Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-24
fHE CORRESPONDENCE
Between Admiral Davis and
=. Gov. Swettenham.
SENT By ADMIRAL EVANS
By Cablegram Dated Guantanamo,
-. - January a.
THIS GOVERNMENTS ACTION
Contained in Letter Of Acting secre-
tary Bacon to Ar. Esme Howard.
Charge d'Anaires.

gram from Rear Admiral Evans, command
ing the Atlantic feet at Guantanamo, giving
the, correspondence which resulted in the
withdrawal from Kingston of the United
States squadron commanded by Rear Ad-
miral Davis.
Admiral Evans dispatch is dated Guam
tanamo. January "a, and is as follows:
''U, s. S. Missouri,
Kingston. Jamaica, January H. 1907.
my Dear Governor: 1 beg that you will
accept my apology for the mistake of the
salute this afternoon. Ny orders were mis-
understood, and the disregard of your
wishes was due to a mistake in the trans
mission Of orders forward i trust that this
apparent disregard of your wishes may be
overlooked. landed working parties from
both ships on shore today to aid in wrecking
and clearing away the ruins in the streets
and buildings.
II propose to land parties tomorrow morn
ing for the same purpose unless you ex-
pressly beside me not to do SO: think that
there Is great deal that can be done in the
way of assistance to private individuals
without interfering with the forces of your
self and the government officials, and as my
only object In coming here is to render
such assistance as can, I trust that YOU
will Justify me in this matter in the cause
Of common humanity. had patrol of six
men on shore today to guard and secure the
archives Of the United States consulate to-
eether with a working party of ten men to
clear away the wreckage. This party, after
their work at the consulate was done, as
sisted the general working party in their
recovered from them safe belonging to
Mike Bros jewelry store valued at about
$1,000 From this judge that the police sur
veillance of the city is not adequate as to
the protection OF private property. Actuated
by the same motive. namely. that o. COM
mon humanity, I shall direct the medical
officers Of my squadron to make such efforts
as lie In their power to aid outlying cases of
= ~, ,so1, n-ta
der the observation and treatment of your
medical officers / shall have the pleasure
of meeting you at the hour appointed.
namely, 10 o'clock, at headquarters house,
these matters.
II am. with high respect, year obedent
servant.
"(Signed) C. H. DAVIS
Rear Admiral, U. 8. NJ, Command
ing Detached Squadron.
His Excellency Sir Alexander Swettenham,
Governor of jamaica
Gov. svettenham's Letters.
COLONEL Secretary's Office.
JAMAICA, January 49, 1907.
Sir: l beg to thank your -excellency for
the kind assistance which you have rem
have the honor to be, sir, your obedient
servant;
(Signed) ]. A. SWETTENHAM,
Governor.
Admiral Davis, U. s. s. Missouri.
'" Headquarters House.
KINGSTON, January Is, 1907.
. Dear Admiral Davis. I thank you very
livered to me this morIing, for your kind
call, and for all the assistance you have
given and have offered to give us. While I
most fully and heartily appreciate your
very generous offers of assistance, l feel it
my duty to ask you to re-embark your
working parties and all parties which your
kindness has prompted you to land. If, in
49, kf<y, NJ AyS.a xy;a r,,pc
assduous attention to. his family at his
country house, the American consulate
may need gruading In your opinion Che was
present and 1t was unguarded an hour ago.,
force for the sole purpose of guarding it,
but that party must not have firearms or
anything more offensive than clubs or
slaves for their functions. l find your
Crosswell to clean his store. Mr.. Cross
well is delighted to get valuable work
done without cost to himself. and. if your
excellency were to remain long enough,
am sure almost the whole of the private
owners would be glad of the services Of
the navy to save them expense. 1t is no
longer any question of humanity. All the
dead died days ago and the work of giving
them burial is merely one of convenience.
I should be glad to accept delivery OF the
safe which the alleged thieves were In pos
session Of from Mikes store. The Ameri-
can vice consul has no knowledge Of it. The
store Is close to sentry post and the Of
ficer In charge of the post processes pro-
found ignorance Of the incident, but there
is still on the premises large safe which
was opened both by fire and by other
means. 1 believe the police surveillance of
the city is adequate for the protection of
private property / may remind your ex-
cellency that not long ago thieves had
lodged in and pillaged the town house OF q
New York millionaire during absence for
the summer, but this fact would not have
justified a British admiral in landing an
armed party to assist the New York police.
I have the honor to be. with profound
gratitude and the highest respect, your
obedient servant.
(Sgned) j. A. SWETTENHAM,
Governor