The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-11
HUNDREDS DEAD.
Further Details of the Hurri-
canes Work.
The Storm Struck Ponce at
Midnight.
NO WATER OR LIGHT.
Every Building In the City
Was Damaged.
Hundreds of Houses We're En-
tirely Destroyed.
VESSELS GO ASHORE.
Warning Was Issued But Ponce
Didn't Get 1t.
All the Crops In the Vicinity
Ruined.

San Juan de Porto Rico, Aug.
lit is now said 500 persons lost their
lives at Ponce during the hurricane.
Terrible distress prevails there.
Arroyo, on the south coast, has been
destroyed. sixteen lives were lost there
and the town is stilr submerged in wa
ter.
At Guayamo the houses are still
standing. Seven persons were killed
there. A number of houses were pill
aged, squads of soldiers were unable to
maintain order and starvation threat
ems the population.
The water supply of San Juan has
been stopped. The Coamo Springs
hotel has been wrecked. 1t belonged to
the Porto Rico company of P'hiladel-
HELP TO BE SENT.
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE war de-
partment has taken prompt action on
Gen. Davis report The army trans
port Mcpherson has been ordered to
sail from New York to San Juan and
Ponce next Monday with supplies to
relieve the destitute in Porto Rico. Act
ing Commissary General Weston has
ordered the purchase in New York of
600, 600 pounds of rice and 800, 600 pounds
son. Such other food supplies as may
be obtained at the time the Mcpherson
sails will be sent on that trip.
Gen. Schwan today received the fol-
lowing appeal by cable:
San Juan de Porto Rico. Aug. 10
My country is devastated. For Gods
sake help US (Signed),
CAPTAIN LUGO VIVA.
Lugo Vina is one of the Porto Ricans
whom Gen. Schwan met during the
campaign.
WORST EVER KNOWN.
Ponce, Aug. 1.-THE worst storm
ever experienced struck this place
Tuesday morning at o'clock and lasted
two hours. It came from the northeast.
Ponce was flooded at midnight and at
least 800 persons were drowned
Two hundred bodies, mostly those of
poor people, and including many chill
dren. have been recovered. All the
buildings are damaged and hundreds
have been destroyed. The soldiers and
firemen worked all night heroically saw
ing lives.
There is no drinking water, gas or
electric light The commissary stores
at Playa were destroyed. the city is
short of food and the army of officers
are distributing rations.
Fifteen vessels in the harbOr were
driven ashore.
The weather bureau predicted the
storm, but it is claimed Ponce was not
warned.
A mob of 1000 persons threatened the
alcalde. Porrato Doria, but they were
dispersed by the Fifth cavalry.
The alcalde has been deposed on ac-
count of negligence.
Major Myers of the Eleventh infan-
try is acting as alcalde in response to
popular demand.
The sum of $4,000 will be needed to
clean the streets. The sanitary condi-
tion is serious and assistance is needed.
All the crops are totally ruined. the
wires are all down and little news is
Obtainable from the interior
Abonita. including the barracks. has
been destroyed; but no lives lost there.
Juan Diaz has been devastated. Forty
six lives were lost there.
Arroyo, Guyana, Salinas and San
Isabel are reported to have been totally
demolished.
The railroad between Ponce and
Yauco has been destroyed and the mil
itary road is impossible. The river is
flowing over the road for two miles
Mayaguese escaped serious injury.
Bananas are the sole food here.
The poems have gone to San Juan and
its vicinity, which are comparatively
uninjured.