New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-22
TALES OF SURVIVORS.
Visitors an Kingston AniUe in This
City.

The first survivors of the Kingston earth
! quake to sail to this city came in yesterday on
the Baker of the United Fruit Company They
were S. d. Curtis, OF Plattsburg n. Y: G. A
! Ingalls, of Rouses Point, n. Y; John d
Avil' president Of the Avil Publishing Company
| No. 434O Market street. Philadelphia and Max
Magnus. of No. IS West 10th street All were
in Kingston at the time of the earthquake. and
without exception said that the destruction of
the city by the earthquake and the fire that fol-
lowed baffied description.
According to all four there were two shocks
on Monday, at $50 p. m. and at $50 D. m,
and two on Tuesday at 3:20 a. m. and at 1890
p. m.
All characterized Governor Swettenham as a
most indiscreet person." They said that the
government authorities under him made no eff
fort TO preserve order or to clear the streets of
the dead; that the Negro constabulary stood
idly by. waiting for orders that never came.
and that only the work of American citizens and
sailors from American ships saved hundreds
from dying of their wounds. For a time. they
said II was feared that the Negroes would turn
on the whites. because the former seemed to
think the white people responsible for their
misery.
Mr. ingalls, and Mr.. Curtis were standing in
Hope Gardens when the first shock came. They
Were lifted off their feet.
THE next thing we knew" said Mr.. Ingalls,
was that the earth beneath us was rumbling
and we were tossing about like a ship on a
heavy sea- The noise stopped almost as sud
denly as it began. But were apprehensive
Although did not know what 1t was. suspect
ed that it was more than an explosion. The
trst thought that struck me was that We should
seek safety on the American ships then in the
harbor
We were staying at the Myrtle Bank Hotel,
ana We jumped into cab and ordered the driver
10 take us there first. II was five miles into
the city proper. It seemed we were never to
get there The driver drove like mad but the
NOISE continued. and the animals became al
slost uncontroLable. On the way In We saw
houses thrown down. trees uprOOted and every
evidence OF an earthquake.
Three blocks from the hotel we had to get
on. our way being blocked by the dead and the
dying. The dead we saw on the streets were
mostly Negroes. and we saw no injured white
persons until we got to the ships.
A Negro lad told us he had seen an American
named Parker killed in q barber shop Down at
the waterfront we found First Officer Vahsel OF
the Princess Victoria Luise, which was still
ashore at Port Royal He was badly wounded
He was in the German Consulate at the time of
me nrst shock and was struck the head by
pieces OF timber. But that did not deter him
from doing his duty as he saw IT, All that after
noon and all that night he was in command OF
a launch that carried people from the shore to
the vessels In the harbOr"
Mr.. Curtis said that there was much damage
done In the suburbs to property. though few
1eao were reported There a landslide at
flVerdale which almost engulfed a train stand
Ing on a switch. The little town OF Richmond
was devastated and fires broke out in all parts
OF II after IL" hrst quake Troja and Albany
were not greatly damaged. but the old catbe-
draI at Spantshtown was laid low and Kildare
Market at Port Antonio completely destroyed
Between Annotto Bay and Bog Walk the tidal
wave swept six hundred feet inland and did
much damage to property