Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-21
GOV. SWETTENHAM REFUSES.
Continued from Page Onc)

Yankton sailing AZ 1 O'Clock. followed by
the battleships at o'clock.
Governor Swettenham'S attitude to-
ward a friendly American offer of as
siStance is greatly deplored by many
of the residents Of Kingston, some of
them even suggesting that the governor
be petitiOncd to resign. His action is
construed by some as inspired by re-
sentiment of President ROosevelt's at
titude toward jamaican negroes on the
Panama canal. Others ridicule the gov
ernor's objection to the landing of
American sailors. armed or not armed.
The insecurity of the city is evidenced
by the attempt last Friday) night by
six negroes to waylay midshipman
from the Missouri who drew his revol-
Yer and put his assailants to flight.
Last night the streets of the burned
district still rocked with the stencil of
dccaying bodies The burned ruins were
illuminated only by the baleful glow of
the corpse fires lining the roadways.
Today MANY bodies We're recovered
through the aid of vultures which
pcrched in fioclS on the ruins beneath
which their prey is buried. AS fast as
they We're uncovered the bodies are
thrown on the funeral pyres and slowly
consumed.
The total number Of known dead is
about $50: and it is believed there are
at least $50 persons who have not been
accounted for.
Food is coming into the city from the
country districts, but famine is
feared.
The filthy conditions OF the camps on
the parade grounds and race course.
where thousands of persons are hud-
died under imprOvised tents rooted over
and sneathed with palm leaves, causes
grave apprehension of an outbreak of
typhoid fever.
At present there is a most urgent
need for tents for several thousand
persons, but the government is not sup
piled with these and is not making en-
deavors TO obtain them. Rain is now
threatening, and if it should come it
will involve untold suffering on the
homeless thousands.
Tie full report was not a. hand unit!
today, although filed Friday by admiral
Evans. The report follows:
Naval Station,
Guantanamo. Jan. IS 1907.
''To Navigation Bureau,
washington. D. G..
"Whipplc arrived from Kingston with
following information from DAVIS: Ca
III. communications can only be had by
driving 10 miles to Bull Bay. Wireless
communication is down. Actual cOndi-
tai combustion. great part Of town de-
strnycd by first shock
VILLAS and government residences de-
stToycd. Kings house. three miles from
city residence of governor, will be blown
IN. Tr9falGdr houS" complete" wreck.
Mis-. Marshall. wife of genera! command
CT forces. was pinned under ruins of
house ard remained in this situation
more than an hour before rescued This
will give idea of extent of damage by
earthquake alone. Fire following in
closcly-rco3lcd portions of city totally
destroyed that section. Steamships al
wfarves are intact. Royal Mail saved
eOCG tons Of coal and plenty coal here.
Shipping il harbor not disturbed. YES
sells hold 10 their anchors. No detail
OF marine disturbances. Earthquake,
about 10 seconds duration, occurring an
rroxinatoly $40 +. NJ. Mldcr shocks
during perhaps q hours
AS to the social conditions. the gov
crnor, Sir Alexander Swcttenham. seems
20 be man of great power. Judge from
with him that he holds sit
uation wcll in hand. lie assures mo
there is ~ need Of polio" protection ~
relief: declined my offers land wrcckin,E
parties to assist in hospital - police
streets. clear away debris. 10 bury dead.
He told me this morning hat loss by
death was no already accounted for;
Their" are still many bodies in the ruins:
the Cuban consul was killed: other for !
cicr officials seem to have escaped The |
American consul is absent The consul !
ate is rrprcScr ted by vice consul. ] have
party on 81 lrc now guarding consulate |
ana securing archives. Later upon re
quest I landed 20 men under arms from |
the Indiana. t. prevent alleged mutinv |
at penitontiary having between 800 and |
400 prisoners, then proceeded in carriage |
with government official 10 Kings house. |
Governor with family were living II |
tents. Accompanied governor to city AMI |
shall this afternoon probably Withdraw |
guard at penitcntiary. as he assures mo |
he is canable of controlling situation. He |
has West Indian regiment. 1000 strong,
and two companies Of artillery, besides
insular constabulary.
II consider it my duty to remain for
the present. at least. Situation is IT,
confusing and conflicting; stories. re-
ports. complaints and rumors tho cor
Trajectory 10 enable mo at present to
form clear judgment. of actual situa-
ton. Missouri will coal tomorrow and
until I can get better report of situation
I consider it opportrru that this ship
should remain.
Anything 7 can DO goes. One ship
fully capable Of controlling situation and
feet surgeon remains on board Mssou-
ri. His presence and surgeon Of this
slip ar" desirable under existing condi-
tons. in view of possible emergency.
Have boon ;bla f1rd relief in mary
cases e private individuals
EVANS