Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-18
RECEIVEDWITH AK
CAPT. BATTLE TELLS OF Ora
CIoUs TREATMENT AT KINGSTON.
Treated in a Gentleman1y Manner by
Gov Swettenham, Who Expressed
Gratitude for Tents.

Secretary Taft has received an interest
ing report from Capt. John s. Battle. 18th
Infantry. in regard to his journey from
Santiago de Cuba to Kingston. Jamaica. In
charge of tentage forwarded by direct Or
ders from the War Department In response
to a request 20 Gov. Magoon by the acting
British minister at Havana. This tentage
consisted OF five hospital tents. seventeen
wall tents and ffty-one Conical tents
Capt Battle says he went from Santiago
on the steamer Oteri and arrived at King
ston OF the morning of January .; that ne
went at once to the United States consul
late. stated his mission to Acting Consui
Orrett, and requested to be taken at once
to Gov. Swettenham. which was done.
Received Graciously.
There was no delay" says Capt. Battle.
Elm my being admitted to the governor, and
I verbally rendered to him the tentage. The
governor received me graciously. thanked
me for the kind offer, stated that he would
like. to confer with the -elief committee
and asked where | would be in about an
hour so that L could receive his answer. l
told him | would be at the United states
consulate, and then departed. AS soon as
/ reached the consulate / wrote the gov
ernor a letter describing the purpose OF my
visit. Shortly after the dispatch OF TINS
letter the governor Calleu III PcTSou 81 INC
consulate. thanked me for the tents Statihs
they would be gratefully received, asked
where they were, told me his audltor gen
eral would receive them, and took me IN
person to the steamer. and l showed MN
where the tentage would be delivered
Later the tents were turned over 10 tne
representative of the auditor general and
the governors secretary called on me ana
said the governor would like me to drive
out to his official residence that afternoon
and that a carriage would be at tne Doat
ready for me. i went 10 tne governor
residence and had tea with Lady Swetten-
ham.
People Not Suffering.
ct drove over the ruined city" contin-
ues the captain. both during the day and
at night, went to the camps In the parks
and the race course, and the people, 10 my
mind are net suffering. There seems to
be an abundance of food in the market
and the prices have not gone up The
streets have all been cleaned up so that
vehicles can pass The natives are Work
ing and the government authorities, to
my mind. can handle the situation with
out further aid. l was told by several
people that more tents were needed and
probably they could be used, but the
climate Is mild and nature furnishes so
many things to build shacks of that more
tents from the United States government
are not necessary / believe the build
ings Were damaged as much. If not more,
by the earthquake than those in san
francisco last April The fire devastation
was about the same except that the area
was small as compared with San Fran
cisco. The deaths were greater how
ever, over 700 bodies having been found,
so i was informed by the authorities
Gov. Swettenham. in letter addressed
to Secretary Taft, and dated Kingston,
February ). repeated the expression of
the sincere gratitude of the people Of
supply of tents brought from Cuba by
Capt. Battle on behalf of the United
States government and placed at his dis
posal for the assistance of sufferers from
the recent disastrous earthquake. l have
requested his British majesty's minister
at Havana to convey to the officers of
the United States government, through
whose benevolence these supplies were
sent, the cordial and grateful thanks of
this government.