New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-30
HAVOC BY THE HURRICANE
AN ACCOUNT FROM THE BAPTIST MIS-
SIONARY AT SAN JUAN

The Rev Thomas J Morgan. corresponding Sec
rotary Of the American Baptist Home Mission So
ciety has Just received from the Rev. II. p. Nc
Cormlck the Baptist missionary at San juan Porto
Rico. letter dated August Il. which IS in part.
During the night We we're frequently stirred by
premonltOry gusts. but by o'clock the wind was
high enough for me think best 10 get all hands
# was blowing eghty-nye miles an hour. ana kept
~ tl IN The afternoon at a lessening rate by
o'clock the roof was off large part OF our dwell
ling house. and every room with the most fortu-
nate exception Of Miss Hayes $, was drenched. All
piled up on Miss Hayes's hed-the only dry spot
In the house bored augur holes I'm the floor az
the door and kept the food from the other rooms
from running into hers. The rain continued IN tor
vents during dHeSdg ns ana bay 9i m9 'ease m
Chursday) drying out Everything moulded. books
are well and grateful that We Jared so far beyond
our deserts. I believe YOU will not be impatient
over these personal details.
It m went up r. our sarrot WIN hammer me
and the church that We all love 80 much was
hack IN ,he Fri Vas NOT rroterted and mo Tin
peeled of early in the morning Every ROOM with
the exception of the corner Of the church room.
was for dfteeH hours as wet as water could make
VAS riad TO learn hat thev had spent most Of The
flowers. orange trees cocoanut palms and vegeta,
not be very great. I am having # rooted to-day.
and brethren are giving their time. sun they
forced TO hire carpenters and timers and buy some
material They saved most OF tho roofing, though
Il had blown all about the block.
There viii be great distress. In the town folks
can help each other. but In the country there IS
already great suffering Houses dashed down into
corn. bread fruit and an tree fruits destroyed.
Many Of the poor lived by getting advances on their
crops: he summers work and hopes destroyed I'm a
DAY. for ten or hiie'h DAYS therc VIII De green
corn. etc. to eat after that the suffering will be
gin we must have help. Already have given be
yonl my means for cases OF distress which no one
with dollar I'm his pocket could refuse 20 help:
and II IS feared from news that comes I'm 10y cou-
riers that other parts Of the island have Jared
worse | went into San Juan yesterday and saw
prominent gentlemen. stated the case 70 them and
arranged for n united effort and "a united appeal
FOR help TO the United States
The best thing 10 do IL ~ press the President 20
hasten the franchises. 50 that the many companies
ploNment 20 the nun irrdS VINO VIII presently ne
suffering the pangs Of hunger Everything depends
upon his doing this. The Porto Rcans are not
lazy. they are anxious % work. and surely after
waiting all this time the hour has come when
American capital should be permitted TO under
take the improvements which, by giving them
somethug TO 40 viii keep hundreds ON hundreds
from Intense suffering. My heart Is sad over the
situation. and hope you viii he allie 10 do much
Rico In this season OF extremity Caguas Aibonito,
Caycy havc-couriers who are Just I'm say-surered
us 10 expect news or extreme disaster. Am much
CONCERNED about the Rudds, especially Tor Mrs.
ffoplt mere come 10 me expecting me as an Amerl-
can ana ns a minister 10 assist Am trying 20
GET the town people to arrange for some united at
tempt NJ succor or the nccdicst
If possible Will you not Instruct US 20 assist some
OF the most deserving cases at the Boarfs tx
many calls for doing very much
The san Juan news just received saws that only
four houses are left standing In Ahonlto This is.
The worst suffering viii be IN the back country dis
tricts; Our city Hall * packed with the unhoused
and five times while writing this letter have had
TO go TO the door to hear stories OK sorrow. Our