The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-10
PORTO RICO IN ITS TEETH
HUNDREDS OF NATIVE HOUSES
REPORTED DESTROYED.
CAVALRY AND SIGNAL B4RRACKSl RUINED
Signal Officer Gassfcrd an San Juan Reports
Mary Public Building Demolished,
Telegraph and Telephone
Poles ProS'rated

Washington, Aug. 9.-Meagre details
of the West Indian cyclone began to
reach the Navy and War Departments
late this afternoon in the shape of the
following messages:
tSan Juan de Porto Rico, Aug. 8.
"Adjutant General. Washington:
"Terrible hurricane; cavalry barracks
destroyed; store houses and other build
ings damaged; iron roofing and lumber
required.
lSigned) GLEN"
"San Juan de Porto Rico, Aug, 9.
Signal Office Washington:
Cyclone just passing over island pros
trated telegraph and telephone lines;
several killed; my quarters wrecked and
signal barracks partially demolished.
Many other public buildings likewise;
hundreds Of native houses destroyed;
centre and south probably Jared worse.
(Signed.) ''GLASSFORD."
The Navy Department late this after
noon received cable from Captain
Snow, in command of the naval station
at San Juan de Porto Rico. announcing
that the hurricane had destroyed about
$1,000 worth of property at the station
there.
EXCITEMENT AT KINGSTON.
Kingston, Jamaica, Aug. 9.-The bar
ometers are alarmingly low here, and
Turks ISLAND reports a hurricane blow
ing with rapidly falling barometer at
$3.50 p. M, causing great excitement.
DANISH WEST INDIES SWEPT.
st. Thomas, ID. W., August IA
severe hurricane swept over the island
of St. Cr0iX Monday night The lowest
barometer was 2912. Much damage
was done, but no deaths have yet been
reported. The force of the storm was
also experienced at st. Thomas, hnt
the damage done was slight. Negro
huts We're the chief sufferers. Enormous
seas, however, did damage to the
wharves, but there was no loss of life.
st. Kits and Antigua are believed
to have suffered, but communication
with those islands is temporarily in
terrupted.
Later advices from ST. kits said that
ON Monday afternoon a very severe hur-
ricane with a velocity of seventy-two
miles destroyed about 200 small houses
III llie lON lS tllu tlu COioluSl dpiC udhl-
agg to the estates. No fatalities were
reported.
Antigua also suffered severely in dam
age to estates and buildings in the towns.
There were few fatalities.
Later reports from st. CroiX increase
the amount of damage done there. Near
ly every estate has been wrecked, the
large buildings in the towns have been
umroofed, stock has been killed and a
minimum of eleven deaths has occurred
among the laborers.
HURRICANE CENTER LOCATED.
Washington, Aug. 9.-Cable commune
cation with the Lesser Antilles has again
been restored and reports received today
make it evident that the hurricane center
is probably somewhere to the northward
of Santo Domingo or Porto Rico.
MANY SMALL BOATS LOST.
Washington, Aug. 9.-The following
cahegram has been received at the State
Department:
Point Pitre, Gualdeloupe Island,
August s.
Secretary of State, Washington:
Serious hurricane suddenly commenc-
ed at 10 yesterday morning. Blew Sc
verely until night. Roof United States
Consulate blown off. Everything, wraps,
personal property total loss. Great many
small boats lost. The damages in this
city are great. No details from the coun-
try; wires down.
(Signed) tAYME,