Connecticut western news., 1907-01-17
Disaster Like San Francis co'sm Kingston, Jamaica.
NUMBERO DEAD UNKNOWN
Fatalities Believed, However, to Be Less Than One Hundred.
FIRE CONFINED TO SMALL SECTION.

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 Reported to Have Been Limited to Docks and Warehouse District-No Americans Reported Among Dead or Injured, Although Island Holds Many Tourists From United States and Elsewhere = English Statesman Re- ported KiIIed-HaII caine, Novelist, Among Party of visitors-Telegraph Communication With Stricken City Cut of = Latest Disaster Follows Many Similar Occurrences In Kings toms History.
 Port Antonio, Jamaica. Jan. 16- Kingston, the picturesque capital of the island of Jamaica. has been devas- tated by a violent earthquake, follow ed by fire.
 The land and telegraph lines which had been thrown down have been re- constructed to within five miles of Kingston. and from meager reports re- ceiyed though these channels 1t has been learned that many of the most important buildings have been destroy ed and that there has been serious loss of life
 The reports indicate that the fatali- ties number less than a hundred, though the hospitals are filled with in- jured, and the list of victims may be materially increased.
 The first great shock was felt about 3:3O o'clock in the afternoon on Mon day and, as in the San Francisco and Valparaiso disasters, flames immedi- ately sprang from the wreckage to car " on the work of destruction, and at last reports the fire was still burning, although it was believed to be under control.
 City's Main Hotel Gone.
 The Myrtle Bank hotel, the principal hotel at Kingston, which probably shel- tered the great bulk of visitors on the island, is reported destroyed. The mili tary hospital was burned, and forty soldiers are reported dead.
 Sir James Ferguson is said to have been instantly killed, but so far as re-
 
 or American is dead or missing. Many American and English tourists are vis- iting Jamaica.
 Many steamers carrying tourists to Jamaica were en route to the island when the earthquake occurred, but no disasters to any of them are reported. The earthquake did no damage here on the north side of the island.
 The fire which followed the shock in Kingston has done much damage, but Is thought now to be confined to cer- flames is still being pursued with en- ergy, and in this respect the situation seemed to be improving.
 The flames apparently have been mainly confined to the docks and the warehouse district. If this is so only a small portion of the city has been burned over It was reported that Kingston had been ruined by the earth quake and fire.
 No Disorder In Kingston.
 The city is quiet, but disciplined workers are needed.
 The governor of the colony, Sir Alex ander Swettenham, Is directing affairs. Kingston is a city which already bears the scars of a number of disas- trous visitations of fire, earthquake and cyclone in years gone by. The city is one of low lying buildings, clus- tered along the shores of one of the finest and most securely land locked harbors in the West Indies. The popu- lation, which numbers 5O,000, is large ly made up of native blacks.
 The most distinguished of these were members of party of English states men, agricultural experts and men of affairs, who, under the leadership of Sir Alfred Jones, had arrived in King ston within the past few days to at tend an agricultural conference there. Among those in the company were Hall Caine, the novelist; Viscount Mountmorres, H. O. Arnold-F Forster, M. F.; Sir Thomas Hughes, Sir Thomas Sham and others of equal prominence. The Earl and Countess of Dudley were alse passengers on the incoming steam CT Port Kingston.
 The cable office at Holland bay was badly damaged, and all the land lines to Kingston were instantly interrupt ed, but communication here by the land lines has been restored. Almost everybody in Kingston is camping out in open fields, and much distress pre- vails.
 The Jamaica-Colon and the Jamaica Bermuda cables are interrupted
 Dead Briton a Statesman.
 The Right Hon. Sir James Fergus son, mentioned in the foregoing dis patch, was a man of considerable prominence He was governor of South Australia in 1868, governor of New Zealand in 1873 and governor of Born bay in 1885. He was unders scretary