas grow NJ from the ground. for
which five lnonths AZ least are required.
Food q 4 kinds IL needed. especially
rice. beans and Goldfish, which has been
m main sulport outside NJ the fruit.
Cheap cottnns !uthinE IL also much meet
cd FOR thousansi- rushed naked from thar
dwellings az nib when Inv gale brok.
Medicines are y. su needed most press
ngly. especially aunin- ann other simple
medicines
II estimate that Al least Iuun tons "
food viii ~ requir. 4 weekly for several
i
the island 10 regula IN assistance ANA "A
general board here ~ conduct thr relief
work While ! nave 4iut yrt fill data
repeat the estimate taut at least lnu uIo
people are homeless arr destitute
Relief ration proposed unt pnt,sd of
food per day, compose.t Mi seven ounce,
uf beans. seven ounces III r.C- ana twu
ounces of goldfish. IN acdi.inn " thr fnnI
ordered by the McPherspn. ask that 35tu
tons. above proportions. q huuli be -EIpnatt
next week Before thi, 4s consumed /
i.,f "a t.,e 4
needs but | fear tAteusivr issues w pro
visions VIII be nectss ary for several
months.
IL sinai! push work Oh ,he roads ana
give employment to Az many AS possible
! hope the charitable peoile ~ the states
VIII contribute f99d. clSi hes medicines
ana money. Cnl. Hoter. chi,f surgeon ot
the department. is chairman uf the board
ot relief ANA auxiliary boa rds ARE nr1sln-
izihg ~ All the towns. Five military post
not yci heard from. DAVIS
Gen. Davis second dispatch:
san Juan, via Ha&ti. Aug. IL.
Further bit stlil INCOMPLETE reports
confirm previous reliable reDtrts as con
scrvatiyc. Suggest an appoint ,ment VI Off
Ger in New York to receive jrrlief funds
ana supplies cabling quantities ana kind
shipped on each boat Col. iiofcr, med,
cal dcpartm cnt charge relied work here
Should b. shipped. this week. not less
than 500 tons food. Best 40 be sent
beans. rice ana cheap grtdc goldfish
Money viii ~ applied IN assisting to ~
builu houses ana hutS ana hire III help
II recommend that bags for sugar ana
coffee. all kinds Of rough Number for
building ana fencing. hooks slaves ana
hoops tor sugar packing, ana galvanized
iron ana nails for roofing purposes W
placed on first list. ! haN(. authorized
employment Of labor for rebuilding bar
racks at cIyeNa ANA Aibomab, wholly az
struyed.'