The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-16
RUIN WIDESPREAD
Desolation Prevails For Miles
Outside of Kingston.
Earthquake Shocks Felt so to
60 Miles Away.
Early Reports of the Disaster
We're Exaggerated.
40 SOLDIERS KILLED.
Property Loss Chiefly Among
Wharvcs and Warehouses.
Fire Added to the o truction
by the Earthquake.
Cable Office Wrecked and Service
Not Yet Restored.
40 SOLDIERS KILLED
Property Loss Chiefly Among
Wharves and Warehouses.
Fire Added to the ! Q truction
by the Earthquake.
Cable Office Wrecked and Service
Not Yet Restored.

| tory and scant character of the news
which thus far has reached London
| from Jamaica renders it difficult to
estimate the extent of the calamity
caused by the earthquake and subse-
quent conf1agration- Messages re-
ceived by various steamship and cable
companies, however, indicate that
while the early reports of the de-
struction of Kingston and great loss
of life were exaggerated. the disaster
was still of grave character KUN
| and desolation are said to stretch for
miles outside the city of Kingston.
| shocks were felt from so to 60 miles
| away and one dispatch from the tenn
porary cable station at Bull Bay says
| that not a single house between there
and Kingston escaped damage.
No estimate of the loss of life from
| official sources has as yet come through,
but the camp hospital appears to have
been in the center of the visitation, as
no less than 40 negro soldiers were kill
ed there There were isolated fatalities
among the Europeans at Kingston, but
apparently the aggregate of the white
victims is small. The distance between
the buildings known to have been des-
troyed is taken to indicate that the
total loss of property will be great.
According to the latest dispatches
slight earth shocks continue to be felt
at Kingston.
miralty and the private concerns hav-
ing interests in Jamaica are taking all
the steps possible to alleviate the dis
tress in Kingston itself.
Three Hundred Injured.
New York, Jan. 16.-Few additional
"details of the earthquake disaster at
Kingston, Jamaica, reached this city
during the night. The brief message
that came from Holland bay, the cable
station on the island of Jamaica. locat-
ed 40 miles from Kingston, brought re-
ports that the disaster was not so great
as had been at first feared. Only
part of the town was ruined by the
earthquake shocks and the loss of life
is placed at 80, while 800 persons are re-
ported injured. The fire which had,
started after the tremor is said to have
been brought under control late on
Monday night. The panic in Kingston
was apparently short lived as it was
stated that the work of rescuing and
caring for the injured was under way.
Many persons however fed from the
city and took refuge in the surrounding
country, fearing a recurrence of the
shocks.
An official dispatch received in the
Colonial office in London today con-
firms the reports that, the destruction
wrought by earthquake and fire was
not so widespread as first reports in
dicated. This dispatch stated that
while the total number of killed and
wounded has not been definitely ascer-
tanned, it was apparently not very
large. The greatest number of casual
ties occurred in the camp hospital
where thirty colored soldiers were
killed.
Further Details.
New York, Jan. 16.-Some additional
details of the disastrous earthquake
t 1T overlook Kingston, Jamaica, were
received here early today 1t is estimat-
ed. these details state. that one-six-
teenth of the city was destroyed by the
shocks and the fire that followed. The
number of killed is placed at 80 and
the injured at 800. Many structures
went down in the lower section as a re-
suit of the first shock and fire started
along the wharves. The excitement and
confusion and the debris which closed |
many streets, hampered the firemen
and it was some time before they could |
get to work to fight the flames.
People rushed wildly about following |
the first earth tremor, which lasted |
several minutes and succeeding shocks. |
which came quickly. but which We're of |
lesser force, aodeS to their terror The |
crash of topping houses added to the |
general fright and it was sometime be- |
fore the people recovered and set to
work to rescue the unfortunates who |
had been caught in collapsed buildings. |
The general hospital was not serious |
ly damaged by the earthquake and to |
this place the injured were taken as
fast as they were recovered.
Sir James Swettenham, governor of |
Jamaica, was prompt in taking meas
ures to stop panic and disorder. He was |
ably assisted by Sir Alfred Jones,
visitor.
Many persons made their way to the
hills, following the disaster, but their
flight was orderly.
The fire was under control late Mon
day night. 1t was still burning in
places along the wharves but danger of
it's spreading was believed to be over.
the British military station and the
camp hospital.
Sir James Ferguson is the only for
eigner so far reported killed.
Reports Hundreds Killed.
Boston, Jan. 16.-The United Fruit
company in this city received a cable
gram from Jamaica today dated Roll
eral hundred persons We're killed in
The message follows:
Mercantile section of Kingston, in
eral hundred killed. Myrtle bank and
Constantine Springs hotel practically
destroyed
The steamer Dewey will sail from
this city for Jamaica today with a mis-
cellaneous cargo of freight.
Wharves and Warehouses Suffered.
London, Jan. 16.-The destruction
wrought by the earthquake at King
sion. jamaica and the subsequent
according to an Official
telegram received this morning at the
Colonial office was by no means so
as indicated in the first re-
ports
Although the total number of killed
and wounded has not yet been ascer-
tanned. apparently it is not very large
and only small norton of cffu I