The Washington times., 1906-10-20
HAVANA CYCLONE.
SANK 25 LIGHTERS,
i. S. FLEET SAFE
Dispatches From Gen.
Bell Give Details of Gu
ban Harbor Disaster.

/ Ddll lldl DOl DlSdSlSIs
Fully twenty-five lighters we're
sunk in Havana harbor and heavy
damage otherwise done to merchant
shipping at that port, by the terrific
cyclone, from which the army and
| transport service suffered consid-
erably, according TO four cable dis
patches received at the War Depart
ment this morning, from Brig. Gen.
}. Franklin Bell. in command of the
American army of Cuban occupation.
No material damage was done TO
the American warships in Havana
harbor, according to a dispatch re-
ceiyed by Rear Admiral Converse,
chief of the Bureau of Navigation,
from the senior officer of the squad
ron.
Army Animals Slaughtered.
The most important feature of General
Bells reports relates 10 the terrible
experience of the chartered transport
Guiana. which was loaded with animals
for the use of the army. Nearly l40
animals were killed outright, or so badly
manned that II was necessary 10 put an
end 10 their existence. The Guiana was
| badly damaged and as she was in the
| immediatel path OF the cyclone. her
commander considered Il fortunate that
she survived the storm at all.
The condition of the shipping in the
7 is FeFa
pertains 20 ocean-golng vessels. Several
of the lighters which We're loaded with
cargo taken from the Ward liner Moro
Castle. were sunk during the storm. and
General Bell says il is not known yet
whether or not these were loaded with
United States property.
Among the Injured.
Harry Fostick. a teamsfer of the
Twenty-eighth Infantry. lost one eve.
received a scalp wound and internal in
I JurIes and is not expected TO recover.
Frederick W. Sutclffe, a civilian wag-
/ onmaster attached TO the army. was
/ severely wounded in the head, but will
( probably survive.
Private William a. Harner, OF the
/ Eighteenth Battery Of Field Artillery.
received an injury ir. the back by being
I ST. ltk bA a ltilIE tree NOT serious.
/ These men are now in the Mercedes
i Hospital IA Havana.
/ Details Of Disaster.
/ The following telegram was received
/ at noon from General Bell. dated this
morning, but it is supposed at the War
{ Department that this is erroneous. and
that it was actually sent yesterday, Oc-
Jober 10. as follows:
i e.
and vicinity about midnight lasting sew
eral hours. Wind officially reported
eighty miles an hour. so far as heard
from no lives lost or individuals injured
Among the troops, stable and two quar-
termasters stables completely destroy
ed at Camp Columbia. no animals in
jured. Roofs OF a number Of other
buildings damaged more or less. moth
ing serious; quartermaster and commits
sary storehouses stood storm. contents
slightly damaged, more or less. nothing
serious. Contents Of the storehOuscs
/ slightly damaged by water collecting on
moor OF houses generally, two sanitary
carts damaged in destroyed stables, all
tents blown down, some articles blown
away and Tations slightly injured by
water, camp entirely restored, wires all
down. Some bridges washed out: diff
Guilty OF communication great.
All trees in park ia front of palace
blown down, trees throughout city and
in MarinO generally destroyed. Baker
does not think any OF his vessels IN
path of storm unless ii was very wide.
Warning was received from observatory
of coming or storm an hour before its
arrival all commanding officers at
Camp. Columbia promptly notified and
took precautions which mlnlmlZed dam
age. All outside station commanders
Wer notified, but nothing heard from
them as 10 result OF storm. Head
quarters building slightly damaged be-
I heVed no serious injury has been done
to Government property. Will wire
again If anything new develops from
further Investigation
BTigadieT General Sharp. cOmmissaTy
general Of the army. received the fol-
lowing dispatch. dated today from Col
uucl wilkins. CHIEF Commissary Ak Ha-
Nana-
"Commissary department all right.
/ Few, stores slightly damaged No cas-
ualties.'
The marine corps IN Cuba suffered
slight damage by the hurricane. but
there was no casualties. according to
cablegram received this morning by
Brigadier General Elliott, COmmandant
of the marine corps. from Colonel Wal
I Ter. commander of the marine forces in
the island.
Three Transports Overdue.
Three chartered army transports. car
ryinE horses and mules have not yet
reached Havana, being from one to three
days overdue. 1t is certain that they
encountered the storm, and Brig. Gen.
Humphrey. QuaTIeTmaster general. is
alarmed FOR their safety. They have
not been heard from since leaving New
The vessels are the Jacob Wright and