The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-17
SUFFERING IN PORTO RICO |
COMMUNICATION OPEN TO ONLY A
THIRD OF THE ISLAND.
Deaths Occurring From Lack Of
Food In Distrtcts with Which
Communication Has Not Been Re-
opened - Supplies Now Needed

WASHINGTON. Aug. 16.-The appalling
conditions existing in Porto Rico wero
made more fully known to the war depart
ment today by Gen. Davis. in a dispatch
which says the deaths outright In the island
will reach 1000. while many are dying
daily from injuries and privations.
Gen. Davis adds:
s.Dry spit peas are very acceptable Cam
ned peas involve too much transportation
In consideration OF nutriment. but can be
used near the seacoaet Although there is
much destitution In the interior and deaths
are occurring from lack Of food It will not
be possible to reach these points with packs
before next week. for in many cases the
roads and the rails are so destroyed that
only men on foot can get to and from these
districts Tho stores coming on the Nc
Pherson will be in time for supplying the
most pressing needs at all accessible points
With stores now on hand. So great Is the
destruction OF roads that there Is no COM
munication yet with one-third OF the island.
The commanding officer at each Of twelve
posts In an inspector Of relief for his dis
trict. and he has detailed a man in every
municipality collecting data and relieving
the most pressing needs. have furnished
each inspector with similar funds and Civ
en- authority to issue food from army sup
plies
"One soldier died Of his injuries; the
others injured will recover. A great many
wagons were overturned and broken, but
all are being repaired. Many thousands
OF private cattle and horses were drowned.
The larger part Of deaths OF natives Is
from drowning"
Death Roll Inereasing.
NEW YORK. Aug. IA dispatch TO
Co.
Communication with the distressed dis
tricts Is still only partly open.
Arecibo was devastated by the hurricane
and later was flooded by the Arecibo and
Mana,ee rivers. Two hundred bodies have
already been recovered and HUNDREDS more
are missing II is thought they were swept
into the sea.
The town was inundated to a depth OF
six feet. After the water subsided the dead
were found lying everywhere. The bodies
were buried ON the spots where they were
found.
The town is now rapidly filing UP with
starving persons from the country. Only
four soldiers were drowned. but all are
wiihou. shelter. Capt. McComb and his
men id valiant service in saving life. For
~ persons were rescued from floating
wreckare A thousand head OF cattle were
lost there.
At Noranzito twenty persons are known
10 have been killed. thousand are home-
isss and starving. Moravis n totally de-
stroyee.
Al Gales twenty persons were killed.
Many are missing at Barcelona. Seven res
iden;s were killed. A, Cayey the death
roll Is At least ninety.
II Is impossible 10 estimate the loss %
life and property In the country districts.
Every river is Sti!i swollen and passage
II weii-nigh impossible.
The crops are totally destroyed. Chill
Grsu are dying by hundreds from starva-
tfou and exposure
All the people are Eocking TO Bayamo
for fooc and shelter
A courier has Just arrived here from
Yabucoa. He says the town wardemoish-
cd by the storm. Already eighty bodies
have been recovered and II ss estimated
that 30 rersshea Many are wounded
Medical assistance LIZ scarce IN al parts
Of the Island What makes the present
distress greater IL the fact thar a month
ago all pubic improvements were stoppet.
owing 20 The lack o! appropriations
Thousands Of persons were then thrown
OH. NJ employment. A renewal OF pubi.o
work wonls se q great relief. Many plant
srs and merchants are ruined and cannot
give employment.
Ger Davis sayz the latest reports show
the disaster 10 be greater than hs had an
sscspased and extencs over the whole t.
land. He il doing everything In his power
to alleviate the suffering and has every
confidence In generous results from his ap-
p4als To the American people. Where ros-
sgs,ss the troops tha. icst their shelter sn
the hurricane have heen craerea 10 san
Juan
Mayaxaex Is suffering bus lightly. An
the 1esaels n -sha hAsoeg are AshogA