The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19
KINGSTON RUINED
EARTHQUAKE WRECKS THE CAPI-
tai OF JAMAICA.
FIRE ADDS TO THE DISASTER
City Filled With Tourists-Fear That
Some May Have Been kIled-Loss
Hundred

f7OnOFeO.
London.-The colonial office Tues
day night received confirmation of the
terrible disaster which has overtaken
Kingston, Jamaica. in a dispatch from
Hamar Greenwood, NJ. p, sent from
Holland Bay, at the east end of the
island.
been ruined by an earthquake which
occurred without warning Monday
afternoon at 3: 80. A very great mum.
Der of buildings and dwellings were
destroyed either by the earthquake or
by the consequent fire.
The military hospital was burned
and forty soldiers are reported to have
been killed. together with several
prominent citizens and many other of
the inhabitants of the city.
Sir James Ferguson is reported to
have been killed instantly. but no
other Englishmen, Canadians, or
Americans were missing.
The city is quiet but disciplined
workers are needed.
The governor of the colony, Sir Alex
ander Sweetenham, assisted by Sir AL
fred Jones, is directing affairs.
Up to this hour the foregoing is the
most complete dispatch regarding the
Kingston disaster that has been re-
ceiyed here. The absence of details is
accounted for by the breakdown in
cable communication, but the an
nouncement that no Englishmen, Can
adams or Americans are missing will
greatly reassure the public concerning
the fate of the unusual number OF
tourists and others who are spending
the winter in Jamaica or who were at
tracted there by the agricultural and
cotton conferences.
The most distinguished of these
were members of a party of English
statesmen, agricultural experts and
men of afYairs, who, under the leader
ship of Sir Alfred Jones, had arrived
in Kingston within the past few days
to attend an agricultural conference
there. Among those in the company
were Hall Caine, the novelist: Wis
count Montmorres, II. O. Arnold Fors
ter, NJ. p, Sir Thomas Sham and
others of equal prominence.
The first great shock was felt about
$3.50 O'Clock Monday afternoon, and
flames Immediately sprang from the
struction. Tuesday afternoon the fire
was still burning, although it was be
lieved to be under control.
The Mrytle Bank hotel, the principal
motel at Kingston which probably shell
tered the great bulk of visitors on the
island, is reported destroyed. The great
military hospital was burned and forty
soldiers are reported dead
Sir James Ferguson is said to have
been instantly killed, but according to
London advices no other Englishmen
of Americans are believed to be miss
ing.
The extent of the destruction which
has been wrought in Kingston. a city
which already bears the sears of a mum
Der of disastrous visitations OF
fire, earthquake and cyclone in years
gone by, is still left largely to the
imagination.
The city is one of low-lying build
ings, clustered along the shores Of one
of the finest and most securely land
locked harbors in the West Indies. The
population, whicn numbers 10000, is
largely made up of native blacks
Many steamers carrying tourists tc
Jamaica were en- route to the island
when the earthquake occurred, but II
so happened that. according to sched
ules, none of the ships from New York
or Boston was in Kingston harbor Mon.
day afternoon.