Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-08-11
ISLANDS DEVASTATED.
Awful Destruction by Hurricane
In West Indies.
PORTO RICO SUFFERED GREATLY.
Hany Lives Lost-TOwns Almost Wiped
Out-General Davis Appeals For Aid
For Hungry and Homeless - Reports
From other Islands.

san JUAN DE PORTO Rico, Aug. IL
Four native were drowned IN the har-
Dor here during the recent hurricane,
so houses were demolished and hun
dreds were unroofed. The damage to
property is estimated at 100000. Com
missarv stores to the value of $4,000
were destroyed.
\ dispatch by cable from Ponce said
the town was almost destroyed. AL
most all the frame buildings are down,
the bridge is swept away and there is
> no communication between the port
and the city proper. The damage to
the port is estimated at about $3.50, 900.
Two natives are known to have been
drowned. The records and property of
the customhouse are ruined and all the
vessels are ashore.
at Aibonito very little remains stand
ing except the cathedral and the bar
racks. Four natives perished and three
United States soldiers were badly in
jured. AS the town is without food,
government relief has been dispatched
thltber.
FL Cayey wGs 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 company was ruined The
loss on the property is about 100000.
At Bayamon II 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 Caroline was literally
razed. At Caguas four persons were
killed.
A courier from Humaeao, capital of
the province of tnat name, on the east
ern coast of the island, reported the
loss to property was estimated at about
$4,000 The courier brought an Off
cial report from Captain Eben Swift of
the Fifth United States cavalry, who
says: "Humacao was totally destroyed
by the hurricane. Forty-siX bodies
have been recovered and there are
many more Ill the debris, Eight pri-
fatally. Sergeant King OF the Eleventh
infantry was injured. North, a dis
charged private, is missing. At the
port of Humacao Is bodies have been
recovered. Eight hundred people are
starving here.
Three persons were killed at Las
Piederas and five at Junco.
CourierS from the other districts are
anxiously expected at the palace. The
steamer Slocum, Captain Thomas, en-
route from Mayaguez to San Juan. was
caught in the storm, but her passengers
and crew were saved through the hero
ism of Mr.. Single, the first officer.
The coffee crop is ruined and the loss
will reach millions.
Very great injury has been done also
to the orange crop.
No definite returns have yet been re-
Ceived from the southern section of the
islands, apart from Ponce. 1t is GER
tain, however, that the food supplies in
the stricken districts have been de-
stroyed, and in these quarters the quan-
tity of government stores OH hand is
small. Relief wagons will be sent out
in various directions.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The secre-
tary of war received report from
General Davis, commanding in Porto
Rico, OH the cyclone He told of some
damage to government property at vari-
Gus places, loss of two lives at San
Juan by two small schooners sinking,
shi pping ashore at Ponce and then said:
"Ihe losses by the Inhabitants is
very great and extreme suffering must
result. The last hurricane us severe as
this was i'll 1916, when owing to the loss
of houses, fruit and provisions there
was famine. | would suggest public
notice in the United States to the effect
that contributions of food, clothing and
money for the destitute would be re-
ceived with the greatest gratitude and
will be applied strictly TO relief of des.
titute. Have appointed board to su.
pervise destitution. There are many
thousands of families who are entirely
homeless and very great distress must
follow
Authorities here believed all naval
vessels to be safe.
ST. THOMAS. D. w. l., Aug. 1.-THE
island OF Moptserrat, British West In.