New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-31
THE STORM IN PORTO RICO.
MOST DESTRUCTIVE FORCE THAT EVER
VISITED THE ISLAND.
GIVING DETAILS OF THE LOSS OF
LIFE on AUGUST 6.


san juan Aug IA majority OF the larger
towns and cities Of Porto Rico I'm tho path Of the
great hurricane Of August have been heard from
a1d tho reports show that the ruin ana devastation
and loss OF NE occasoncd 10y wind ana water are
much greater than az FIRST supposed. AZ this time
81 is impossible estimate the loss Of life with any
degree Of accuracy but Major John Glenn, chief
Quartcrmastcr Of the Department. who has visited
n number NJ the stricken cities. estimates that AZ
least ,0o people have been killed by falling houses.
flying tlubcrs or drowned. and that 1000 have been
injured.
At Ponce 20 bodies have been buried. ana u is
certain that tho complete list I'm tho city and its
'harrlos' VIII aggregate fo
In Arccibo 2oo bodies have been recovered and
7oo persons are missing 1t is thought that several
hundred bodies were swept out 10 sea.
REPORTS FROM STRICKEN TOWNS.
The official reports from the following towns.
made boy post commanders to the Adjutant General
of the Department. are as follows
Humacoa- Eighty nine dead and 800 wounded
Caycy-Thirty-four dead and the town entirely
destroyed
Aibonito-T wcnty-thrcc dead
Yabucoa-The best estimate ohtainahle places tho
number Of dead az 49, The town contained a pcpu-
Iation Of $500 and not house or wall Was Ieft
standing.
Arrovo-A prosporous port on tho south co asst
All houses were blown down hy the hurricane. end
a few hours later the town was flooded Ivy water
TO a depth of Ten feet. Sixteen people were known
TO have been drowned. and % IS probable that many
others pcrshod.
Guayama-The prettlcst town on tho island; all
houses. with the exception Of the great Cathedral
were uuroofed otherwise damaged thirty Peo-
pie were killed
Juana Diaz-Flve drowned
Naguabo- no trustworthy report. town supposed
to have been entirely destroyed.
Jayuya-Half the town swept away by the River
other towns iu tho path Of the hurricane from
which incomplete reports by native carriers have
been received and AT which loss or lle mas &C
CURED are as follows: Las Podras, Juncas, Iru-
fllo-AIto Truiilo- Baja Ysabela Manuabo, Queb-
TadiAas. Lares. Hatllo ialeS' la"co 'N'''''''
The towns Of Bayamon and Caguas. in the dis
trict of san Juan suffered greatly -Four deaths
IKE large towns Of Mayagqe4, , cagmuy and md
Aguidila on the west coast ana fdJiI,uo, W" '''
east suffered very little from the hurricane
PROPERTY WORTH MILLIONS LOST
The property loss on the island viii amount to
many millions Of dollars The coffee and orange
crons have been entirely ruined and all other crops
have suffered greatly.
Although Porto Rico has been spared from most
destructive storms she has been struck by many
severe hurricanes The first hurricane recorded in
Porto Rico was IN July. l5l5 when considerable
damage was done. In 1927 the Executive BulIdlhs
in san Juan was destroyed. on August H. 100 me
Cathedral was destroyed DA d lul ilNdi'. AN ''D''
violent hurricane In Porto Rico occurred on the
night OF August o. '772 and was night or mourn
ing for the whole colony Of Porto RICO. frOLl II
al night until 8 I'm the morning the storm raged
dercev alternate violent gusts and Gains Trees
were torn up by the roots. neldS were lhuhdtl
plantations disappeared, ana arge NUMBER 81 ReG4
pie killed and buried under the runs OF llelI
houses on September 4, lSn, a DIG nuIIltdHe
struck Porto Rico causing great damage IN romeo,
and on September q 1919. much damage was done
10 the crops Of the island, followed by d famine
A violent Porto RiCan hurricane, ana one that IS
remembered ny many present residents or me Isl
and is the San Narcisco hurricane OF Cctooer -,
So. on August "A. 1856, hurricane passed 20 lle
south OF Porto Rico. doing considerable ddmdse
along the south coast and 10 the crops IN the IN
terror ,, -, s., e,,,
In many Of the towns and villages al 1000 S cup,
plies have been exhausted, and, despite the Idcl
that the Governor General and post conmanaerS
are doing all in their power 20 supply too4, II -
probable that many deaths from StaTNati4h vi" W.
boats from the capital but there Is lite nope TOT
the destitute IN the remote Interior 49,
The wealthy natives here, with Few notable eN-
ceptions show little disposition 10 contribute 70
the relief OF the sufferers and In number OF cases
have refused 10 allow the homeless 70 ~
sheltered IN the churches
From every place where soldiers were stationed
come glowing accounts through native channels;
Of their herOism and bravery in saving lives ana
property. In number Of cases the soldiers gave
IN their own quarters 20 the sick and wounded
wounded while engaged IN the work OF rescue
With the exception Of two IN Ponce no American
lives were lost .
Board Of Charity for the island. and 70 II Will be-
referred all applications for relief The app0lnt-
Atiles Captain C. VI Wells, Captain F. p Reyn-
olds Father Min the Rev H. a. Brown and Assist
ant Surgeon II. w. Cooper. secretary and disburs-
ing 1tlcer.