The true northerner., 1899-08-16
RUIN N THE NEST INDIES
A Hurricane Causes Immense De-
srruction of Property and the
Loss of Many Lives.
WHOLE TOWNS ENTIRELY DEMOLISHED.
The Deaths I'm Ponce and Vicinity
VIII Aggregate 2,OOO-Other Places
Nearly DepOpuIated-Great Desti-
tuition Prevails and Appeals for
Aid Have Been Made.

bodies have been buried in the city of
Ponce, and il is estimated that 1000
persons were drowned in the Ponce dis
trict during the recent hurricane. The
number of the people of the lower
classes lost is not known, but it is GER
tain that there were few fatalities
among the persons of the better class
and none among the Americans. The
work of clearing away the debris pro-
crosses slowly.
Villages swept Away.
Yabucoa, Adiuntas and Humacao
were devastated and in some instances
entire villages were swept out of exist
ence. One hundred persons are report
ed to have been killed on a coffee plan
tation. Everybody is ruined and pesti-
lence is threatened The calamity, to-
gether with the commercial depression,
has produced terrible condition of af-
fairs. Both Americans and Porto Ri
cans demand the adoption immediate
ly of a definite, permanent policy on the
part of the government.
Port of ArecibO Destroyed.
San Juan de Porto Rico, Aug. 12.-
According to an official report received
here the port of Arecibo was destroyed
during the recent severe storm, the
place being inundated by water from
the ocean and the river. Two hundred
bodies are in the morgue there and hun
dreds of persons are missing. num-
ber of American citizens who lived on
plantations in the suburbs were
drowned. The commanding officer of
the district has ordered that the bodies
OF the victims of the disaster shall be
buried where they are found. San Juan
has been applied to for supplies.
According TO the latest report from
Yabucoa, so bodies were buried there
Wednesday, while the bodies of 200 VIC
Tins have not been recovered.
Aid for Porto Ricans.
Washington, Aug. 14.-Responses to
the appeal of Secretary Root for aid for
the suffering and destitute in Porto
Rico are coming in from the mayors of
the different cities in the most crafty
ing manner. Promises of money. food
and clothing are made. and il is said
that the work of relief will be com
menced at once and pushed with all
vigor.
The war department received two
dispatches from Gen. Davis Sunday
confirming the previous reports of
destitutiou and distress in Porto
Rico. Gen. Davis says thousands
will have to be fed for several
months. He estimates that 100.-
600 are homeless and destitute, and
asks for immediate shipments of food
and supplies. The preparations TO send
relief to the sufferers are progressing
rapidly
New York, Aug. 1.-THE response of
the citizens of New York TO the appeals
for assistance to the stricken Porto
Ricans will be generous. Miscellaneous
contributions have already been re-
ceived at the army headquarters pier
at the foot of Pacific street, Brooklyn.
The government stevedores loaded the
supplies on the transport Mcpherson
Sunday night. The Mcpherson will sail
for the hurricane-affiicted ports of Por-
TO Rico to-day. Beside the private con-
tributions she will take away $50 tons
of other supplies, including 100000
pounds of rice, 100000 pounds of beans,
some general cargo for San Juan and
$4,000 feet of lumber. The rice and
beans, which are substantial items of
diet with Porto Ricans, were ordered
bought by Commissary General Weston
as soon as the destitution of the Porto
Ricans became known. The Mcpherson
will reach San Juan about Friday noon.
Pension Report.
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE report of
Commission of Pensions Evans for the
fiscal wear ended June 30 last shows