The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-16
THE TIMES. RICHMOND VA. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1899

down the wlnd.swept streets and had
been thrown by the hurricane against the
strong church.
That afternoon we all went home early.
too tired and too scared 20 discuss the
proba BILE casualties All were busy taking
IN the homeless ones; and when the sun
set on Tuesday night l. and the others In
our department had each az many as
twenty guests. poor people whose rude
houses had been torn down by the storm.
No sooner were We IN bed than we sank
into a deep slumber only TO be awakened
by the shouts Of "the water, the water.
Rushing 10 the window | saw. coming
up the street a great black current which
rose every minute and grew broader ana
more angry as It advanced. The tidal
wave. the tidal wavel' some one shouted
from a nearby window, and up came the
water rushing to drown his voice lie
was on the first floor and was the hrst
victim In our street. We saw him swept
out into the vast sweeping abyss and
carried on.
RUSHING TORRENT.
on, that night What the wind had
not done the storm now did The ran
fell IN torrents and the waters Of the
bay rose until they seemed TO MI the
town. Then. with a roar Ike thunder
the water mains broke and the great res
ervoir Of fresh water came seething down
into the salt tide. The streets we're I'M
passarle and the hOusetOps were fun An
that night we stayed upon the roof when
fortunately sustained MS and watched the
tide carry others down stream WIN
ropes We rescued no less than ten ana
could have rescued many others had we
boat. for there were at times calm pools
I'm which the waters seemed to rest, only
to swirl round and round FOR fresh at
tack. How the waves dashed against the
houses and how they broke them ana tore
them from their foundations. IL was ter-
rible Trees came nOating down tht
streets bodies passed by. houses saheu
along filed with persons, only the oIu
stone church stood and after four hours
Of the beating water We began 10 leel our
own house give way beneath us ana 3"
notice that 10 had changed IFS posllioh'
being borne along some 100 ieet iur'h'i
down the street
When day broke again the waters hau
subsidized, but what city was fonCo'
Smiling. fair beautiful Ponce Ponce tho
tranquil with the golden sun ever SHINING
down from a sky so glorihed tnat INC
Spanish saints saw there In the Gays 81
miracles, the Golden CITY through 'l9
clear ether. Ponce once orderly anu
beautiful. lav desolated and death streWh.
Ponce. rich. and with store-houses ia'eh
with sugar. tea and coffee was pennies
with fits stores wet and swept down INTO
the sea.
AN AWFUL THIRST
rr4 I never
felt such a thirst Before night we hau
drank the water from the dogs I'M ana
in the evening I waded a mile tnrousH
the awful human debris TO gather the
water from filter which stood, ! knew
in one OF the government buildings pre-
ci0us water which would soon eNaP'i"'e
and for drop Of which my youhse5'
child was por'shing. No one TOOK otihN,
We molstencd the children's mot ms anu
gave them bite Of apple ana cIeiuiy
kept from them all sweets or suen loous
as would provoke thirst. They nesseu
for the preserved fruits which STOOD upo"
the shelves FOR their liquid contents as-
eravated them and made their mouths
water: but we hld them away knowing
the awful thirst from stomach hileu
with sweets
And how the others suffered. Professor
Dorroe. noted chemist, spent an Gay
striving TO r.d the sea water OF us saIt
and for his pains was rewarded Win
fortune in coffee from wealthy planter
who had saved one storehouse loaded Tor
the fall export. No one had anything
yet an gave such as they had.
BY and by relief came. A steamer
came up the bay and there was carried
through the streets cart loads or spN-
peas and behind the carts came
wagon load Of water Of wh en- an eou1a taN'
pint An. Yes but that was not many
two thousand were missing from Ponce 5
list NJ citizens and of those who livci
there were many who could not outllNs
the 6av. Five thousand they say now
dled here and on the nearby Islands but
surely no place suffered as Ponce.
Then ali the men did yeoman duty.
Yet lt was not much that could be done.
The wounded were carried into tempo
rary hospitals mostly churches, ana ru1e
roofs az cloth were spread over them
The dead were left in the streets and to-
dav they are covered with tree branches
and AN the litter and clutter OF wood
vegetation. ponce's streets are gone
Ponce's fair beauty thing OF the past
and they will ten OF 30 some day lnst rs
they tell OF the beauties Of the III Do
RADIO Of Mexico that falrest OF all El
Dorados. where the streets We're of gold
and honey grew n the streets for all men.
But Ponce lies desolate. A great founda-
ton. now. for American enterprise to
rear upon ns ruins city that shall boast
a wealth and strength that win be be-
yond storms. $500,