The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-13

maica were greater tndn Ut iHSt' Uo-
ieved Port Antonio on the north coast
was completely overwhelmed. Only six
houses were left standing there.
The United Fruit company's whsrves,
effices. hotel and plantations were utter
ly demolished. Five OF the company s
steamers, including the Simon Dumois.
Alfred Dumois and Brighton, were driven
ashore. but are lying in easy positions.
Port Maria another town on the north
coast also suffered similarly The coast
IS strswn with wreckage OF local sail
ing VESSELS II is feared that the loss or
life has been heavy, 40 fatalities having
already been reported, principally among
sesmen
The entire eastern end OF the island
has been devastated. Villages have been
wiped out and public buildings and
churches demolished.
Thousands OF the peasantry are rem
dered homeless and destitute, and wan
dering about seeking food and shelter.
The destruction of the banana planta-
tions has been complete and the fruit
trade is paralyzed for the next IL months.
Hundreds OF the prosperous fruit grow
ers have been brought to bankruptcy and
ruin. The western end of the island,
which Il was at first supposed had es-
capped. also suffered considerably.
NEW PLANTATION RUINED.
New banana plantations were partly de-
stroyed and the orange and conee crops
were also injured. The Norwegian steam
er Salvatore di Gorgio was driven ashore
at Annotta bay and lies in a dangerous
position Several sailing vessels were
wrecked on the north side
1t is still stormy and threatening and
there are fears that there may be a re-
newal OF the storm. Torrential rains have
A. Nf thA ND
homeless. Thousands OF houses In Kings
ton were damaged. the wharves were bat
tered and several coasting vessels were
sunk In the harbor Trade Is practically
at standstll.
The southeastern portion OF the island
has been completely denuded OF its crops,
the rivers are flooded and many men
were carried out to sea and drowned. The
present estimate now is that the death
list will reach 80. Hundreds OF persons
were injured and there were numerous
hair-breadth escapes. The property loss
is estimated at sl0.OO0,00o.
CENTRAL NEAR WESTERN CUBA.
Washington, Aug. 13.-The tropical
storm was apparently central wednesday
afternoon near the extreme Western por-
tion OF Cuba. and recurring. IL should en-
ter the southeastern Gulf OF Mexico dur
ing wednesday night and move north
Hurricane warnings have been continued
from Port Eeds TO Jupiter. and storm
warnings from Jacksonville TO Charles
ton.
Havana, Aug 13.-while high winds and
threatening conditions prevail in all the
provinces OF Cuba. there have been no re-
ports up TO last night OF any important
damage The land telegraph connection
with Santiago, which was repeatedly in
terrupted. has been restored.
Cable connection with all the islands OF
the West Indies is intact, with the excep-
tion OF Jamaica Martinique. Guadalupe
and Dominica.
OTHER RESOURCES.
Boston, Aug. 12-President A w.
Preston OF the United Fruit company
speaking today of the reported heavy
fruit losses In Jamaica by reason of the
hurricane. said:
Our cable advlces are that the ia
maica fruit crop has been badly dam
aged by the hurricane. but IL is as yet
impossible TO estimate the damage.
1T is rather fortunate that the hur-
ricans waited until practically the end
OF the Jamaica season.
''ff we were dependent upon Jamaica
for our fruit suppy. we would be seri-
ousiy hampered: but II is. we ,lmply
draw moro heavily upon the growing
sections. principally Costa Rica."
CAUTION AT NEW YORK.
New York Aug. 13--with steamers
staying port. instead OF sailing for the
south. and the weather observers keen
on the lookout. the furious West Indies
hurricane, which has devastated Mar
tinique. jamaica and other islands I'm the
West Indies, Is causing great anxiety
along the Atlantic coast and In the Gulf.
The chances are a little more than even.
the Official observer says. that the storm
will come up the coast. reaching New
York about tomorrow night or Friday
morning.
What track the hurricane will take
depends a good deal on the whim of the
aerial switchman whose station Is of
the south coast OF Cuba. II may he
sent westward To churn up the waters
OF the Gulf. and perhaps 10 sweep up
the Mississippi valley. or 20 overwhelm
the Gulf cities as did the Galveston
storm OF 1900
or II may swerve northward and be-
labor the Atlantic ports from Florida
20 Nova Scotia A few more hours will
decide its bent.
This Is the season Sf West Indies hur-
r'canes. and the weather bureau officers
are pretty we'll acquainted with the
course OF these fierce storms. They be
gin, as the years 60 in July. occasional
~ even In June. fierce one having come
up the coast in june OF 1850
WE NAY GET 1T.
As the fan advances II is their habit
20 increase IN ferocity and frequency
The maps IN Forecastcr Emery's office
show that they gerenaliy start IN the
vicinity OF ct Thomas. Martinique. OF
Barbados, travel either 20 the north OF
south OF Hayh. and Cuba and thence
70 west or north
The August map shows that since isS
most Of these storms have taken the
northern course. sometimes travelnns
north OF Hayti and Cuba sometimes
crossing those islands from the south.
The mean track. that r. the average oi
All the recorded storms. for August u
along the north coast OF Hayti. east o'
the Bahamas and considerable distance
from the coast northward. In septem.
h~r the mean course ls much nearer "a
and. in fact partly ashore and partly