The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-08-11
TWO HUNDRED REPORTED LOST
Three United States Soldiers
Badly Injured.
cE.% rTLEvELLED TO THE GROUND
AZ Il of Couriers From Outlying Dis.
iS : Its is Anxiously Awaited-Coffee
Z - = Crop is Ruined and Loss VIII
= Reach Millions.
cK@ ..FLEvELLED TO THE GROUND

Sam Juan, de Porto Rico, August 10.-A
hurricane broke over the south coast at
o'clock Tuesday morning and swept north
west There was no abatement for nine
hours, the greatest damage being done be-
tween 8 and 10 a. m. The wires were down
and communication with the interior for a
time was carried on by couriers. At San
Juan four natives were drowned in the
harbor, eighty houses were demolished and
hundreds unroofed. The damage to prop
erty is estimated at 100000 Commissary
stores to the value of 5000 were destroyed.
A dispatch by cable from Ponce. sent at
10 O'Clock this morning, says the town was
almost destroyed.
Damage to Port 925, 900
Almost all the frame buildings in Ponce
are down, the bridge is swept away and
there is no communication between this port
and city proper. Damage to the port is
estimated at s25 900. Two natives are known
to have been drowned. The records and
property of the custom house are ruined.
All the vessels are ashore.
At Aibonito very little remains standing
except the cathedral and barracks. Four
natives perished and three United States
soldiers were badly injured AS the town
is without food, government relief has been
dispatched.
Cayey was levelled to the ground, 200
houses being demolished. Two United
States soldiers We're 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 $200,000
AT Bayamon a majority of the houses
were destroyed and the rest were flooded.
Two hundred cattle were killed and the
railway was seriously damaged. The viii
lage of Carolinea was literally razed At
Caguaas four persons were killed.
Destruction at Humacao
A courier arrived from Humanaco, capi-
tai of the province of that name on the
east coast of the island, reports awful de-
struction there. The loss to property is es-
timated at 100000 but this is the least item
in the disaster. The courier brought an
official report from Captain Eben Swift,
of the Fifth United States cavalry, who
says:
Humanaco was totally destroyed by the
hurricane. Forty-six bodies have been re-
covered and there are many more in the
debris. Eight privates of Company were
injured North a discharged private, is
missing. r. L.
AT the port Of Humanaco, eighteen bodies
have been recovered. Eight hundred peo-
pie are starving"
Three persons were killed at Las Piedras
and five at Junco.
Couriers from the other districts are
anxiously expected at the palace. The
steamer 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 coffee
crop is ruined and the loss will reach mil
lions. Very great injury has been done
also to the orange crop. No definite re-
turns have yet been received from the
southern sections of the islands apart
from Ponce. 1t is certain, however that
the food supplies in the stricken districts
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 Davis, governor general, has ca
bled to the war department an appeal for
assistance. -.