Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-08-11
By Request of the President for
the Storm Sufferers In
Porto Rico. - =
DAMAGE is UNPRECEDENTED
Five Hundred Persons Killed in
ixs Ponce-lO0,O0o Are Utter :
ly Destitute.

WASHINGTON, August 11.-Secretary
Root has prepared an appeal to the peo-
pie Of the Unite1 States for aid to those
who suffered in Porto Rico, by the re-
cent cyclone. This action was taken
upon the receipt Of a telegram from
President Mckinley, suggesting that it
be done. The subsistence department
of the army in Porto Rico has been
directed to render such temporary aid
as can be given until supplies arrive.
LIVES LOST.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, August IL
It's now said SEQ persons lost their
lives at Ponce during the hurricane.
Terrible distress prevails there. Arroyo
on the south coast has been destroyed
and sixteen lives lost there. The town
is still submerged. AT Guayamo few
houses are still standing Seven per-
sons were killed there. A numberg of
houses were plllaged, the squads of SOL
diers unable to maintain order and
starvation threatens the, population.
The water supply Of San Juan has
stopped. The Coamo Spring hotel has
been wrecked. 1t belonged to the
Puerto Rico company of Philadelphia.
GIVING MORE DETAILS.
WASHINGTON, August 1.-THE war
department today received d cablegram
from General Davis giving fuller de-
tails OF the damage done at Puerto
Rico by the hurricane. General Davis
says famine is impending, aud asks au-
uhority to issue rationS to the destitute.
1he message is dated yesterday, and
says:
Later reports show the hurricane was
far more severe in the interior and
southern parts of the island than here.
Data for an estimate of the number OF
Puerto RIcans who lost everything is
deficient but am forced to believe the
number cannot fall below 100000, and
famine is impending L ask for two
aud one.hslf million pounds of rice and
beans, equal quantities of each to be
immediately shipped on transports to
Ponce. Some is wanted here. Urgent
appeals are made on all the, post
commanders for food for the destitute.
Am authorized to relieve the distress
by food, issues of rice and beans only
being desired. There have been many
deaths of natives by falling walls. So
fer only one soldier is reported danger
ously injured Several towns are re-
ported entirely demolished y As yetwe
have reports from only four ports.
Complete destruction of all the barracks
at two ana at two others one company
each had their barracks destroyed. The
troops are in canvas. No reports as
yet from the largest ports. Ponce and
Mayaguez, but they in the vortex of the
storm. At least half of the people of
Puerto Rico subsist entirely on fruit
and vegetables and the storm has en-
tirely destroyed this source of support,
DAVIS
FOR COPS SAKE, HELP Us.sasss-
WASHINGTON, August 1.-THE fol-
loving to General Schwan was today
received at the war department: l: rSan
Juan de Puerto Rico, August 10.-My
country Is devastated. For Gods sake
help us. (Signed) CaptainLugo Vina.
LuEO Ild Is uOIlO OiCdu BOACl al
whom Schwan met during the cam
palgn. st Pfs4 &tfkE
ALL THE WIRES DOWN.
PUERTO PLATA, August 1l--All the
telegraph lines are down and comnuni-
cation with the interior is impossible.
Railroad lines are also badly damaged
RELIEVING THE DISTRESS.
WASHINGTON, August 11.s-The war
department has taken prompt action
on General Davis report The army
transport Mcpherson has been ordered
to sail from New York to San Juan
and Ponce next Monday with supplies
to relieve the destitute in Porto Rico.
Acting sCommissary General Weston
has been ordered to purchase in New
York 600,G00 pounds of rice and 6O0,0CC
pounds of beans, to be shipped on the
Mcpherson. Such other food supplies
as may be obtained at the time the Nc
Pherson sails will he sent