The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-11
HURRICANE VICTIMS
The Death List Will Probably
Reach Into the Hundreds,
THE DAMAGE IN PORTO RICO.

Many Deaths Reported and Serious
Loss ofProperty-People Threatened
with starvation-On Guadalupe Isl.
and Overa hundred Reported Killed.
San Juan de Porto Rico, Aug. ia
hurricane broke over the south coast
at / O'Clock Tuesday morning and
swept northwest. There was no abate-
ment for nine hours, the greatest dam
age being done between and 10
o'clock a. m. The wires were down
and communication with the interior
was for time impossible. 1t is now
chiefly carried on by couriers.
At San Juan four natives were
drowned in the harbor, 80 houses were
demolished and hundreds were I'M
rooted. The damage to property 10 es-
timated at 100000. Commissary stores
to the value of $1,000 were destroyed.
A dispatch by cable from Ponce says
the town was almost destroyed. AL
most all the frame buildings are down.
the bridge is swept away, and there is
no communication between the port
and the city proper. The damage to
the port is estimated at $250,00O. Two
natives are known to have been drown
ed. The records and property Of the
custom house are ruined, and all the
vessels are ashore.
At Aibonito very little remains
standing except the cathedral and the
barracks. Four natives persisted, and
three United States soldiers were badly
injured. AS the town is without food
government relief has been dispatched
thither.
El Cayey was levelled to the ground,
200 houses being demolished. Two
United States soldiers were injured
there and many cavalry horses killed.
At Catano the entire plant of the
Standard Oil company was ruined. The
loss on the property is 100000.
AT Bayamon a majority Of the
houses were destroyed, and the rest
were flooded. Two hundred cattle
were killed, and the railway was seri-
ously damaged.
The village Of Carolina was literally
RACED. At Caguas four persons were
killed.
A courier who has just arrived from
that name, on the eastern coast of the
island, reports awful destruction
there. The loss to property is esti-
mated at 100000, but this is the least
item in the disaster. The courier
brought an official report from Captain
Eben Swift, of the Fifth United States
cavalry, who says:
"Humacao was totally destroyed by
the hurricane. Forty-six bodies have
been recovered. and there are many
more in the debris. Eight privatcs of
Troop c We're injured, two fatally.
Sergeant King, of the Eleventh in
fantry was injured. North, a dis
charged private, is missing. At the
port of Hunacao Is bodies have been
recovered. Eight hundred people are
starving here"
Three persons We're killed at Las
Piedras and five at Junco.'
Couriers from the other districts are
anXiou5y expected at the palace. The
steamer Slocum, Captain Thomas, ell
route from Mayaguez to San Juan, was
caught in the storm, but her passengers
and crew wee saved through the hero
ism of Mr.. Single, the first officer.
The coffee crop is ruined, and the
loss will reach millions. Very great in
jury has been done also to the orange
crop.
No definite returns have yet been re-
ceived from the southern section of the
island, apart from Ponce. 1t is certain,
however, that the food supplies in the
stricken districts have been destroyed,
and in these quarters the quantity Of
government stores on hand is small
Relief wagons have been sent out in
various directions.
General George ". Davis the COVER
nor general, has cabled to the war de-
partment an appeal for assistance.