The Penn's Grove record., 1899-08-18
.PLIGITT OF PORTO RICO.
0ne-Fifth Of the People on the Island
Without Food or Shelter.
TIE CROPS UTTERLY RUINED,

General Davis Gables That the Dead VIII
Probably Reach ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
ton Must Continue Tor Months-A
Thousand Tons OF FoN a Week Re-
anired indefinitely.
WASHINGTON. u. C. (Special) The latest
| ndvfces from officers OF the Government re-
gardiug the extensive damage to life and
property wrought by the storm In Porto
Rico have impressed the War Department
With the necessity OF devislns further
means OF relief for the suffering Inhabitants
of the island. Secretary Root has prepared
an appeal to the Governors OF all the States
similar to the one sent to Mayors OF prlncl-
pal cities, asking them to assist in raising
funds with which to purchase relief sup
plies. "In the meantime" said the Secre-
tary, "the War Department will continue
10 provide food In as large quantities as
possible for the Porto Rlcan people made
destitute by the storm"
Secretary Roots decision to appeal to
the Governors was based largely on the
following cable message from General
Davis:
"SAx JUAN. P. r via Haiti, 1899.
"SEoRErARY OF WAR, Washington.-The
true state OF affairs throughout the island
Is not yet known because OF the total de-
structlon OF all telegraphic connections
and great destruction on all roads. Not
more than o%ne-fourth OF the towns have
vet been heard from, but enough Is known
to warrant the statement that one-fttth 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 tho trees are ruined, md
thus reliance for supper. is gone. Fuliy
one-third OF the people subsist entirely on
fruit and to a small degree on tubers. All
the former is destroyed and much OF the
latter are rotting In the ground. A great
many thousands OF cattle are dro wned ana
the debris carried 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 thou
sand and. may be several times this num-
Der. 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 posi-
BILE. but, Ia out-ot-the-way places, there
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 up from
the ground, for which five months at least
are required.
Good OF all kinds is needed, especially
rice, beans and cod fish, 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 pressingiy, especlhiIy
outline and other simple medicines.
estlm tie that at least 1909 tons CT 1000
will be required weekly for several weeks.
Ihaye constituted boards all over the island
to regulate assistance and q general Doari
here to conduct the relief work.
"While / rave not vet full data. / repeat
the estimate that at least one hundred
thousand people are homeless and desti-
tute. The relief ration proposed is one
pound of food per day, composed oil seven
ounces OF beans, seven ounces OF rice and
two ounces OF Goldfish.
"In addition to food ordered by McPher-
son | ask that $500 tons In the above pro-
portions should be shipped next week. Be-
fore this is consumed, | will have full data
respecting the future needs, but l fear eN-
tensive Issues of provisions Will be neces'
sary for several months.
81 shall push work on the roads ana give
employment to as many as possible.
II hope the charitable people of tho
States will contribute food, clothes, medf'
cine and money. Colonel Hofer, Chief
Surgeon OF the department, Is Chairman OF
the Board of Relief, and auxiliary boards
are organizing In all the towns. Five mill
tary posts have not been heard from.
DAVIS"