Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-14
NATIVES FLEEING BELIZE.
Citizens Fear Lower Glasses May Start
Uprising for Plumber.

Citizens Fear Lower classes May start
Uprising for Plumber.
BY Pan American Always Radio to New
BELIZE, British Honduras, September
IA (R.-Fearing serious conditions in
the hurricane stricken city, under the
threat Of water shortage and possible
epidemic, the natives are fleeing Belize
as rapidly as possible.
Bidder Mason, Belize Field manager
for Pan-American Always, who has
been assisting in relief work and who
estimates the death toll as we'll over
the plight Of the inhabitants:
The Belize River, which was mass
of bodies, houses, wrecked boats ana
debris for three days. has been partially
cleared now and can be navigated by
small river craft with expert plotting.
Whole Families Flee.
whole families, or all now left in
the families, have been gathering their
few bits of personal effects that re-
manned after the storm. are condition
ing dugout canoes or little skifis ana
are making their perilous way upriver
to the little settlements deep In the
jungle which were unscathed In the
storm.
"They are confident they will be able
to live on the natural edibles OF the
jungle6 with the meager supplies OF
corn flour and other articles they may
be able to secure from the tiny colonies
along the river banks.
The blazing sun has been beating
down mercilessly. Since practically an
of the buildings have had their TOOLS
torn OF. additional suffering Is brought
t,1t vpIan hptnQ treated
as they lie in rows on the floors OF the
roofleSs houses.
Masses Of sea fish imbedded in pools
of liquid mud piled up by the tloai
wave are decomposing and the ar at
times Is unbearable."
The food supply in the town Is run,
ming short, said Masson's account. ano
Is being rationed out to the remaining
population as evenly as possible. Inc
lack of drinking water Is critical ana
utmost precautions are being taken &c
prevent the outbreak OF epidemics.
THE death toll is still mounting ano
present indications are that the dead
and badly injured are equal to about
one out Of ten of the population OF tne
city" Mason said in an earlier mes
"The present total is well over 1000
and Is being constantly added to as
bodies are being removed from under
falling houses from the masses OF mud
where they are pinioned down py Inn I'm
bers thrown into the city with re
mendous force from the crest OF tne
tidal wave. The injured are
well cared for, and medical supplies, IN
response to the radio pleas We were
able to get through, are believed TO De
adequate for the time being.
Population Is Dumbfounded.
THE remaining population is still
dumbfounded by the enormity OF the
catastrophe. It had been the bellel
there for generations that no hurricane
would ever strike Belize. Even when
the neighbroing weather and radio sta
lions on our line informed us cur city
could not escape and giving the APP
proximate time the hurricane Wouio
strike, the people still could not believe
Every city home received more OF
less serious damage and the native pop
ulation, awe-stricken, goes about the
relief work under direction as in .
trance, still unable to grasp the trutf
Of the horrible tragedy. The city il
fearful less the lower classes become
uncomfortable, remembering graz ally
the rising of a riotous crowd in iJl.
which pillaged the stores and some Of
the homes. Conditions affecting the
iaboring class are still such that there
is great danger of future difficulties
which would be fatal to the relief WORK
which is now going ahead under crit
ical difficulties. Added to this Is thu
fear of q water famine and its terrible
consequences.
The arrival of relief supplies anc
assistance by plane and steamship ha,
greatly helped to lift the morale q TIT
people" 40