New-York tribune., 1907-01-25

expressing hts gratitude for the action. are
shown herewith:
Flagship New York. First Rate Port Of Spain.
Sir: J. have the honor TO report TO the depart
discovered in the city of Port spain. Trinidad,
which soon increased 10 such an extent that II
stroyed orders were given to the New York the
Raeigh and the Cincinnati to pfepare 70 iana @ is4e
Ger was dispatched to consulate with offers or
suned such alarming proportions that the signal
made for the parties to land. one hundred
New York and fifty men from each Of the other
ships all under the command Of eItensnt F ma; Sqm
2 About ten minutes after the parties had lete
ibe colo5v askine for r assista3ce and this morn
ing received letter thanking me for the service
am me peased to % report @ phat in spite Of tho
fact that both officers and men worked with
seeming disregard or personal danger, no serious
accidents occurred and only few men OF the
Raleigh were slightly injured by the falling OF
Fourth-when the reports of the officers in charge
VIII be forwarded to the DEPARTMENT as soon as
possible but viii be received too late to so by the
mail leaving tomorrow. Very rFSpectulIy.
f. W. MEADE Rear Admiral. Z. s. N;
Commanding United States Naval Force on North
The Secretary Of the Navy. Navy Department.
Washington, d. c
The letter from tho Governor Of Trinidad was
follows:
Trinidad Government House. March g. 1926.
Sir: I beg you to accept the best thanks OF this
sstsnce rendered M By you at the disastrous fire
which ocegETed Yesterday in Port Of S Spain o,, con,
ashore. under Lieutenant Commander Swift and
Div in sgsons often Of consderabe danger and
is greatly owing their indefs tigable eXertions
ana that much valuabie property was ass saved Il
will he my pleasing duty TO report IN TINS sense 70
1hirdEI trust that no member of the force land
if you will allow this government to make good
the value OF any damage 70 clothing or equipment
Lieutenant Commander Swift TO the other officers
sd.g hn1 % T Ie of t6e spendd assistance which
they rendered and OF which ! was a witness, ,,,,
no; soon be forgotten by the people Of Port OF
Spain and the colony generally. ana that our ap.
probation Of il is much enhanced by the fact that
The assistance came from vessels Of the United
States navy Your NEST obed, ,ent m sSTEant, SCI y u,
Rear Admiral R. ". Meade. commanding United
States navy force. North Atlantic Station
The presence Of the vessels Of the Atlantic
feet at the naval station. Guantanamo. only 40
miles from Kingston. at the time Of the earth
quake. placed in the position for giving
quickly first aid TO the sufferers and our own
experience in the San Francisco earthquake ana
fire of last April showed clearly the need OF
sufficient police protection and the great bene-
Ats which result from the use Of naval force IN
such emergency The comman nder In chief
acted promptly under the circumstances, and
sent Immediately those vessels having the
sufferers. and offered such help in the way Of
medical attention and food as lay in his power
which action was further helped by the depart
ment dispatching two store ships laden with
large quantities Of food supplies intended for
the feet. and which were diverted from this
duty and dispatched TO Kingston.
After the men were withdrawn from shore
and returned 10 their ships a telegram was re-
ceived from the brigadier general commanding
the army Of pacihcation in Cuba
Secretary Metcalf here quotes Governor Ma
Eoon's statement that tents had been sent from
Cuba to Kingston upon the request Of the act
ing British Minister. and continues:
AZ the time OF the above mentioned request
by the acting British Minister at Havana for
tents for the sufferers at Kingston Admiral
Davis had on board the vessels under his COM
mand, then in Kingston HarboF and for
eral days prior thereto. many Of the tents asked
for and which were available for use had the
Governor desired them, and, with the remain
ing ships at Guantanamo with more than two
hundred tents Of the kind asked for, many moro
than actually needed to supply the wants. all
OF which could have been obtained by Admiral
Davis from Admiral Evans upon request by
wireless within few hours.