The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-09-05
Devastation Greater Than
First Believed; Disease
Great Peril Now; Help
Thousands of Homeless.
BY FRANCISCO o
United Press stan Correspondent

SANTO DOMINGO, Do
minican Republic, Sept. s.
Casualties in the hurricane
that devastated Santo Domin-
go Wednesday were estimated
today at more than 1000
killed and about 1900 in
'jured.
Many of the injured we're so seri-
ously hurt they we're expected to
die.
Late surveys of the capital showed
the devastation to be even more ex-
tensive than originally believed by
officials.
With about three-quarters of the
population of more than 10000
homeless, the sanitary authorities
order destruction by fire of all
wreckage likely to cause disease and
other precautions were taken against
pestilence.
Legations Are Demolished
The American, British, Cuban,
Mexican, Spanish, French and
Haitien legations we're demolished.
The Haitien minister and his family
are living in the cellar of the
wrecked legation, without food or
clothing.
The buildings of the Bank of Nova
Scotia, offices of the Bull Insular
Steamship line and many other
large buildings were demolished.
Banks were closed and all bust
business activities were ceased to
permit the hastily modified relief
forces to function.
The government announced that
three vessels were expected here
from Porto Rico early Saturday,
bringing supplies and medicine.
Medicine and physicians were ex-
pected from Cuba and the Haitian
government has dispatched supplies
and medicine by airplane and land
routes.
Capital Receivers Slowly
The fate of the interior regions
still is uncertain and it was feared
the restoration of communication
ines would show the hurricane struck
violently along a wide path north
westward across the island.
The capital was slow to recover
from the fury of the storm that
hit with great violence, destroying
most of the houses of the city and
filling the streets with wreckage,
but the government made every eff
fort to maintain order and provide
food and medical care for wounded
after a night. of terror.
Thousands Are Homeless
Every possible agency of relief
was employed pending arrival OF
outside aid, which was requested by
government officials as soon as the
acute shortage of food and medical
supplies became apparent. President
Rafael L. Trujillo was assisted by
American Minister Charles B.
Curtis in directing the work of
relief and taking precautions
against disease by speedy disposal of
the bodies of victims.
The buildings that escaped full
force of the wind were used to shell
ter the thousands of injured and
homeless, women taking a leading
part in caring for the victims while
all able bodied men were called on
to aid in the relief work.
Property damage-estimated con-
servatively yesterday at far above
SIS, 900, 000-waS placed still higher
today, but it was difficult to make
an accurate estimate.
Pleased by Relief Speed
The government expressed graft
f1cation at the manner in which the
West Indies and the United States
organized one of the greatest relief
expeditions of recent years.
The speed with which the Cuban
and Haitien governments responded
to the plea for aid and the efficiency
with which Governor Theodore
Roosevelt of Porto Rico organized an
expedition of three ships, expected
here Saturday, was praised by adj
ministration officials.