The Washington herald., 1907-01-18

St Thomas, D. ". l.. Jan. Il, Il P. M
While the Jamaican cables are working
only ftfuliy, and rs a result 1t is impos-
siblc for the correspondents there TO get
through anything more than fragmentary
dispatches. it appears at this hour that
unless food and medical supplies are hur-
ried to stricken Kingston within the next
twenty-fOur hours. more than One-half of
the five thousand injured, who are at
the present time in the temporary hos
pitals there. are doomed to perish.
one British and two American warships
arrived of the harbor entrance Thursday
evening. but owing TO the fact that the
Quakes continue and that the harbOr
mouth has practically been changed by
the force Of the earth tremors, they have
not yet attempted to enter the harbor.
Boats crews, however. have landed men,
and 1t is understood at this hour that the
offer of the captains commanding these
ships, and of Rear Admiral Davis, Of the
United States navy to land marines TO aid
the already tired out troops that have
been on duty within the city ever since
the initial disaster. has been accepted by
the governor, and that these men will be
landed very soon.
The actual dead in the city proper viii
probably not exceed one thousand, al
though the serious injury of many persons
who were caught under falling walls. is
likely to raise the figures considerably,
There is a large missing list, but it is
generally hoped by the governor and his
able assistants. that this latter viii be
decreased just so soon as it is possible TO
have a census made of those who are
now encamped in the hills beyond the
city and in the big park out towards the
water front residential district.
Vet a TioaI Wave.
There was no real tidal wave. Appar-
entity. what was at first though to be a
tidal wave was the inundation of a portion
Of the island by the waters Of the ocean
as a result Of the action OF the quake on
the esrth's surface adjacent TO jamaica
il is a lact. however. that large portions
OF tbe cotst fIe-Uf Jamaica have been
under water.
There are many English. American. and
Canadian tourists missing; in fact, the
number is placed ut this writing at 80,
but names are not yet available. The
very fact that in the crowds of shoppers
on Kings and Queens streets, and in the
general shopping district along Harbor
street were numerous tourists, caused the
belief that some Of these were crushed
under falling walls and killed.
AT this writing details of soldiers are
searching the smOuldeTing ruins and
bringing out bodies which are being buried
at once in order 10 prevent the spread OF
pestilence. The governor has instituted a
bureau Of Identification. which is doing its
best 20 tabulate descriptions of all vic
Tins buried so that they may later be
identified. The very fact that all Of the
official records were destroyed when the
disaster took place as the resultNof the
collapse Of the government Offices, is
greatly embarrassing those in charge.
Searching for Bodies.
That the fire was permitted to work its
will unchecked was due, of course, largely
10 the panic that followed the shock, but
the destruction Of the fire brigade head
Quarters on Sutton street also crippled
the regular fire brigade. Orange and West
streets are a mass of ruins. and il is be-
Eeyed that under the demolished buildings
along these thorOUghfar5s are many dead
bodies. The soldiers who are searching
the debris are now working along these
two latter thc-oughsares. but owing to
the fact that the charred timbers and
slate work 6U the streets, while standing
walls threaten TO tOpple at any time, they
I-fr. -
All of the tents that could be secured
have been erected in d square about the
parade ground, and the homeless women
and children are being housed there
while the men do the best they can in
the open. Another temporary camp for
survivors has been established at St. An
drews. six miles inland from the city and
there the injured are being cared for.
There is but little flour, and practically no
bread on hand, and the chief item Of food
at present is fruit. especially bananas.
The natives are refusing TO work. and the
governor is considering the proposition
Of declaring martial law in the island. II
the American and British marines are
landed from the war ships. he viii be in a
better position to do So.
The electric railway system. probably
the best in any of the West Indian
Islands, is absolutely out of commission.
and the double power houses have been
destroyed. The Royal Nail Steamboat
Company's wharf is the only one undam-
aged. IL being saved by a force of volun-
teer hremen, headed by the superintend-
ent, Capt Sargent
Escaped LHnatics Recaptured.
A large number Of the lunatics who es-
capped when the big insane asylum was
destroyed have been captured and are
now under guard in an old church on the
outskirts of the city.
There have been a number of cases OF
Iooting on the part of the negroes re-
ported. and. it is declared that several
have been shot dead by the troops.
The governor has taken charge of such
of the cable lines as are I'm operation.
and this is making il very hard for press
correspondents 10 get facts through. The
local agent of the American Red Cross
Society has received authority from its
president. Secretary of War Taft. TO do
what he can to relieve the suffering, and
he has sent to Santiago Cuba. to pur-
chase all the foOdstuffs and medical
supplies procurable there and rush them
10 the island on a chartered steamship.
A company of native soldiers under
the command Of white officers is doing
CON-TT,-T-t7p oN SrCoND psgr-