Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-21
REFUGEES IN PHILADELPHIA.
Nerves Wracked After Passing Earth
quake Experience.

| quake Experience.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa January 21.-
! Refugees from Kingston arrived in this city
yesterday on the steamship Admiral Far
| ragut. There were fifteen passengers from
Jamaica as follows:
From Kingston-Mrs. Albert Turner and
her daughter, Grace Barton Turner, of Pas
sale, N. j., and Edward Longley of New
tonville Mass
From Port Antonio-W. c. GUNNER and
| wife of Cleveland, with Miss B. Downey;
Dexter Tiffany Of St. Louis. Mrs. H. L.
| Swain Of New Haven. Mrs. w. E. Wark of
New Haven, A. M. Ware of Wayne, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. John Mckee of Springfield.
Mass; Mrs. R. b. Higbee of St Louis, Mrs.
| G. Chapman and her son, r. G. Chapman,
| of Detroit. Mich.
| Only the three passengers from Kingston
passed through the earthquake Their
nerves were still unstrung. Their repose will
not come to them for many days. Mrs.
Turner, especially, was still! suffering from
the effects Of her experiences.
1t seems that Mr.. Longley rescued the
two women from possible death when their
| hotel was being rocked like a cradle and
plaster and wood were falling thickly about
] their heads, and led them to a place of
| safety. From that moment q warm friend
| ship sprang up between the young man and
that the romance might lead to the altar on
some mot far distant day. but Longley and
Miss Turner were reticent. upon the sub
| ject.
Kind in Need.
He was kind to us in an hour Of great
| need that Is ALL said Miss Turner, and
| her rescuer added: why, what would a
| fellow do? OF course 1 helped the ladies.
And we are bully good friends"
Mrs. Turner and her daughter had q
| chance to repay in a measure the good Of
| fees Of the young man. While asleep.in a
tent in front Of his hotel on the night of
the earthquake he was robbed of every cent
| he had. The ladies advanced him money
! for the voyage home.
Mr.. Longley. who is connected with a
Boston shoe house and had been to Porto
Rico, returning by way Of Jamaica, thus
described what he saw:
THE business heart Of Kingston is laid
waste Along the water front and on those
streets where the stores and offices were
there Is now mass Of charred debris, and
bodies lying in the streets and squares. I
| know that five Americans persisted. They
| were guests Of the Myrtle Bank Hotel.
THE earthquake came without warning
| at 1925 O'clock on the afternoon Of January
| IA. The day was clear, but there was a
peculiar sitting feeling in the air. Just be-
| fore the first shock a dim haze seemed to
appear. A rumbling was first heard in the
distance. 1t sounded like far-away thunder.
Suddenly the tremors grew violent. A crash
| and roar filled the air. was thrown down.
Crashing Ttmbers.
"All around me was the sound of crash
| Ing timbers and tumbling stone. Houses
| were rocking and swaying and falling in
crumblng piles Screams of women and of
| men were heard on every hand.
Every one in the Hotel Royal, where I
was stopping, rushed out Of doors-that is,
all who could walk. Some were SO terrified
that they could not move. In the big open
space in front of the hotel the guests con-
gregated and looked in horror about them.
| Some had been hurt by flying slivers of
| wood or pieces of mortar.
THE Hotel Royal, which formerly was a
mansion and was erected fifty years ago, is
built Of wood. 1t stood the shock without
| the walls caving in, but the clothes of
those who reached the square were torn by
| the flying debris. did all 1 could to assist
the women, who naturally were badly
frightened.
Confusion reigned in the city. The trolley
tracks were twisted and torn from their
| ties. Cars were overturned and buried be-
meath wreckage, and all the traffic in the
city was stopped. The district of greatest
| devastation was in the center of the bust
ness section.
Fire sprang up down by the water front.
soon the pail Of smoke hung over the city.
Other fires were seen at various points.
From where We were, away up in the heart
| flames.
Although there was a rush to leave the
city, hundreds of men remained to fight the
flames and to nurse the sick and rescue
Whatever bodies they could from the debris.
The city fremen worked with a will and did
heroic service, and the citizens helped them
There were many foreigners in the city.
They kept their nerve better than the ma
ives The natives, especially the blacks.
| were terribly frightened, and many were
absolutely HELPLESS"