Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-08-11
TO-DAY'S TELEGRApHIC NEWS.
The West India Hurricane.

The West India Hurrica
San Juan, Porto Rico, Aug. lire
ports of The loss of life and damage
caused by the hurricane are coming in
slowly from the southern coast. The
CITY of Ponce was in the vortex OF the
storm and the loss of life is appalling.
1t is believed the death list will run in.
to the thousands. Between five and
six hundred bodies have already been
recovered and the CHASTITY work OF
gathering up and burying the dead
goes on night and day.
Ponce is practically without drinking
water and food is scarce. To add to the
,rrors of the situation, stencil ls arls-
ing from the bodies which are left IN
fields by the 1eceding waters, and an
epidemic of disease is feared. Thou
sands OF people are destitute and unless
quick relief comes hundreds may perish
The people of Ponce are paralyzed with
fear at the awful visitation.
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE follow
ing additional Information about the
West Iudies hurricane was given out at
the War Department this morning {:
Later reports show that the hurricane
was far more severe in the interior and
southern part OF Porto Rico than else
where. The number of Porto Ricans
who have lost everything cannot fall
below one hundred thousand souls and
famine is impending. The .. 5. gov
eminent is asked to Immediately ship
two and one half million pounds OF lice
and beans to Ponce. Rice and beans
only are desired. Several towns are
reported entirely demolished and there
have been many deaths OF natives by
falling walls. At least half Of the peo-
pie in Porto Rico subsst entirely on
fruit and vegetables, and the storm has
entirely destroyed this source OF sup
port. The Secretary of War has order
I'd the commisssry at San Juan to issu ;
supplies to the desli ute.
at $50 o'clock the Weather Bureau
bad not received any advices from Mas
sau, which is regarded as the key TO
the situation. Reports from other
points early this morning are more en.
couraging than those OF yesterday, and
it is hoped that the hurricane will not
reach the United States coast. ASS
as Nassau is heard from the bureau will
quickly bulletin the information for
the guidance of vessels along the south
| ern coast.
Chief Signal Officer Glassford, at
Porto Rico cables General Greedy this
morning as follows: "Cyclone center
passed over south shore island demo-
fishing every line, Offices, battery
poles and wire blown away. Sixty
four killed at Humacao and manv at
Ponce. A cablegram from San Juao
addressed to General Schwan and sign
ed Capt. Lugo VIVA, received at the
War Department this morning reads as
follows: my country is devastated.
For Gods cake help work. | once
joined you; join me- Captain VIVA
is a native OF Porto Eco and, under
General Schwan, took part in the
Miles cam paign in Porto Rico.
New York, Aug. IA dispatch
from Ponce, Porto Rico, says: 1t is now
plain that Ponce was the greatest suf
fer by Tuesdays hurricane. The
TlVeES OTLuSueoe auu Sauac 4iOhSu
through the city drowning thousands
of people. Five hundred bodies have
already been recovered. An eye wit
ness who was on the top of large
. stone building in the Alambra T lsza saw
the bodies of men, women and child
rem floating in the water in the stree
Every one was paralyzed with fear
and unable to render any assistance.
The southern coast was swept clean as
far as Yanco, eighteen miles. The
towns of Tallaboa and Juan Diaz were
destroyed. Only the large church ed:-
ifices are left standing.
The storm OF 1867 killed 5000 peo-
! Pile, and it is feared that tie number OF
deaths is greater now.
There is not drop OF water in Ponce
to drink. The cisterDs are full of salt
water from the ocean and the stencil
arising from the dead bodies is dreadful.
New York, Aug. l1.-One hundred
thousand bags of rice and beans for
storm sufferers in Porto REQ are today
being loaded on the transport McPner
son which lies dock in Brooklyn.