The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-21
By JULIEN c. EDGERLY.

BOSTON, Jan. aI.-Three thirty-thrse
OF January afternoon in Kingston,
the height OF what would be the sum
mer season in New England. The sun
was beating down pitilessly on the old
city Clouds of dust were over every
thing. The natives slept. but tourists
were astir in the shops and in the
streets. Such as could slept, bat IN The
shons and in the streets the tourists
We're astir, bargaining and sightseeing.
And then fifteen seconds later the city
Was in ruins. Business houses and resi-
dences were hat On the ground. \
thousand lives. some say as many as
i've thousand. had been suuned out
Five thousand more human beings were
buried grooming and praying in the
Wreckage. Fifty millions OF dollars IN
property had been destroyed and fire
had begun 10 complete the scene OF hOr-
Tor.
A giant hand had reached forth and
shaken the foundations of the city as
dog would shake "a rat. The earthquake
demon slumbering for tie two eentslies
since Port Royal had been submerged
by its might had awakened. and Kings
Ton. the capital OF Jamaica. had felt us
might.
Scenes Beyond Description.
Tile scenes that followed are beyond
anything bur scattering description.
What L saw what some of my friends
saw, how the city lived through the
night and the next twenty-fou, hours
l Will not tell
Five minutes before Ja- quake j was
lying 10 "a bed ia EarTs Court. d Two
story brick building on North street,
once an aristolratg residence, but lat
terly used as a hotel The house was
that morning nearly fun with a party of
tourists from laukeeIand. They had
visited Jamaica on the Admiral Dewey
OF the United Fruit Company. and kept
together as much as possible la their
touring through the island. After lunch
most of the ladies wanted 10 90 shop
ping. Along with them Went my wife.
/ lad not been well for a few days and
was persuaded % stay az Tie hotel
Until nearly 3,3p [ slept Then / arose
and determined 60 so downtown 10 hud
the shopping party.
Ny room was corner one on the
ground uour. with one door opening out
uu 10 The piazza. which surrounded the
whole mouse. Hy this door stood a
dresser and I'm front of this / was stand
inE comoing nay hair when / felt a ttr
and heard rattle as though some one
were dragging q trunk around upslai 8
House Violently Shaken.
There was no more than time for this
thought 10 pass through my mind when
the floor rose and sank, and the whole
house was shaken violently. as Il in the
grasp OF some monster. Then / real
lied that we were ira the grip of AN
earthquake InsJincuvely 1 dashed Tor
the piazza door. Ny only thought was
10 get out of doors and away from fall
ing walls. But a small bolt on the
bottom or the door had dropped into its
place and held II tight.
This time that little bolt saved INV
life. l did not stop 20 lift il into place.
! gave "a frantic kick and threw my
whole "a pounds against the door. liz
gave way, and [ was flung almost head
long ont on the piazza. As nay foot
struck The moor down upon me with "A
crash plunged the brick walls of the
second story, carrying with them the
roof of the piezz8. Along my left side
they swept, leaving scars from should
eT To foot, which / stlll carry. But the
wrcckagc did not bear me down. /
stood still in that doorway. until the
crashing and rumbling was over. Then
ran out over the wreckage into the
garden.
l turned and gaZed in horror at the
building The walls of the whole second
story We're out, but the floors were IN
place though but partially supported.
Woman Pleads for Aid.
] went through the front door. As
stepped into the hallway. there came a
horror stricken cry from stiu farther
IN the interior, and ] saw coming down
the warped and distorted stairway a
woman with a little girl in her arms.
Her eyes were starting from her head
and she cried as if not seeing me.
ooh, won't some one take my baby.
For Gods sake take my baby"
The woman was Mrs. Hermann Strut
Ter. of New York. She, with her hus-
band and two girls one of five and
the other of seven, had arrived but