New Britain herald., 1928-09-17
1000 LOST IN
PORTO RICO STORM
$4,000 Are IN Immediate Need
Of Food and Shelter

San Juan. Porto Rico. Sept. II up
With the hurricane death toll con-
servatively estimated at 1000. the
spectre Of famine stalked through
Porto Rico today. At least 300,000
persons wexe said to be hungry,
Disease was threatened.
Half Homeless
Half of the islands population of
almost 100000 was thought to be
homeless. 1t was feared that the
property damage would aggregate
more than S10000o,000.
Declaration of martial law, the re-
QUESTIONING and rationing of food
and the drafting of all able bodied
men was urged of Governor Horace
NJ. Towner by group of leading
citizens.
The group in a petition asserted
that so far neither the government
nor any other agency had taken ad-
eauate steps for relief nor to ascer-
tain the facts as to immediate
needs
The national guard has been Or
dered out to protect property from
hooters. Efforts are being made TO
stop protiteering.
Nine OF the islands n towns re-
ported more than ESQ dead. Others
reported no loss of life. Communi-
cation with other places cut, it will
be weeks before accurate reports
can be received from the rural sec
tions in which more than 10 per
cent of the people live.
Conservative Figure
Physicians and others familiar
with conditions said that death
toll with 1000 as a final figure was
conservative estimate.
No continental Americans have
been reported either killed or in
jured.
The known dead in the various
towns reporting were: Cayey. 70;
Guayama, so: Humacao, so; Ponce,
IS; Arecibo. Is: Aguadilla. 10; Ma
cuabo, 10; Las Piedras. S: and Fa-
pardo, 8.
Crops Gone
Most of the food crops were de-
stroyed. Half of the homes were de-
stroyed or damaged beyond repair.
probably the most seriously situated
are the "Jivaros." the poor country
folk numbering nearly 100000,
who have no reserve resources TaleS
of their suffering were reaching San
Juan today.
Joaquin Villanueva. q university
instructor of Vega Baja. said the
country people were coming into
town by hundreds begging for food.
Hard pressed merchants gave them
AZ much as they were able. VIVA
nueva with his family walked most
of the rs miles from Vega Baja to
San Juan.
Paul Maloney, who motored from
Nasuabo on the east coast. SAID Il
man with q bag of rice. a bag OF
beans and a side of pork. was liter
ally mobbed by ESQ homeless ana
hungry persons at Naguabo Playa.
100000 Hungry
a netition to Governor Towner
said that 100000 persons were nun
cry and would have nothing 10 eat
for another week unless immediate
and drastic action was taken.
These four proposals were laid be-
fore the governor:
declaration Of martial law
throushout the land. with officers OF
the 65th infantry in command.
z-Requisitioning of all food sup
r,,ea and materials In the island 10
be issued only in permit following q
DEFINITE plan Of rationing.
Governor Towner urged the sec
retary of war to send immeola.e
funds in whatever amount avaiiapie
ana more when possible. He assert
ed the island had suffered the wors.
hurricane ever recorded in the west
Indies and that the facts are "orse
than have been reported.
fhe governor also urged presideh.
tjal approval for a general appea,
for, aid through the American hed
Cos. and asked that Red cross
rehabilitation unit be sent 10 for'o
Rico. a.
Energetic efforts to stop profiteer-
inr in food end supplies were maze
hv Governor Towner. As conse-
onence of great damage to the crop
coffee Jumped from 4s Genus
Mound to 65 cents in some stores.
In some places milk rose from %
and ~ cents to so and 10 Genus .
ouart. The city is largely withou.
,ce The price of lumber scared
from s45 TO s75 thousand feet ana
cement was boosted 81 bag
Loss 100000, 900
A check on crop and other dam
os resu,ted in an estimate OF $b9,-
900 900 with many items unl's'eu
These il was believed. WOULD III
ore,se the damage above $loo.ooo'-
ooo Damage TO property and pup
,ic buildings, such as schools ana
l,osnita,s and to roads. stores anu
,,erchandise was not estimated. j.,
Tho itemized list of estimator
,or.as vas. Coffee crop. s1o,0eo,ooo'
coffee trees, s10,ooo.ooo: sugar cam
cron $50, 100000; sugar iac'oliee'
:, 600 900: citrus crop including 'ose
and damage to groves. sa''o''oo"'
tobacco. $5.oeo.o00; minor crops
a. 900 900; Porto Rico Rali"as'
Jiebt and Power company, s5'"'''-
900: and telephone and teles'ap'''
100000. .,. 90
Essential services were partly re-
u.or.d in San Juan and hundreds OF
men were clearing debris from 'he
roads,