New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-05
JfNlIC4 E4RTHQUAKE.
-1Hd the Charges Of Inhumanity Pre-
fered against Sir 4Ifrcd l.. Jones,

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. \ most painful impression has been created
in Liverpool the homo Of SIR Alfred l., Jones. 10y
charges Of ,allousness and inIumuuity preferred
against him by American refugees from the earth
quake at Jamaica, arriving at New York on the
German liner Prinz EJei Friedrich As Amer
lean temporarily residing in Livrrpool-and
who Tor eight years was the Americen consul in
Liverpool would ask my fellow citizens To st
least reserve their judgment Sir Alfred Jones Is
Liverpoo"s most prominent citizen. as h, is the
most beloved and Justly He IS universally
recognized this side the most striking per
sonality in the British commercial and shipping
world and his reputation is that OF OF
traorduary energy. of the most unconventional
and democratic ways. the widest cosmopolitan
sympathies, and of the most unbounded generosity
and tenderness OF heart. I personally know that
he is not only free from prejudice against Amer
leans. but is a great admirer OF both Americans
and America.
The citizens Of Liverpool are SO proud Of him
that shortly before his departure for Jamaica he
the guest at public banquet at which there
was the most representative body of citizens ever
gathered in Liverpool on such occasion. and
the Lord Mayor of Liverpool has just announced
that there will he public reception at the Town
Hall TO Sir Alfred Jones an expression Of graft
tude and telicitation upon his safe return homo
after the horrors and dangers Of the earthquake
in Jamaica. I say this that YOU under
stand what shock has been produced by tho
charges above referred to. Much allowance must
be made for the statements Of the refugees II Is
evident that they got away from the island the
first moment possible. That natural and who
blame them for not giving up their places on
the Prinz Nitel Friedrich To others who
claroring gS< away So. TO the captain OF
the Prinz Eitel Friedrich. Did he take board
crowds of unfo-turates other than his passengers.
and feed them ard turn his ship into general
hospital? Report does not indicate that he did So
but ne does aEFear to have done his duty to his
passengers.
Reports received from a dozen sources are to the
effect that more self-sac rifcng.
man more humane. no man moro generous. no man
more energetic than Sir Alfred Jones In meeting
the demands created by the terrible catastrophe
He and his party escaped death land by what
seemed like miracle. and his ship. the Port
wrecked. and the crew worked three days and
nights without sleeping. Sir Alfred not only had
perts on his hands, who had just come out from
England and to return with him In day
two, but his two hotels Ohe largest the island
wrecked, and most of the guests needed as
first arrived here II common expression In
Liverpool that 1t was good thing that Sir Alfred
pactty for organization was the one man of all
others for the emergency And II was. accord
ing to trustworthy report! Not only did he pro
vide, as best he could, for the comfort of the hun
drads of his passengers and hotel guests only
did he organize a scheme for cooking food for the
poor starving people outside of that category. but
he turned his beautiful shin into n hospital ana
the surgeon OF his ship DR.. Evans (also of Liver
pooh, performed operations all night board. and
strength but his anRsthetics were exhausted
Finally, he had TO perform operations without
ansssthetics! The very bed linen OF the ship
torn up for bandages Criticism should be stricken
dumb in contemplation of such humanity whatever
Individual cases OF seeming neglect there might
The fellow citizens of Sir Alfred Jones and all
those who know him. including. I hesitate not I'm
saying scores or Amsrioana. cannot bslieve the