The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-14
DETAILS OF THE STORM
General Davis Makes a Report Of Its Raw
ages in Porto Rico.
FOOD AND CLOTHING MUST Be SENT At ONCE
rpbabitnnts Arc Destitute and n
Famine Is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In
tepsity Is Decreasing.

|
from General Davis OF Porto Rico, giving
additional details of the fearful havoc
wrought by the hurricane of last week,
were received at the war department to-
day. They were Immediately sent to Secre-
,ary Root, who already has taken meas
ures for dispatching relief to the people
of the island. The secretary expects tnat
the transport Mcpherson, with large
quantity Of rice and beans, Will leave New
York tomorrow and will be followed by
other vessels as fast as arrangements can
be made for sending supplies. He thinks
1t Is the duty of the government 10 make
provision for feeding of the people until
the aid voluntarily given by the citizens
of the country reaches them, and he VIII
exhaust every means at his disposal to this
end.
The secretary contemplates supplement-
ing the appeal made last week to the
mayors to assist in raising subscriptions
and tomorrow viii issue an appeal to the
governors of the States with view 10
arousing general interest in the relief
work. The dispatches received from Gen
eral Davis were sent to the PRESIDENT AT
Lake Champlain tonight.
The West Indian hurricane appears to be
gradually decreasing in strength and the
chances are that 1t will spend itself be-
fore making much further rogress This
is the welcome news given out by the of
ficials OF the weather bureau tonight. 1t
is based on the fact that there has been no
decided fall in the barometer in the local
tiles of Florida and the South Atlantic
coast
The movement OF the hurricane is APP
parently very slow and even at Jackson
vile the velocity OF the wind this morn
ing was but twenty-five miles an hour.
The opinion of the officials is that by the
time Charleston is reached there Will be
no more than an ordinary blow. Whining
ton, N. c., and Norfolk have taken down
their hurricane signals. The storm now
appears to be on the east coast of Florida
and the news from Jupiter at O'Clock
this morning indicate pretty severe blow.
1t is now south of Jacksonville, indicating
slow northward movement since last
night. The bureau has had no more re-
ports south of Ttusville, Fla, some dis
lance below Jacksonville, since last night
and nothing from Nassau, Bahama is
LANDS, since Friday.
The following message has been sent
to the Philadelphia and New York mari
time exchanges and other shipping points:
Storm still central in Florida but de-
creased in strength; condition safe for
vessels sailing at all points from Whining
ton. n. c.. northward."
The following are the dispatches re-
ceived by the war department from Cen
eral Davis today:
San Juan, Porto Rico, via Hayti.-The
true state of affairs throughout the island
is not yet known, because of the total
destruction OF all Geographic connections
and great destruction on all roads. Not
more than one-fourth of the towns vet
heard from, but enough is known to war
rant the statement that one-hfth of the
dwellings in the island are totally de-
stroyed and their owners are without any
shelter whatever or any food beyond what
mas been saved from the debris.
The most OF the trees are ruined and
thus the fruit crop Is gone Many peo-
pie subsist entirely on fruit and in
small degree on tubas All the former
is destroyed and much of the latter are
rottng in the ground. Great many thous-
ands of cattle are drowned, and the debris
carried own the rivers is strewn over the
ocean with the wreck of the storm and
the dead bodies of animals.
The deaths from falling wallsN and
drowning Will number more than a thous-
anG and may be more than several LINES
great and when green fruits saved from
the debris are consumed the suffering will
De great. | am relieving the suffering
everywhere in reach as much as possible,
put In out of the way places there are
thousands who can not be reached for
some time. The supplies ordered sent by
the government will help much, but will
iasl only for few days, while destitu-
ton must continue for many weeks or
fha ho,,a
from the ground. for which five months
al least are required Food of all kinds
Is needed, especially rice, beans and cod
hsh' which have been the main support
outside of fruit. Cheap clothing is also
needed for thousands who rushed naked
from their dwellings at night. Medicines
are also needed most pressingly, espe- |
ciaily quinine and other simple medi-
cipes. l estimate that at least 10000 tons
OF food will be required weekly for several
peeks' have constituted boards all over /
lhe island to regulate assistance and |
agents to superintend the relief work.
Nhlle bave not yet full data. | repeat
the estimate, that ut least 100 900 people |
are homeless and destitute. Relief ration
proposed is one pound of fo0d per day.
composed of seven ounces of b,ans, seven
OF noes OF rice and two ounces of goldfish
-, u, auuilon to the food ordered by the Me-
:, "oN tudt -oV IONS OF 1000 OF |
me above proportions be shipped newt
week. Before this is consumed will have
uil data respecting future needs, but l
,ear extensive issues of provisions will be
necessary for several months. I shall
push work on the roads and give employ
nent, but fear extensive suffering. Col
'Eei Hoifer. chief surgeon of the depart-
hent, Is chairman of the board of relief
md auxiliary boards are organizing ~ III
he towns. Five military posts not VET
$3.50 al1h,, Davis.
General Davis second dispatch:
san Juan, Porto Rico, via Ha.ti. Angus,
but still incomplete renorts
'onhrm previous cable reports as conserva'
I'VE Suggest an appointment of an Officer
n New York to receive relief funds apd L
upplies, cabling quantities and kinds shin-
'ed on each boat. Colonel Hoffer. medical
department, In charge of the relief work
lere. Best 10 be sent. bananas, rice and |,
heap Goldfish. Cotton clothing and cos-,sa
otton goods In price, needed and monev
VII be applied to assist In rebuildiny
louses and huts and hire OF helm. recom
mend that bags for sugar and coffee. all
'inds OF rough lumber for building and
encing. hooks, slaves and hoops for sugar
acking and galvanized iron and nails for
ooiing purposes be placed on the 6rst
Ist. ! have authorized employment OF
abor for rebuilding the barracks at Cayey