The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-18

Nearly 1000 lives and millions of dol
lars worth of property are now known
to have been destroyed by the hurricane
In Porto Rico and the adjoining islands
Of the West Indies. Over 500 bodies
have been recovered. Gen. Davis tele-
graphs that 100000 people are destitute,
and the full extent of the fatalities is not
yet known. Not since 1876 has storm
of such fearful violence visited these ISL
ands. The War Department took prompt
measures of relief in the matter of food
for the stricken inhabitants of Porto
Rico.
The track of the hurricane lay little
farther north than that of the storm
which damaged Barbados and Marti-
nlQue last year. Martinique seems to
have escaped entirely, but Dominica and
Guadaloupe, a little farther north, suffer-
ed severely. From these islands west
ward and slightly northward the hu1ri-
cane swept with terrific force. The small
British Islands of Montserrat. Nevis, st.
Chrlstopher's. and Antigua report total
OF ninetE-siX fatalities. of which over
three-fourths were in Montscrrat. Quad
aloupe lost over a hundred by death in
the storm. Coming up toward Porto Rico
the wind destroyed most of the houses
and churches in the Danish Islands of st.
Croix and st. Thomas. with thirty deaths
reported from st. CroiN. 1t is practically
certain that when the smaller and less
accessible islands in this Leeward group
are heard from the total death list will
be greatly increased.
The storm struck Porto Rico souarely
on the southeast coast, doing its worst at
Humacao and at Ponce, though at San
Juan, on the north. much property was
destroyed and several deaths resulted.
Ihe city and the port of Ponce are re-
ported as total wrecks, with a loss OF
life estimated in the hundreds. and a
damage of half a million to property.
The fatalities here seem to have been
caused chiefly by drowning in the river
Hood that accompanied the storm. AS
nll interior communications have been cut
OFT 1t is impossible to tell how much more
damage has been done throughout the
thlckly populated eastern end of Porto
Rico.
After wrecking the southern coast of
TINS island the hurricane continued ito
westward and slightly northward course,
devastating the northern coast of San
Domlngo and finally passing out upon the
Atlantic with modified force at Cape
Haytien. Along the whole track of the
storm there now exists much suffering
ana starvation. large amount of local
shipping has been swept upon the shore
and totally destroyed When one remen
bers that only tritie over year ago
Gen. Miles and his expedition were en-
tering Ponce the thought gives cause
Tor thankfulness that those crowded
transports were not caught in such =
storm.
ihe terrific nature of the West Indian
hurricane has been famous for centuries.
Inns Is one of the things we have an
neXsd in Porto Rico, and one of the
thlEgs we cannot reform. But the signal
service can be extended and made so eff
caclous in the Caribbean that the whole
region will be thoroughly prepared for
every such storm, so far as preparation is
possible. The weather bureau does no,
appear to have done much in the present
case. The Government should take stems
to equip the West India weather service
as completely as possible for this work
ihcse hurricanes can be predicted many
hours beforehand, as is done at the Ma
mia observatory, and their direction can
be determined at the start. Though the
Whlrilng motion Of the air is incredib,v
swift, the progressive advance of tha
storm is comparatively slow, and With
improved cable communication between,
the islands the whole archipelago con
easily be warned of what to expect
The only other palliative that tba
American regime can offer to Porto Rico
regarding this scourge is by extending
aid and succor to the homeless. victims
Gen. Davis, commanding in Porto Rico
telegraphed asking for food. clothing and
money to help the unfortunate inhabit-
ants get on their feet again, and the
President indorsed the appeal.
In accordance herewith the Secretary
of War sent out an appeal to the Nav
ors OF cities for help for the destitute.
The Secretary also took steps for imme-
diate relief by ordering the distribution
of rations to the sufferers by the army in
Porto Rico. The Secretary Instructed
the commissary department to load the
transport Mcpherson at New York with
100000 pounds each of rice and beaps
and have it proceed to Porto Rico ot
once.