New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-10-04
DESTI7U7ION. LEFT
IN STORMS trail
Miss Adams Further Describes
Havoc IN Porto Rico

Narrowing Qet9ltS Ol tuo oces1 W.
ton caused by the West Indies and
Florida hurricane are told in q Sec
ond letter received by Rev. and Mrs.
Elisha e. Adams OF this city. from
their daughter, Miss Victoria E.
Adams. . missionary in Porto Rico.
Miss Adams writes as follows:
THE cyclone announcements were
sent all over.the island. on Wednes-
day but that did not impress us
much. because several times this
summer others have been an
nounced. but they passed over. or
went around US. But on THURSDAY
morning, September the 18th about
o'clock we heard such a clatter
in the streets that we went to see
what was the matter. Soon we
learned from the school children
who were running and shouting
Cyclone Is coming! Cyclone II COM
ing and the barometer is dropping
fast! Within half an hour all the
schools were closed and the business
men were busy fixing the storm win
dows and doors in order to protect
their properties from the storm.
went to the church to see if 1t was
shut tight. and at 1880 ran Tor
home as fast as could get there.
for by that time ! knew that the
cyclone was coming upon US.
There are Just two Of US IN the
church, Miss Cltngan. the Baptist
missionary and !. We live In ono
side of q double, cement house,
therefore we scarcely realized what
was going on outside. Did the cy-
clone come? Yes. by 20 a. M. the
tragic wind with its destructive
power was blowing hard. and the
dark clouds were sending the horri-
ble storm ever the beautiful fruited
land of Porto Rico.
The dreadful and horrible storm
ragged on until o'clock. suddenly
there was a lull and Mr.. Caldwell.
the United Brethren missionary
came up to see If we we're safe. So
he took us In his car to the plaza
(park). was just Mortified to see
such destruction could be done. for
in our secure house I had no idea it
was that destructive. The plaza
looked as il some fend had just
tried to see how much of mess he
could make. We were assured that
the strong storm had passed us that
we should not fear. But little while
after We got home, the heavy rain
began to fall and the strong wind
began to whistle mournful and
tragic warning. As had never seen
nor been in a cyclone before ! was
very anxious to see what was going
on on the outside. The street In the
front OF our house had turned to =
big river carrying big branches.
leaves and boards. which had been
blown down. What q pttiful sight.
] feek AetplSss TO describe tho ter
ribs abstraction. On some streets
the kouses, animals. fruits and furnf-
ture were seen carried by the pow
erfHl wHter. The terrific storm
ragged on till next morning. With a
strong hope and faith went to bed
that night knowing for sure that
God was going to save me from the
storm so that l could be OF some
help to the unfortunate ones. 1t
vas not until next morning and suo
ceeding days that the full import of
the disaster came to me.
All the days in a Catholic colin-
This day OF September 10 was San
try carry the name OF saint and
Telipe's day. They call the hur-
ricane San Felipe. Jr.. for SO years
ego on the same day there was an
other. which was not as destructive
az this one. Friday morning the
storm was over with very little dam
age to us-one of the front gates
was blown off. the plants In the yard
looked very sick and there were
many branches of palms and leaves