The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-14
in NEED
PEOPLE OF PORTO RICO MUST
HAVE AID TO PREVENT
STARVATION
MEANS or SUPPORT GONE
THOSE WHO ESCAPED THE RE-
CENT STORM ARE FACING A
SERIOUS PROBLEM
THE ISLAND LAID IN RUINS

Hundred Thousand People Are
Homeless and Dependent Upon
Charity for FOOd-Storm Nearing
the United States.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13-The West
Indian hurricane appears to be gradually
decreasing in strength and the chances
are that it will spend itself before MAX
ing much further progress. This is the
welcome news given out by the officials
of the weather bureau tonight This is
based on the fact that no fall of barome-
ter has been noted by localities that
should feel it, and that a high pressure
prevails on the North Atlantic coast
The movement of the hurricane is ap-
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.
Wilmington, N. c., and Norfolk have
taken down their hurricane signals. The
storm appears to be on the east coast
of Florida and the latest report from
Jupiter, dated at 4 o'clock this morning,
indicates pretty severe blow at that
place. 1t is now south of Jacksonville,
indicating slow northward movement
since last night.
The bureau has had no weather re-
ports south of Titusville Fla, some dis
tance below Jacksonville, since last
night and nothing from Nassau, Ba-
hama islands, since Friday afternoon.
The following notice was sent to Phila-
delphia, New York and other maritime
shipping centers:
Storm still central in Florida, but
decreased in strength. Conditions safe
for vessels sailing north from all points
from Wilmington, N. c., northward."
PORTO RICAN REPORTS.
The only dispatches from Gov. Gen.
Davis, of Porto Rico, giving additional
details of the fearful havoc wrought by
the hurricane of last week were received
at the war department today. They
were Immediately sent to Secretary Root,
who already has taken measures for dis
patching relief to the people Of the
island. The secretary expects that the
transport Mcpherson, with a large quan-
tity of rice and beans, will leave New
York tomorrow, and this will be fol-
lowed by other vessels as fast as arrange
ments can be made for sending supplies
He thinks it is the duty of the govern
ment to make provision for feeding the
people until the aid voluntarily given by
the citizens of the country reaches them,
and he will exhaust every means at his
disposal to this end.
The secretary contemplates supple
menting the appeal made last week to
the mayors to assist in raising subscrip-
tions and tomorrow will issue an appeal
to the governors of the states with a
view to arousing general interest in the
relief work. The dispatches received
from Gen. Davis were sent to the presi-
dent at Lake Champlain tonight.
THOUSANDS IN NEED.
OF the two dispatches received today
from Gen. Davis the text of the first was
as follows:
'"The true state of affairs throughout
the island is not known because of the
total destruction of all telegraphic con-
nectiOns and great destruction on all
roads. Not more than one-fourth of the
towns are heard from yet, but enough is
known to show that ope-ffth Of the
dwellings, on the island are totally de-
stroyed and their owners are without any
shelter whatever or any food beyond
what has been saved from the debris
The coffee crop and most Of the trees
are ruined, and thus reliance for support
is gone. Fully one-third of the people
subsist entirely on fruit and to a small
degree on tu5as. All the former is de-
stroyed and much of the latter IS rotting
in the ground. A great many thousand
cattle are drowned, and the debris car
ried down by the rivers is strewn over
the ocean with the wreck of the storm
and the dead bodies of animals.
The deaths from falling walls and
drowning will number more than a
thousand and may be several times this
number. The state of distress is very
great, and when green fruits saved from
the debris are consumed the suffering
will be very great.
'I am relieving the sufferings every
where 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 for q few days while destitu-
ton must continue for many weeks or
some months until the bananas grow I'D
IIOIi Cl4S StOuIlCl LOT WnlcA I1YG months
at least are required
FOOD NEEDED.
Food of all kinds is needed, esreciallv
rice, beans and Goldfish, which has been
the main support outside of fruit Cheap
cotton clothing is also needed, for thou
sands rushed naked from their dwellings
at night when the gale broke Medicines
are also needed most pressingly, especial
ly quinine and other simple medicines.
II estimate that at least 1000 tons of
food will be required weekly for several
weeks / have constituted boards all
over the island to regulate assistance and
a general board here to conduct the RELIEF
work While have not yet full data I
repeat the estimate that at least 100. 900
people are homeless and destitute
Relief ration proposed ii 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 I ask
that $500 tons in the above proportions
be shipped next week. Before this is
consumed will have full data respecting
future needs, but fear extensive issues
of provisions will be necessary for sew
eral months. I shall push work and give
employment to as many as possible.
hope the charitable people of the states
will contribute food clothes, medicines
and money. Col. Hofer, chief surgeon of
the department, is chairman of 4ha hoard