The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-01-23
.RUINATI0N and DEATH.
Kingston Earthquake as De-
structive as San Francico's.

U. S. Battleshps leave--Two Serious
Wrecks on the Big Four-Storm on
Lake Erie - Thaw Trial Started.
House Votes Salary Raise-'Friseo
School suits Started.
The awful devastation caused by the
Jamaica earthquake becomes more ap-
parent as time passes.
Without warning the earth began
to shake and tremble at S:30p. m. Mon
day, Jan. IA The shocks, which came
from the westward, lasted exactly SO
seconds. The whole city rocked like
ship in a choppy sea and buildings
reeled and fell. Eastward a dense
cloud of dust rose and enveloped
Kingston in semi.darkness.
The shocks were most destructive
along the harbor front, where entire
streets were leveled and crowds of
frightened, shrieking people streamed
northward toward the race course,
hundreds with heads and bodies cut
and bruised, streaming with blood.
Those who escaped with slight injury
reported that large numbers of per-
sons were buried under the fallen
stores and tenements.
As the dust lifted pillars of smoke
arose in Harbor street near the parish
al,, oh ~d 40
shot into the sky. 1t was then per.
ceived that fire would complete the
work of the earthquake. In half an
hour The flames were spreading from
block to block in the business section.
The fire department was unable to
stay their course, owing to the made
Quate supply of water, the earthquake
having broken the mains.
Fortunately northeast wind was
blowing at the time, which confined
the conhagration to the southern por-
tion of the city. The fire ragged all
night and ultimately spent its force
Tuesday forenoon.
The buildings in the upper portion
of the city were uninhabitable and the
residents sought refuge in the public
parks or on lawns adjoining the wreck
ed houses. 1t was pitiable sight.
Thousands of persons were homeless
and hundreds were enduring agony
from broken heads and limbs under
the open sky.
On Monday night Is distinct shocks
were felt. but they did no damage
On Tuesday there were 20 shocks and
on Wednesday there were 10.
The whole of Jamaica felt the shock,
but no serious damage was done be-
yond a radius of 12 miles from Kings
ton. Some houses were cracked at
Spanish Town, the Notifications at
Port Royal were abandoned by the ar.
and engineers, the western
part of the town is partly submerged,
16 9.2-inch guns are displaced and the
barracks are in q dangerous condition.
The Kings House, the residence Of
the governor, is badly injured and all
its former occupants are now living
under tents in Trafalgar park The
residence of General Marshall is to-
tally demolished. The death list Is
continually growing.
Seven hundred bodies have been re-
covered and more are being constant.
ly found.
U. S. BattIeshIps Leave.
Admiral Davis mission of mercy to
stricken Kingston came to an abrupt
and painful conclusion Saturday in con-
sequence of Gov. Swettenham's OBJ
lection to the presence of American
sailors engaged in clearing the streets,
guarding property and succoring the
wounded and sick 1t eliminated in
letter to the admiral peremptorily re-
questing him to re-embark all parties
which had been landed.
Admiral Davis was greatly shocked
and panied and paid formal visit to
Governor Swettenham at once to in
form him that the United States bat
tleships Missouri and Indiana and the
gunboat Yankton would sail in the
afternoon.
To the press Admiral Davis said
that immediate compliance with Gov
ernor Swettenham's request was the
only course consistent with the dig
nifty of the United States.
Governor Swettenham's attitude to-
ward a friendly American officers as
sistance is greatly deplored by many
of the residents of Kingston, some of
whom even suggest that he be petit
toned to resign. His action is con-
strued by some as inspired by resent
ment of President Roosevelt's attitude
toward Jamaican negroes on the Pan
ANA canal.
At present there is most urgent
need for tents for several thousand
persons, but the government is not
supplied with these and is not making
endeavors to obtain them. Rain is
now threatening, and if it should come
l. will involve untold suffering on the
homeless thousands.
For Umbrella FOrgetters.