The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-01-24
EARTHQUAKE DESTROYS
KINGSTON, JAMAICA
With Death List Of One Thousand and Prop
erg Loss Of TWENTY-FIVE Million Fire
Adds to Horror.

Kingston, the picturesque capital of
the Island of Jamaica, has been devas-
tated by a violent earthquake.
Details Of the disaster are lacking,
as direct communication with the
stricken city has been cut off. The
land lines had been reconstructed to
within five miles Of Kingston Tuesday
evening, and from meager reports re
ceived through sucn channels as were
open, it has been learned that many
OF the most important buildings have
been destroyed, and there has been Sc
rious loss of life.
Kingston and the other points If
interest of the island are at this sea-
son thronged with tourist from both
America and England, and the great
bst apprehension is felt for the safety
IT the many persons who had recently
arrived at the Jamaican resort. The
nost distinguished Of these were mem
hers of party of English statesmen,
Agricultural experts and men Of affairs
who, under the leadership of Sir AL
fred Jones, had arrived in Kingston
within The past few days to attend an
agricultural conference.
The first great shock was felt about
$3.50 O'Clock Monday afternoon, and
Is in the San Francisco and Valparai-
70 disasters, flames Immediately
prang from the wreckage to carry
On the work of destruction. Tuesday
afternoon the fire was still burning
although it was believed to be under
control
The Myrtle Bank Hotel, the princi-
pal hotel at Kingston, which probably
lheltered the great bulk of visitors on
The island, is reported destroyed. The
treat military hospital was burned,
Ind forty soldiers are reported dead
The extent of the destruction which
has been wrought in Kingston, a city
which already bears the scars of a
Number Of disastrous visitations oil
bre, earthquake and cyclone in year:
Eone by, is still left largely to the i'm.
,gination.
The city is one Of low-lying build
tngs, clustered along the shores of one
OF the finest and most securely land
locked harbors in the West Indies.
The population Of $4,000 is largely
made up Of native blacks.
Many steamers carrying tourists t.
Jamaica were enroute to the island
when the earthquake occurred, but il
SO happens that, according TO SEIZED
ules, none of the ships from New
York or Boston was in Kingston har
Dor Monday.
st. Thomas, D. W. I.-keports re
ceived here from Jamaica say it is es
timated that 1000 persons have beer
killed by the earthquake and fire, and
that 10000 persons are homeless.
Two things stand out Of the genera.
gloom and bring intense satisfaction
to the British public. The first is the
fact, confirmed in a dispatch from Sii
Alfred Jones himself, that the mem
bers Of the Jones party are all safe
The second is found in the strong and
active steps taken by the American
government to investigate the real
condition and afford the necessary sue
cor TO the unfortunate city.
All possible steps are being taken
here to the same end, but America 5
generous action is none the less ap-
preciated.
The King and the Queen and also
the Premier, Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman, have FASTENED to tele-
graph expressions Of the country S
sympathy and horror at the terrible
calamity, and public bodies are ar
ranging to hold meetings to express
their sympathy and afford relief to
he victims.
At the moment Of writing this dis
patch there has been received mes
sage LIUlH AolI Aiiitu cOucS WHiCH
confirms the worst fears This mes
sage is addressed to Elder, Dempster
& Co., and is as follows:
Kingston was overwhelmed by an
earthquake Monday afternoon at $3.50.
All the houses within radius Of ten
miles have been damaged and almos.
every building in the city is dessroy-
ed. Fire broke out after the earth
quake and completed the work Of de-
struction. It is estimated that loo
persons have been killed and 900 in
iured. The public officers and hospit-
als are in ruins. Among the killed are
H. foYIifi 40 fionc annrOnratiOn bill