Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-17
DANGER OF EPIDEMIC
Hundreds Of Human Corpses and
Cattle Decomposing In Hot
Sun In Porto Rico.
Country In Path of I he Storm Prac
tically Depopulated.. Danger
Of Disease
overturning Of . Vehicle In Indiana
Precipitates Six Persons
Into River.

San Juan, Porto Rico, Aug. 17.-Com-
munication has now been restored in
the direction Of Ponce as far as Caguas.
The whole country has been depopulat-
ed. In every direction the hurricane de-
|stroyed all the towns and villages. The
people whose homes were wrecked are
wandering about seeking food and shell
liter.
| In the towns the stencil of decaying
bodies under the ruins of homes and
public buildings is almost unbearable.
In Yabucoa both of the government
physicians were caught in the wreck
age and wounded. The town will be
set on fire in order that an epidemic
may be avoided. DR.. Altman, of Are
cibo, writes that up to August 10 no
assistance Of any kind had reached
there. Unless aid comes within few
days he declares there must follow
fearful epidemic. 1t is certain that
there are many bodies lying under the
ruins, but 1t is impossible to find labor
els to clean UP the towns.
The government tug Slocumb was
sent to Humacoa with provisions and
Il
bring over dredge. There Is no other
steamer that is available to carry aid
around the coast. At Ponce there has
been a public protest against the neg
4 ligence of the mayor and the mayor has
been forced to resign.
4 Reports from Nebuabo, Corozato,
lAquada, Comeriza and Quayanilla are
that these towns have been destroyed
| ND hof ri iofn wit
the means to relieve distress.
San Juan, too, is likely to be threat
ened with an epidemic. The captain Of
an incoming steamer reports that fif-
teen miles off and drifting shoreward
beings and cattle, mingled indiscrim-
4 inately with the wreckage of houses.
Leading merchants estimate the losses
in stores and in crops Of coffee, sugar
and fruit for the next three years at
fully s75,oo0.oc0. Several of the mer-
4 chants suggest that the best way to
dispense relief is to begin at once such
Z public works as roads and government
buildings. They suggest also that it
would be a good plan to grant fran
chises to the various companies which
are ready and willing to spend much
money for labor.
The town Maunabo has been COM
pletely5 demolished. The highest ruiz
lleft standing is only two feet above the
ground. There are many casualties
from the flooding of the river, 100 per-
sons, many of them children. having
been drowned.
!. Comerio is a total ruin. The hurri-
cane lasted there for twelve hours.
fb, ,Iaf, n. 49,
Ionly building left standing There were
very heavy rains and in the flood that
. followed the water rose to great height
and swept through the streets. carry
ing away the supplies of provisions.
!, The quantity left viii not last more
than four days. The people have fled
cred with water. No aid has been sent
as yet. Thirty bodies have been recov-
cred. Five hundred persons We're in
jured.
J Utuado and Jayuya have been flood
led. The water uncovered The cemetery.
carrying the bodies down the river.
The road has been washed away and
Communication even by horseback is
difficult, as the road is obstructed by
trees and fallen limbs.
AT Naguabo all the cattle have been
destroyed and there have been other
enormous losses. Two-thirds of the in
habitants are without shelter and a
famine Is threatened.
AT CoroZal 16O houses were wrecked
like shells and only dozen houses and
the side walls of churches built of ma
sonry two feet thick remain standing.
The poor are crying for bread, but none
Is forthcoming. as all the others are In
|almost the same circumstances.
The Slocumb will sail today for
Humacao and Arecibo with provisions.
but this will only alleviate small frac-
ltjop of tho dicfrecs