Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-08-16

Nearly / GOO lives and millions of dol
lars worth of property are new known
to have been destroyed by the hurricane
in Porto Rico and the ad doining islands
of the West Indies. Over 500 bodies
have been recovered. Gen. Davis tele-
graphs that 100000 people are destitute,
and the full extent of the fatalities is not
yet known. Not since 1876 has storm
OF such fearful violence visited these isl
ands. The War Department took prompt
measures of relief in the matter of food
for the stricken inhabitants OF Porto
Rico.
The track of the hurricane lay little
farther north than that of the storm
which damaged Barbados and Marti-
nique last year. Martinique seems to
have escaped entirely, but Dominica and
GIadaloupe, a little farther north, suffer-
ed severely. From these islands west
ward and slightly northward the hurri-
cane swept with terrific force. The small
British Islands of Montserrat Nevis, St.
ChrlStophers, and Antigua report a total
or nlnety-slX fatalities. of which over
three-fourths were in Montserrat Quad
aloupe lost over a hundred by death in
the storm. Coming up toward Porto Rico
the wind destroyed most of the houses
and churches in the Danish Islands of st.
CrolX and st. Thomas, with thirty deaths
reported from st. Croix. 1t is practically
certain that when the smaller and less
accessible islands in this Leeward group
are heard from the total death list will
be greatly increased.
The storm struck Porto Rico squarely
on the southeast coast, doing it's worst at
Humacao and at Ponce, though at San
Juan, on the north, much property was
destroyed and several deaths resulted.
The city and the port of Ponce are re-
ported as total wrecks, with a loss Of
life estimated in the hundreds. and a
damage of half million to property
The fatalities here seem to have been
caused chiefly by drowning in the river
flood that accompanied the storm. AS
all interior communications have been cur
off it is impossible to tell how much more
damage has been done throughout the
thickly popula ed eastern end of Porto
Rico.
After wrecking the southern coast Of
this island the hurricane continued it's
devastating the northern coast of San
Domingo and finally passing out upon the
Atlantic with modified force at Cape
Haytien. Along the whole track of the
storm there now exists much suffering
and starvation. A large amount of local
shipping has been swept upon the shore
and totally destroyed. When one remem-
bers that only a trife over a year ago
on
terirg Ponce the thought gives cause
for thankfulness that those crowded
transports were not caught In such
storm.
The terrific nature of the West Indian
hurricane has been famous for centuries.
This is one of the things we have an
neXed in Porto Rico, and one of the
things we cannot reform. But the signal
service can be extended and made so effi-
cacious in the Caribbean that the whole
region will be thoroughly prepared for
every such storm, so far as preparation is
possible. The weather bureau does not
appear to have done much in the present
case. The Government should take steps
to eqtip the West India weather service
as completely as possible for this work
These hurricanes can be predicted many
HOuIS DclOleudHu. us Is uOUe at the Ma
Mia observatory, and their direction can
be determined at the start. Though the
whirling motion of the air is incredibly
swift, the progressive advance of the
storm is comparatively slow, and with
improved cable communication between
the islands the whole archipelago can
easily be- warned of what to expect.
The only other palliative that the
American regime can offer to Porto Rico
regarding this scourge is by extending
aid and succor to the homeless victims.
Gen. Davis commanding In Porto Rico,
telegraphed asking for food. clothing and
money to help the unfortunate inhabit-
ants get on their feet again, and the
President indorsed the appeal.
In accordance Herewith the Secretary
of War sent out an appeal to the May
ors of cities for help for the destitute.
The Secretary also took steps for imme-
diate relief by ordering the distribution
of rations TO the sufferers by the army in
Porto Rico. The Secretary instructed
the commissary department to load the
transport Mcpherson at New York with
G00,000 pounds each of rice and beans
aud have it proceed to Porto Rico