El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-12
TAFT ASKS FOR
MONEY To
SUFFERERS
A Special Message to Con
gress- Loss of Life by
Volcano Thought Heavy.
TRANSPORT MAY Go
TO KODIAK ISLAND

Washington, ID. c.. June 12.-Presi-
dent Taft, in a special message to con-
gress, today asked for an appropriation
of 100000 TO be expended by the rev.
enue cutter service in caring for vol
canO victims near Kodiak. Alaska
Details Come in Slowly.
Seattle. Wash. June 12.-Detalls OF
the havoc wrought along the Alaska
peninsula and the adjoining islands OF
Kodiak. Afognak and Raspberry, by the
eruption of Katmai volcano. which
burst forth last Thursday, are coming
in SLOWLY From the meager reports
received at Seward, the nearest cable
station TO the scene Of the disaster,
il is apparent that the greatest dam
age was done, probably with great loss
of life, among the little fishing viz
lagos on the coast Of the peninsula, viz
tUally at the foot Of the volcano.
Reports have not been received from
the settlements which have a pOpula-
ton Of about 2O00 mostly natives, but
reports from Uya6, a. prosperous can
merry town, on the opposite side OF
ShelikOf strait. said that it was I'M
probable that those on the mainland
escoped. The news from Uyak indicated,
however, that there was no loss of life
on Kodiak island. the largest and most
pOpulOus Of the distressed group
Manning saved Many.
Every effort is being made to get aid
to the stricken villages. Capt kirt-
land ". Berry. commander of the rev
enUe cutter Manning. has been at KO-
diak since the eruption began and has
taken charge Of the relief work on the
island. His vessel undoubtedly saved
the lives Of many persons in Kodiak,
for he ordered all the 500 men, women
and children in the town to board his
ship as soon as the eruption began and
since the outburst subsidized the officers
and crew of the Manning have devoted
all their energy to assisting the desti-
Calls For Relief.
Calls for a relief-fund have been sent
out by the citizens OF CordOva and
Seward. The government has been
asked TO order the transport Sheridan.
which is in Alaskan waters, to proceed
at once TO Kodiak The transport is
stocked with provisions, which are
sOrely needed in the distressed district
The effect Of the eruption on vege-
tation was indicated by a message re-
ceived by S n SnOdgrasS. who has
charge Of the government experimental
station at Kodiak, now in Seattle,
which said that there was imminent
danger Of losing all the stock at the
station because Of the pollution OF the
water supply and the destruction OF
for the stock was shipped from 81 .ka
yesterday.
seven villages Destroyed.
Seward, Alaska June IA cannery
tender from Uyak, on the SheltkOf
Strait shore Of Kodiak island, brought
word yesterday that the people there
are safe, but it is thought seven fish
ing villages with a total population Of
200 on the Alaska peninsula in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Katmaivolcano
were destroyed by the eruption of last
Thursday
The villages. whose inhabitants.
mostly natives. are said to have per-
iShed, were Cold Bay, Katmai. Kans-
TUX, Douglas, SavanOosky and KamgG-
mute.
The volcano has resumed its normal
state and the atmosphere is clearing.
so that boats viii be able TO get into
the stricken district with relief
At Uyak the fall OF ashes amounted
to four inches. The people there are
not suffering This was one OF the
places on Kodak island where il was
feared the greatest damage was done
and the news from there gives hope
that all the people on Kodiak island
arc safe.
Vegetable and Animal Life Killed.
Juneau. Alaska. June 12.-Governor
Walter E. Clark received the following
dispatch from Kodiak:
Kodiak island covered with y
inches Of ashes. Ashes have stopped
falling, but conditions here are terri
bic. The people were taken aboard the
revenue cutter Manning, which is leav-
ing Tor other stations 10 obtain food
are 20 feet deep. Vegetation and animal
life have been killed and the wireless
station at Kodiak destroyed. COndi-
tons at karluk must DE terrible.
Governor Clark cabled to Washing
ton yesterday asking 100000 from
congress for relief purposes in the
stricken district