The Bourbon news., 1899-08-15
THE HURRICANE.
Ponce, P. R.. Almost Destroyed, Near
ly All Frame Houses Down.
Damage to the Port Estimated at S25O.oOo
There Was Awful Destruction Of
Property on the Eastern Coast
Large Number of Lives Lost.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE weather
bureau issues the following hurricane
bulletin: Hurricane centers apparent
ly approaching Nassau, Bahama. Storm
will increase in intensity upon reach
ing the Gulf stream, and will probably
reach the South Atlantic coast towns
of the United States Friday night.
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, Aug. IA
A hurricane broke over the south
coast at o'clock Tuesday morning and
swept northwest. There was no abate-
ment for nine hours, the greatest dam
age being done between s and 10 a. m
The wires were down and communica-
ton with the interior was impossible.
1t is now chiefly carried on by couriers.
1t is now said that 500 persons lost
their lives at Ponce during the hurri-
cane. Terrible distress prevails there.
Arreyo, on the south coast has been
destroyed, sixteen lives were lost there
and the town is still submerged in wat
er.
At tGuayamo the houses are still stand
ing. Seven persons were killed there.
A number of houses were pillaged,
squads of soldiers were unable to
maintain order and starvation threat
ems the population.
At Abonita very little remains stand
ing except the cathedral and barracks.
Four natives perished, and three Unit
ed States soldiers were badly injured.
AS the town is without food, govern
ment relief has been dispatched
thither.
Ell Cayey was leveled to the ground,
200 houses being demolished. Two
United States soldiers were injured
there and many cavalry horses killed.
At Catano the entire plant of the
Standard Oil Co. was ruined. The loss
on the property is 5000, 600.
At Bayamo a majority of the houses
were destroyed and the rest were
flooded Two hundred cattle were
killed and the railway was seriously
damaged.
The village of Carolina was literally
razed. at Caguas four persons were
killed.
Amessage by courier from Humacao,
Porto Rico, town of 5000 inhabitants,
reports the complete destruction of
that place by the storm. Sixty-four
persons lost their lives and the injured
number over 200. The loss to property
is estimated at $4,000, 600. Yabucao,
another Porto Rican town, shared a
like fate. Twenty persons were killed.
Three persons were killed at Las
| Piedras and five at JUNO.
Couriers from the other districts are
anxiously expected at the palace. The
steamer Slocum, Capt. Thomas, en-
route from Mayaguez to San Juan,
was caught in the storm, but her pas.
sengers and crew were saved through
| the heroism of Mr.. Single, the first
officer. The coffee crop is ruined, anG
the loss will reach millions. Very
great injury has been done also
to the orange crop. No definite re-
| turns have yet been received
from the southern section of the island
apart from Ponce. 1t is certain, how
ever, that the food supplies in the
| stricken districts have been destroyed
and in these quarters the quantity Of
government stores is small. Relies
wagons will be sent out Friday in var
ious directions.
| WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE Yves
Indian hurricane appears to be gradu
ally decreasing in strength and tn
chances are that it will spend itsel
before making much further progress
This was the welcome news given ou
by the officials of the weather bureau
Sunday night. 1t is based on the fac
that there has not been any decide,
fall in the barometer in the localitie
that should feel its effects and by tn
presence of an area of high pressur
in the northern part of the Unite
States, which tends to keep the storm
from continuing it's onward march.
1t is now south of Jacksonville, in
dicating a slow northward movement
since Saturday night. The bureau ha
no wire reports south of Titusville
Fla, some distance below Jackson
vile, since Saturday night, and moth
ing from Nassau, Bahama islands
since Friday afternoon. The follow
ing message has been sent to the Phi
adelphia and New York maritime e1
changes and to other shipping poin t,
'Storm still central in Florida, bu
with decreased strength. Condition
safe for vessels sailing north at a
points from Wilmington, N. c., north
ward"
Monte Christi Besie yed.
CAPE HAYTIEN, Aug. 14.-Mont
f Christi is now besieged by the in
f surgents and the town is without pro
visions.
| Dramatic Suicide.