The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-18
PEOPLE OF KINGSTON IN
A PITIABLE CONDITION
Hundreds of Lives Lost-Provisions Badly Waned-Fires
Break Out Again-Negroes Looting Rum Shops-Forty>
five Invalid Soldiers Burned to Death in Hospital

Washington, January 16-O1icial
news Of the disaster at Kingston,
reached Washington slowly today. The
first report did not come TO hand until
we'll along in the afternoon when a
dispatch was received at the state de-
partment dated Jamaica, 3:31 p. m,
January 16' and signed American
Consulate, stating that Kingston had
been destroyed and hundreds OF lives
lost and that food was badly needed.
The signature to this dispatch was mis-
leading, for the consul is absent On
leave from his post. 1t was assumed
at the war department that the vice
and deputy consul, William H. Orrell,
at Kingston had sent the dispatch. A
reference in the cablegram to the fire
proof safe is understood to convey as
surance of the safety of the consular
records and papers. 1t was ais re-
garded as possible that the message
might have come from Nicholas R.
Snyder, the American consul at Port
Antonio, on the island of Jamaica.
However, the dispatch was regarded
as warranting the taking Of instant
measures of relief. Indeed, the navy
department had been in advance in this
matter, for through Captain Beehler,
the officer in charge of the naval sta
tiOn at Key West, wireless communi-
cation was early established between
the navy department and Admiral
Evans, commanding the Atlantic fleet
at Guantanamo, Cuba, and when Sec
retary Root later Indicated the desir
ability Of sending warsh1pS at once to
the distressed island, it turned out that
Admiral Evans had anticipated IN
StructiOns and had started on tor
pedo boat destroyer, the swiftest YES
sci in the American fleet for Kingston
ordering two battleships to follow as
soon as they could.
The appeal for food supplies directed
attention to the fact that under Ordi-
nary circumstances none of the gov
ernment supplies could be used for
outside relief save by special authorl-
ty Of congress. That fact, however,
did not prevent Secretary Metcalt from
ordering two supply ships with full
cargoes of food, at once to Jamaica,
leaving for tomorrow the question as to
how the supplies are to be given to the
needy inhabitants.
The war department up to the close
of business had not acted upon the
application for food but it is assumed
that in anticipation of the passage Of
the necessary legislation by congress,
it will at least take measures to get
supplies to the island ready for the dis
tributing agencies. There are stores
of food at San Juan, Porto Rico, and at
Havana, that might be used for emer-
gencies leavin the department to
draw later upon the large stocks at
New York.
Washington, January 16-Captain
Beehler, at Key West, has informed the
navy department that he has received
a wireless dispatch from Guantanamo,
stating that Admiral Evans, ommand-
ing the Atlantic fleet has sailed from
that place on the torpedo boat destroy
er Whipple, for Kingston, Jamaica, to
ascertain conditions and extend such
aid as may be necessary.
A later dispatch states that the bat
tleships Indiana and Missouri have
followed Admiral Evans.
The supply ships Celtic and Glacier,
which are now attached to the At
lantic fleet and which are fully pro-
visioned, have been ordered to proceed
with all haste to Kingston where their
cargoes of food will be distributed
among the needy.
Santiago, January 16-Kingston har-
Dor, as the result of the earthquake,
is closed to shipping, but Bowden is
open There is need of quantities of
provisions. Famine and pest conditions
prevail, and there is misery every
where Both the rich and poor at
Kingston are homeless.
London, January 16, p. m..--The
following cable dispatch has been re-
ceiyed from press representative who
accompanied Sir Alfred Jones and his
party to Jamaica:
Fires broke out again tonight. The
negroes are looting the rum shops
At least 500 persons have been killed.
There are weird and terrible scenes.
Forty-five invalid soldiers were burned
to death in the military hospital. Sew
eral shocks were felt today.
The above dispatch is not dated.
Washington, January 16.-The fol-
lowing cablegram was received at the
state department this afternoon:
Jamaica, January Is, 3:31 p. N.
Secretary of State, Washington:
Fearful earthquake followed by fire.
Kingston destroyed. Hundreds of lives
lost. Consulate probably destroyed.
Fire proof safe.
American Consulate
The last sentence of the dispatch is
supposed to have referred to the con-
sulate papers
ST Thomas, D. W. l., January 10
Reports received here from Jamaica
say it is estimated that one thousand
persons have been killed by earthquake