The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-01-10
DISTRESS NPUERTO RICO.
PestiIence Appears in the Wake Of
Flood and Famine.
COFFEE PLANTATIONS RUINED.


Felt, Although Great Amount Of
Relief Work Has Besn Done-Further
Food Supplies Are Needed - An Epi-
demic OF Disease is Feared.
WASHINGTON, DC. (Speclal).-The War
Department has made public statement
showing tho progress made In relief work
In the island Of Puerto Rico between Sep
tsmber as and November 30. The pepula-
tion OF the island is estimated at 91S, 926.
The average daily number Of INDECENT was
221 ,0S7 persons; average weekly sick IT,
372, and the average weekly deaths 6S3
persons.
The annual death rate WAS IS In 1000 fn-i
habltanrs, while tho normal rate OF deaths
was 26 In 1000 inhabitants. The increased
mortality was confined to the mountain
districts, where In some localities the
death rate increased 300 per cent.
The amount OF cash received for the re-.
lief OF the suffering people OF the island up
to November 80 twas S15, ,224. The amount
Of money dsbursed up to the date men
toned was $7Al7.
It was some weeks after the hurricane
before the mental and physical energies OF
the stricken people began to rally from the
shock Of the disaster. They were without
ready money, and were brought face to
face with starvation. ss
While the damage inflicted upon the peo-
pie along the const Of the Island was great,
1t was in part Offset by the Improvement IN
the sugar cane crop which was produced
BY the overflow Of water on the cane lands.
The prospect of GOOD crop enabled th6
planters 10 borrow money with which 70
employ the necessary labor to care for and
harvest the crop.
The cities along the coast were also able
to come to the rescue by the employment
OF labor to repair the damage inflicted BY
the storm. In consequence OF these iacts,I
supplies have gradually been suspended 10
the lowlands, except In limited quantities
Stotke chronic poor. -
The coffee plantations are In the upionds.
Here the high winds swept everything In
their course, leaving little or morning tor
thousands Of hungry, homeless and un,
clothed human beings bat their lives ana
what could be given to prevent starvatlon.
The prompt action OF the American people
and OF the people OF the island was al tnat
prevented TERRIBLE catastrophe. Ine poor
xsheas sRa s pas asts g
longer receiving reltsf, the numper ol IN
dIgsnt people requiring assistance retnains
the same. It Is believed that until fspru-
ary the demand for ASSISTANCE Is likely 20
increase In the mountain atstricts, as Tug
plantains and bananas VIII not pe ttpe stor
two months to come. The worst oisLEeSs -
prevails In q locaitry where tne gfea.ss.
difficulty is found an getting tooa t' 80 s.no;
starving. ,a.,,. :, ,ha,+
Il Inis MS area contalns popuia.,9a y. Ssasnd suouS
25O, 600, and no wagon roads are 90 20 Iou1o u
In any direction over which 1000 can .pet
transported. All food ts carried on sne e
backs OF horses. or thispo puiatton 2Oo,o9o
people must De fedsot they VIII 4starvs. ll
not fed at, tome theysWlll migrate TO the
cities, leaving heweak 70 die. Their WORE
will be left undone. and their future VIII
be hopeless.
Pesttlence, whicaS. frequently Ioslows.
= hood and iamins, 1Mappeareu among t1s2
untQrtunate 1ananHnts IN tne MOUNTAIN
dt6tticts, and amoer OK people nase
.p<tished. pared tnat tne epldemlc
will spread TO tue coast should there oe
general noyemsRt OF the mountain people
In that d1xscttaAA movement OF TINS Rina