The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-14

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-TWO Dispatch
es from Gov. Gen. Davis. OF Porto Rico,
giving original details Of the fearful havoc
wrought by the hurricane OF last week.
were received at the war department to-
day. These were Immediately sent to Sec
retary Root, who already has taken meas
ureS for dispatching relief to the people Of
the island. The secretary expects the
transport Mcpherson. with a large guam
tity OF rice and beans, will leave New
York tomorrow, and will be followed by
vessels as fast as arrangements can be
made for sending supplies. He thinks it
Is the duty OF the government to make
provision for feeding the people until the
aid voluntarily given by the citizens of the
country reaches them. and he will exhaust
every means at his disposal to this end
The secretary contemplates supplement
Ing the appeal made last week to the may
ors to assist in raising subscriptions, and
tomorrow will issue an appeal to the gov
ernors Of the states with a view to arous-
ing general interest in the relief work.
The dispatches received from Gen. Davis
were sent to the president at Lake Cham
plain tonight.
Gen. Davis Appeal for Aid.
The following are the dispatches re-
ceived by the war departn mt from Gen
Davis today:
San Juan. Porto Rico. Aug. Is
''vta Hayti.
1.-THE true state Of affairs throughout
the island Is not yet known. because OF
the total destruction OF all telegraphic
connections. and the great destruction to
all roads. Not more than one-fourth OF
ho vat hoo vd h,,t ,,
is known to warrant the statement that
one-fifth OF the dwellings in the island are
totally destroyed and their owners are
without any shelter whatever or any food
beyond what has been saved from the de-
bris. The coffee crop and most Of the
trees are ruined, and this reliance for sup
port is gone Fully one-third OF the peo-
pie subs.st entirely on fruit and a small
degree on tuhas. All the former is de-
stroyed and much Of the latter are rot
ting In the ground. Great many thou
sans OF cattle are drowned and the de-
brfs carried down the river is strewn over
the ocean with the wreck OF the storm and
the dead bodies OF animals.
Deaths Are Over q Thousand.
'~rhc deaths from falling walls and
drowning will number more than a thou
sands and may be several times this num-
Der. lac state OF distress Is very great,
and when the green fruits saved from the
debris are consumed the suffering will be
very great. i am relieving the suffering
everywhere in reach as much as possible
In out-ofthe-way places are many thou
sands who cannot be reached for some
time. lac supplies ordered sent by the
government will help much, but will last
only for a few days, while destitution
must continue for many weeks or som.
months until the bananas grow up from
the ground. for which five months at least
are required. Food OF all kinds is needed,
especially rice. beans and goldfish which
has been the main support outside OF
fruits.
4 Hundred Thousand Homeless.
Cheap cotton clothing IS also needed, for
thousands rushed naked from their dwell
inss at night when the gale broke. Medi-
clnes are also needed most presssngiy,
especially quinina and other similar medi-
cineS I estimate that at least 1900 tens
OF food viii be required weekly for sew
erai weeks l have constituted boards al,
over the islands 20 regulate assistance
and a general board here TO conduct the
relief work While have not vet faii
data, repeat the estimate that at least
ioaeoe people are homeless and destitute
Relief ration proposed One pound Of
food per day. composed % seven ounces
~ bsana seven ounces of rice and two
ounces OF goldfish. In addition 10 the food
ordered by the Mcpherson. ask that = 900
tons. above provisions, should ha sntpped
next week Before IL Is consumed will
have full data respecting future needs
but I fear extensive issues q. provisions
will be necessarily fer several months
shall push work or the roads ami give en-
rloymeut 70 as many as possible here
the charitable People of the states viii cogi-
tribute food, clothes. medicines ans money
Col. Hofsr, chief surgeon OF the fepart-
| snsnt Is chairman ot the relief board. and
auxiliary boards are Organizing IN al The
tewns. Five military posts not vet heard
| from DAVIS"
Much IL Needed.
Gen, Davis second dispatch:
San Juan. Porto Rico. via Hays,
Aug. I3
Further. IA. sfsll incomplete reports
confirm sse previous cable reporfs as cor~
ssvvatsss, | suggest an appointment Ct
an estacsr n NeS York 20 receive the re-
seg funds sn5 supplies cabling TIE essants-
ties ana kinds <siprs9 each bat -
Cot Eoser MEDICAL Department In charge
cs relief work here. There should be
shipped this week not less than : zoe s0ns
ef foc1 The best 10 To- sent is heans.
rss~s. ara cheap grade az ceafsA. Co.ton
elasa!rg ara esarSe eotsna cloths 3a esHces.
and nss<fles ana tATva.s are a.ss needed
Tne rrsoney ALI be applied Ia assisting to
resssssa houses and sE,s and the aire az
- I enannnznanA tAAs bAsD tog sugar