Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-11
LARGEST TOWN IN PORTO RICO AL
MOST SWEPT AWAY.
HURRICANE COST MANY LIVES
NEARLY 100 PERSONS DROWNED
AT HUMACAo.
Several United States Soldiers Among
the Killed at Various Points
Damage Mt san Juan Esti-
- mated at Half a Mill
ION Dollars.

SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO. Aug TO-
The hurricane that broke over the south
coast at 1 o'clock Tuesday morning and
swept northwest. continued without abate-
ment for nine hours, the greatest damage
being done between s and 10 o'clock a. m.
The wires were down and communication
with the interior was for a time impos-
sible. 1t is now chiefly carried on by
couriers.
At San Juan, four natives were drowned
in the harbor; eighty houses were demol-
ished and hundreds were unroofed. The
damage to property is estimated at $780,
900. Commissary stores to the value of
$JoO.OOO were 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 is swept
away, and there is no communication be-
tween the port and the city proper. The
damage to the port is estimated at $780,
900. Two natives are known to have been
drowned. The records and property of the
sells are ashore.
At Alibonito very little remains standing
except the cathedral and the barracks.
Four natives perished and three United
States soldiers were badly injured. AS the
town is without government. relief has
been dispatched thither.
Ell Caney was leveled to the ground. 200
I,
States soldiers were injured there and
many cavalry horses killed.
At Catano the entire plant of the Stand
ard Oil Company was ruined. The loss on
the property IS 100000.
At Bayamon d majority of the houses
were destroyed and the rest were flooded
Two hundred cattle We're killed and the
railroad was seriously damaged. The viii
lage of Carolina was literally razed. At
Caguas four persons were killed.
a courier who has Just arrived from HUI
macao, 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 Cap
tain Eben Swift, of the Fifth United States
cavalry, who says:
"Humacao was totally destroyed by the
hurricane. Forty-six bodies have been re-
covered and there are many more in the
debris. Eight privates of Troop C were
injured, two fatally. Sergeant King, of the
Eleventh infantry, was injured. North, a
discharged private, is missing. At the port
of Humacao eighty-one bodies have been
recovered. Eight hundred people are starry
ing here"
Three persons were killed at Las Piedras
and five "a Junco.
Couriers from the other districts are anx-
iously expected at the palace. The steam
er Slocum, Captain Thomas, en- route from
Mayaguez to San Juan, was caught in the
storm. but her passengers and crew were
saved through the heroism of Mr.. Single,
the first officer
The coffe 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 received
from the southern section of the island,
apart from Ponce. 1t is certain. however,
that the food supplies in the stricken dis
tricts have been destroyed, and in these
quarters the quantity of government stores
on hand is small. Relief wagons will be
sent out tomorrow in various directions
General George w. Davis, the governor
general, has cabled to the war department
an appeal for assistance.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-The secretary
of war to-day received the following report
from General Davis, commanding, in Porto
Rico, on the cyclone of last Tuesday:
SAN JUAN, PORTO RICO, Aug. g.
Hurricane of extreme violence passed over
Porto Rico yesterday. The principal mill
tary loss at San Juan, one temporary COM
pany barrack wholly destroyed, some quar-
termaster property damaged. No personal
injuries yet reported, but all wires are
down. No injury to shipping here, save
two small local schooners sunk, two sailors
drowned. San Juan lights temporarily dis
abled. Gable reports from Ponce say all
shipping is ashore. Custom house sheds
badly damaged and goods stored therein.
Messengers from two interior posts tell of
barracks unroofed and personal and public
property damaged. The losses to the in
habitants is very great and extreme suffer-
ing must result. The last hurricane severe
as this was in 1876, when, owing to loss of
houses, fruit and provisions there was
famine l would suggest public notice in
the United States to the effect that con-
tributions of foods, clothing and money for
the destitute would be received with the
greatest gratitude and will be applied
strictly to the relief of the destitute. Have
appointed board to supervise restitution.
There are many thousands of families who
are entirely homeless and great distress
must follow. DAVIS, Commanding"
ST. THOMAS, ID. w. l., Aug. 10.-The
island of Montserrant, British West Indies,
was completely devastated by a hurricane
Monday. All the churches, estates and viii
lages were destroyed, and nearly 100 per-
sons were killed. In addition many were
injured and rendered homeless, and ter
-ih Of hR
At Point-a-Pitre, Island of Guadeloupe,
immense damage was wrought, and, ac-
cording to a report not yet confirmed, l02
persons were killed.
In the Island of st. Croix, the largest of
the Virgin islands, the destruction was ap-
palling. 1t was chiefly wrought at the west
end, where the smaller houses are a tan
gled mass of wreckage. Thirty persons
were killed, and the inhabitants are in
great distress.
The Noble Scottish Game