Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-08-15
RELIEp FOR PORTO RICO
Vast Quantities of Supplies Have AL
ready Been Given.
LONG DISPATCH FROM DAVIS,
Governor General of the Flooded Is
land Gives Details of the storms
Work and Tells What the
People Need Most.

Washington, Aug. 15-General Davis,
governor general of Porto Rico, in dis
patch to the war department confirms
the reports of the havoc Avrought by last
weeks hurricane in the West Indies and
appeals for aid. The generals dispatch
is as follows:
The true state of affairs throughout the island
is not yet known, because of the total destruc-
ton OF all Geographic connections and great de-
strnction on all roads. Not than onefourth
Of the towns yet heard from, but enough is
known to warrant the statement that one-ffth Of
the dwellings in the island totally destroy
ed and their owners are without any shelter
what Yer any food beg ond what has been saved
from the debris.
The coffee crop and most of the trees ruin
ed and thus reliance for support is gone. Fully
one-thrd OF the people subsist entirely on fruit
and to a small degree on tubers. All the former
is destroyed and much OF the latter is rotting in
the ground. great many thousands of cattle
are drowned, and the debris carried down by the
rivers is strcwn over the ocean with the wreck Of
the storm and the dead bodies of animals.
The deaths from falling walls and drowning
! will number than 1000 and may be several
times this number. The state of distress is very
great, and when green fruits saved from the de-
bris are consumed the suffering will be very
great.
| am relieving the suffering everywhere within
reach as much as possible, but in out of the way
places are many thousands who cannot be reached
for some time. The supplies ordered sent by the
government will help much, but will last only a
; few days, while destitution must continue for
many weeks or some months, until the bananas
grow up from the ground, for which five months
at least are required.
Food of all kinds is needed, especially rice,
tnh Lo,, In,
port outside Of fruit. Cheap cotton clothing is
also needed, for thousands rushed naked from
! their dwellings at night when the gale broke.
| Medicines are also needed most pressingly, espe-
| cially quinine and other simple medicines ! es-
innate that at least 1000 tons of food will be re-
| quired weekly for several weeks. | have consti-
| tuted boards all the island to regulate as
| sistance and general board here to conduct the
| relief work.
While | have not yet full data, repeat the es-
innate that at least 100000 people homeless
| and destitute Relief ration proposed, one pound
Of food per day composed of seven ounces of
| beans. seven ounces OF rice and two ounces OF
| Goldfish, In addition to the food ordered by the
Mcpherson ask that $500 tons, above proper,
lions, should be shipped next week. Before this
is consumed | will have full data respecting fu
| ture needs, but ! fear extensive issues of provi
sions will he necessary for several months
| shall push work on the roads and give en-
ployment TO many as possible. | hop" the
| charitable people OF the States will contribute
food, clothes, medicines and money. Colonel
Hofer, chef surgeon of the department, is chair
man of the board OF relief, and auxiliary boards
are organizina in all the towns. Five military
posts not yet heard from DAMS
The work of Relief.
Secretary Root has not yet sent AZ
! appeal to governors to aid in furnishing
relief to the Porto Rican storm sufferers
as supplies are being contributed in guam
titles to tax the transportation facilities
available.
The sailing of the transport Mcpherson
has been delayed in order to receive addi
tional supplies.
General Weston, chief commissary, i:
establishing supply stations at Savannah
Atlanta, New York and Chicago for thu
purpose of receiving and caring for re
lief stores.
The following order has been issued by
Secretary Root:
"By an cotton of the president all relic
supplies sent to Porto Rico will be ad
mtted to Ill ports of that island free o
duty"
The war department has received thu
following telegram from the New Ioil
| and Porto ltico 'NteHlnSui' c''lP"l! "ti'
would request that this dispatch be pub
lished generally by the papers through
out the United States:
Steamer Evelyn of the New York am
Porto Rico Steamship company. sailing
from this port on Friday, Aug. IL, TO
Ponce direct, will take all relief supple
we have room for free of charge. Steam
err Mae, sailing Aug. 81, will do tn
same"
These vessels will take from 200 I
500 tons of supplies each. and the shit
ments for them should be marked Ike
lief Supplies" and should be properl
hacked and delivered at the pier OF tn
steamship company referred to, Empir
stores, brooklyn, on or before noon o
Wednesday, Aug. IL.