The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-08-15
Gen. Davis Estimate of Hur-
ricane's Fatalities.
FULLY 100000 PEOPLE HOMELESS
One-flfth of Dwellings on the Island To-
tally Destroyed-At Least 900 Tons of
Food viii he Required Weekly for Sew
ersl weeks-Reporis Of Damage stilI
mplete-Transport Expected to Sail
with Food for the Sufferers To-day.

Two dispatches from Governor General
Davis. Of Porto Rico, giving additional
details OF the fearful havoc wrought by
the hurricane Of last week. were receive d
at the War Department yesterday 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 trans
port Mcpherson. with large quantity of
rice and beans, will leave New York to-
day and this will be followed By other
vessels as fast as arrangements can De
made for sending supplies. He thinks il
is the duty OF the government 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 supplement-
ing the appeal made last week to the
Mayors 10 assist in raising subscriptions.
and to-day will issue an appeal to
the Governors of the States with view
70 arousing general interest in the relief
work. The dispatches received from Gen.
Davis were sent TO the President at Lake
Champlain last night.
Gen. Davis Dispatche.
The following are the dispatches received
by the War Department from Gen. Davis:
San Juan. z. r., via Haiti
THE true state of affairs throughout
the island IS not yet known, because
of total destruction of all telegraphic con-
nections and great destruction on all
roads. Not more than one-fourth towns
yet heard from, but enough is known to
warrant the statement that one-fifth of
the dwellings in 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 sub
sist entirely on fruit. and a small degree
on tubas All the former is destroyed.
and much OF the latter are rotting in the
ground.
Great many thousands OF cattle are
drowned, and the debris carried dowa by
the rivers Is strewn over the ocean with
the wreck of the storm and the 3ead
bodies of animals. The deaths from fall
ing walls and drowning will number more
than 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 suffer-
ing will be very great. l am relieving the
suffering everywhere within reach as
much as possible, but in Oui of the way
places are many thousands who cannot
be reached for some time.
Destruction viii Last for Months.
The supplies ordered sent by the gov
ernment will help much. but will last
only for 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, beans, and Goldfish which
has been the main support 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 pressing
ly. especially quinine and other simple
medicines. l estimate that at east l.OO9
tons of food will be required weekly for
several weeks. l have constituted boards
all over the island to regulate assistance
and a general board here to conduct the
relief work. While l have not yet full
data, ! repeat the estimate that at least
100000 people are homeless and destitue.
'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 food or
dered by the Mcpherson, l ask that 200
tons. above proportions, should be ship
ped next week Before this is consumed
1 will have full data respecting future
needs. but I fear extensive issues of pro-
visions will be necessary for several
months. i shall push work on the roads,
and give employment to as many as pos
sible- l hope the charitable people of the
States will contribute food, clothes, medi-
cines. and money. Col Hofer Chief Sur
geon of the department Is chairman of
the board of relief, and auxiliary boards
are organizing in all the towns Five ml-
itary posts not yet heard from.
DAVIS"