The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-12
Expected to Strike Florida
Coast This Morning.
ALL VESSELS WARNED
HURRICANE WROUGHT INDIS-
SCRIBABLE HAVOC AT PONCE.
PROMPT MEASURES BY WAR De pr TMENT
Supplies viii be Sent on The Transport Nc
Pherson to the 10 1000 destitute in Porto
Rico Secretary Root Makes an
Appeal For Aid.

hlCo ~osCreld'y noot Mdhss an
Appeal For Aid.
Washington, Aug. lis p. m.-The
West India hurricane is now apparent
ly to the southeast and near Nassau,
and will probably reach the Florida
coast by Saturday morning.
Hurricane signals were ordered this
afternoon and this evening on both the
Southern Florida coasts. and storIa
signals on the Northern Florida coast
and at Savannah and Charleston, and
all shipping interests were fully warned.
WEATHER BUREAU WARNING.
Washington, August 1.-THE Wealth
er Bureau issues the following hurrl-
cane bulletin:
11:40 a. M, August 11.-Hurricane
centre apparently approaching Nassau
Bahama. Storm will increase in inten-
sity upon reaching the Gulf Stream,
and will probably reach the South At
lantic coast towns of the United States
tonight.
(Signed.) WILLIAMS,
Acting Chief Weather Bureau.
Ponce, Aug. 11.--Ihe worst storm ever
experienced here struck this place Tues
day morning at 8 o'clock and lasted two
hours 1t came from the northeast.
Ponce was flooded at midnight and at
least three hundred persons We're drown
ed. Two hundred bodies, mostly those OF
poor people and Including many children,
have been recovered.
JAll the buildings are damaged and
hundreds have been destroyed
The soldiers and fremen worked all
night, heroically saving lives.
There is no drinking water, gas, ice
or electric light.
The commissary stores at Playa were
destroyed, the city is short of food, and
the army officers are distributing ra-
tiOns.
Fifteen vessels in the harbor We're
driven ashore.
The Weather Bureau predicted the
storm but it is claimed Ponce was not
warned.
A mob of ore thousand persons threat
ened the .Alcalde, Porrata Doria, but
they were dispersed by the Fifth cayal-
ry The Alcalde has been denosed OH
account of neglect. Major Myers of the
Eleventh infantry, is acting as Alcalde,
in response TO popular demand.
The sum of 5000 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
Abonito, including the barracks, has
been destroyed; but no lives were lost
there.
Juan Diaz has been devastated. Forty
six lives were lost there.
Arroyo, Guayama, Salinas and san
Isabel are reported to have been totally
demolished
The railroad between Ponce and Yauco
has been destroyed, and the military
road is impossible. The river is flow
ing over the road for two miles.
Mayaguez escaped serious injury.
Bananas are the sole food here.
The poems have gone to san Juan and
its vicinity, which are comparatively un-
injured.
TO RELIEVE STORM SUFFERERS.
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE War De
partment today took prompt measures for
the relief of the hurricane sufferers in
Porto Rico. When the press dispatches
and General Davis adyices made known
the extent of the disaster, steps We're
Immediately taken to send supplies and
the transport Mcpherson was ordered
put III readiness to sail from New York
Monday next. She will carry rations and
other necessaries. Secretary of War
Root this afternoon sent the following
appeal to the Mayors of all cities of
mere than 10000 population:
"Sir: uETNYI7
The Governor General of Porto Rico
confirms the report that upon the Sth
instant "a hurricane swept over that isl
and, entirely demolishing many of the
towns, destroying many lives and re-
duelng, as far as can be estimated, not
less than 100000 of the inhabitants to
the condition of absolute destitution
without homes or food. Unless imme-
date and effective relief is given. these
unfortunate people will perish of
famine.
Under these conditions, the President
deems that an appeal should be nmde TO
the humanity of the American people.
1t Is an appeal to their patriotism also,
for the inhabitants of Porto Rico have
freely and gladly submitted themselves
to the guardianship of the United States.
and have voluntarily surrendered the pro
lection of Spain, to which they were for
merly entitled, confidently relying upon
more generous and beneficent treatment
at our hands. The highest consideration