The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-06
WAS IN THE HURRICANE
Former Great Falls Woman's
Thrilling Experience.
THE PORTO RICO STORM
Mrs. Florence Fleming Sends Graphic
Description OF the Cyclone-They
Lost Nearly All They
Had.

Areat Falls, Sept. 5.-Mr. and Mrs.
F. George HEIDI of this city have re-
ceived from their daughter, Mrs. Flor
ence Fleming, wife of Lieut.. L. ]. Flem-
ing of the 5th cavalry, stationed at
Mayaguez, Island of Porto Rico, let
ter describing the terrible hurricane
which recently swept over the island.
Peculiar interest attaches to the let
ter since it relates the personal adven-
lures of a young lady who grew up in
this city and is known by every one
here, but more than this the storm is
reproduced by the graphic description.
The Letter in part reads as follows:
Il suppose you have read of the ter
rible cyclone we have had here. We
have lost nearly everything we own.
The storm began about o'clock in the
morning. Mr.. Fleming did not think
it would be very bad. so started over
to the barracks. In about an hour it
was at it's height and continued that
way until about / o'clock, when it sub
sided a little. Then in about an hour
we got the other side of it, which lasted
all night, and with it came the most
terrible rain l ever saw in my life.
About $3.50 o'clock i was standing by
the door watching the storm, when
from the back of our house came the
most terrible crash and then an inn
mense piece of iron roofing was thrown
on the veranda, just missing me-, From
that time on came one crash after an
anther. l was alone, except for two
native servants, who were worse than
no one, for they kept up a constant
bowling. | never was so terrified in
my life. Our entire roof went; one end
in a
house. solid well built stone house.
shaking and rocking as in a severe
earthquake and the rafters were blown
off. OF course the rain came down as
though a cloudburst, and any minute l
thought that the walls would fall in
on us.
Mr.. Fleming came home at /: Is p. m
and ] was then in about four inches Of
water. He was absolutely exhausted
when he got home, bringing doctor
with him. He said the wind would
actually throw you back and take your
breath away He just escaped being
killed by a window, which was blown
out and dropped just back of him.
Many were killed who went out on the
streets. There was not a spot in our
house as large as pin head that was
dry. / tried to cover up as many
things as possible, but it rained the en-
tire night and everything got wet
ished unpacking our things and had
been a week working at 1t. Our house,
every one said. looked lovely and now
everything Is ruined except our silver
and chinaware. Our rugs are total
loss; the water soaked our furniture so
that it is all unserviceable and my
dresses are all ruined with the eXcep-
tion of one. have been wearing bor-
rowed clothes ever since. Our house
was one of the worst damaged. Many
were blown entirely down and many
had the walls blown in. The river rose
and flooded the town.
Furniture, pictures, rugs, bedding,
books, hangings, etc, We're ruined We
have moved our things into another
house until ours can be repaired. We
are busy drying our clothes, linens, etc,
trying to save some. Mildew is so
quick here that nearly everything was
spoiled before We could get it out to
dry.
Lieutenant Schofield had the same
experience, but fortunately his furni-
ture had not arrived He lost his
clothes, however; Colonel Carr also.
The back part of Captain Almy's house
blew down, but fortunately the front
stood the storm, so he lost compare
lively little In Ponce alone a thou
sand lives were lost, and in many of
the towns not a house is left stand
ing.
1.-THE coffee crop, sugar, bananas and
all fruit are ruined and the suffering
here is something terrible. They say
we did not get the center of the storm.
Well, never want to be in the center
If we were near the edge. l hope and
pray I never will have another such
experience. I have been through two
cyclones within the past year, this one
and one at Brunswick, Ca, and don't
want any more. The water has green
effect on everything. and of course all
going around in a dressing sack, as
my shirt waists are all stained. We
certainly are a detected looking pair;