The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-08-18

Porto Rico, Aug. I4-Three hundred
bodies have been buried In the city OF
Ponce, and Il is estimated that 100
persons were drowned I'm the Ponce dir
trict during the recent hurricane TIE
number Of the people Of the lower
classes lost Is not KNOWN but il il cer-
tain that there were few fatalities
among the persons OF the better class
and none among the Americans The
work Of clearing away the debris pro-
crosses slowly.
Yabucoa, Adiuntas and Humaeao
were devastated and In some Instances
entire villages were swept out OF exist
ence. One hundred persons are report
ed to have been killed ON coffee PLAN
tation. Everybody il ruined and pesti-
1ence il threatened. The calamity, to-
gether with the commercial depression
has produced a terrible condition of at
fairs. Both Americans and Porto Ri
cans demand the adoption immediate
ly of definite, permanent policy on the
part of the government
San Juan de Porto Rico, Aug. 12-
According to an official report received
here the port of Arecibo was destroyed
during the recent severe storm. the
place being inundated by water from
the ocean and the river. Two hundred
bodies are in the morgue there and hun
dreds OF persons are missing. 4 num-
Der of American citizens who lived on
plantations In the suburbs were
drowned The commanding officer of
the district has ordered that the bodies
OF the victims of the disaster shall be
buried where they are found San Juan
has been applied to for supplies
According to the latest report from
4abucoa, 80 bodies were buried there
Wednesday, while the bodies of zoo vie
TINS have not been recovered
Washington, Aug 14-The West In
dian hurricane appears to be gradually
decreasing in strength and the chances
are that it will spend itself before max
ing much further progress. This is the
welcome news given out by the officials
of the weather bureau It is based ON
the fact that there has not been any
decided fall in the barometer in the 10
calities that should feel its effect and
by the presence of an area of higf, pres
sure in the northern part of the United
States, which tends to keep the storm
from continuing its onward march.
The movement of the hurricane is ap-
parent1y very slow, and even at Jack
sonville the velocity of the wind Sunday
morning was but 81 miles an hour. The
opinion of the officials is that by the
time Charleston is reached there will
be no more than an ordinary blow
Washington, Aug 14--Responses to
the appeal of Secretary Root for aid for
the suffering and destitute in Porto
Rico are coming in from the mayors of
the different cities in the most crafty
ing manner. Promises of money. food
and clothing are made, and It is said
that the work of relief will be COM
menced at once and pushed with all
vigor.
| The war department received two
| dispatches from Gen. Davis Sunday
confirming the previous reports of
destitution and distress in Porto
Rico. Gen. Davis says thousands
will have to be fed for several
months. He estimates that Ioo.-
600 are homeless and destitute. and
asks for immediate shipments of food
and supplies. The preparations to send
relief to the sufferers are progressing
rapidly.
| New York, Aug. 1.-THE response of
the citizens of New York to the appeals
for assistance to the stricken Porto
Ricans will be generous. Miscellaneous
contributions have already been re-
ceived at the army headquarters pier
at the foot of Pacific street. Brooklyn
The government stevedores loaded the
supplies on the transport McPherson
Sunday night The Mcpherson will sail
for the hurricane-affiicted ports of Por-
to Rico to-day. Beside the private con-
tributions she will take away 80 tons
of other supplies. including COG. coo
pounds of rice, 100000 pounds of beans.
some general cargo for San Juan and
$4,000 feet of lumber The rice and
beans, which are substantial items of
diet with Porto Ricans. were ordered
bought by Commissary General Weston
as soon as the restitution of the Porto
Ricans became known. The McPhers.sn
will reach San Juan about Friday noon.
|