The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-11
MANY DEAD WERE 4
LEFT IN ITS WAKE
CONTINUED From First Page.)

San Juan de Porto Rico. Aug. 10-A
hurricane broke over the South coast
at o'cock Tuesday morning and sweep
northeast There was mo abatement for
nine hours, the greatest damage beng
done between eight and ten O'Clock a. III.
The wires were down and communication
with the interior was for a time Hnpos
sible. 1t is now chiefly carried on py
couriers.
At San juan four natives We're drown
cd in the harbor; eighty houses were de-
molished and hundreds were unroofed
The damage to property is estimated at
100000, commissary stores to the value
of $4,000 We're destroyed.
A dispatch by cable from Ponce. sent
at 10 o'clock this morning, says the town
was almost destroyed Almost all the
frame buildings are down, the bridge
lis swept away and there is no commune
cation between the port and the city
proper. The damage to the port is esti-
mated at $250,000.
Two natives are known to have been
drowned. The records and property OF
the custom house are ruined, and all the
vessels are ashore.
At Aibonito very little remains stand
ING except the cathedral and the bar
racks. -Four natives persisted, and three
United States soldiers were badly injur-
ed. As the town is without food, Coy
eminent relief has been despatched
thither.
lei Caney was levelled to the ground.
900 houses being demolished. Two Uni
ted States soldiers were injured there and
many cavalry horses killed.
TNotopo Tho anfirn Ilont Of the
Standard Oil Company was ruined The
loss on the property is 100000.
At Bayamon, 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 We're killed.
4 courier who has just arrived from
Humacao, capital Of the province of
that name. on the eastern coast of the
island, reports awful destruction there.
The loss to property is estimated at
100000, but this is the least item in
the disaster The courier brought an
official 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 in
the debris Eight privates of Troop {
were injured. two fatally. Sergeant
King, OF the Eleventh infantry was in
jurede North, discharged private, is
missiAg. At the port Of Humacao eigh-
teeafd&dies have been recovered. Eight
hundred people are starving here"
Three persons were killed at Las
Piedras 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 We're saved through the heroism
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 vet been re-
ceiyed from the southern section OF the
island. apart from Ponce. 1t is certain.
however, that the food supplies in the
stricken districts have been destroyed,
and, i'm these quarters. the quantity of
Government stores on hand is small.
Relief wagons will be sent out tomor-
row in various directions.
General George w. Davis, the Gov
ernor General has cabled to the War
Department an appeal for assistance.
HURRICANE LOST FOR THE TIME
Washington. Aug 10.-The West India
hurricane, which has been raging since
early in the week. has been lost for tha
time being in the waters to the north OF
the eastern extremity of Cuba where
the Weather Bureau officials reported il
this morning. If it keeps i'm ats present
course the storm will reach Nassau in
the Bahamas tomorrow morning. Its
progress has been very slow averaging
about five miles an hour with a diameter
approXimating probably 800 miles.
Warnings have been sent to cities on
the South Atlantic coast. on the North
crn coast Of Cuba and the Bahamas adj
visins that all shipping remain in their
harbors until the storm has passed.