The Washington herald., 1907-01-16


indian Waters Unsuccessful.
Official continuation Of the Jamaica dis
aster had not reached Washington up to
late hour last night Save for the deli
cate, but unmistakable record-of the
seismograph in the Weather Bureau the
government departments had received no
report of the earthquake from official
sources
Information that Port Antonio, where
the American colony OF Jamaica is To-
Gated. was practically uRharmed by the
earthquake, greatly relieved the appre-
hension felt by relatives and friends IF
Americans visiting the island Port Al
tonic is on the opposite side Of the island
ftom Kingston. a distance Of about forty
five miles, and it is now thought that the
American residents Of the island, except
perhaps few who happened to be Wis
itnS Kingston AT the time of the earth
quake, have escaped harm.
No action was taken by the members
of tine British embassy last nishy. Little
or nothing had been heard in London Of
the disaster. and Mr.. Esme Howard
charge d'anaires at the embassy. is
awaiting advices from the English capi-
tai
Try to Get information.
Acting on the unofficial telegraphic re-
Jorts Of the disturbance. the heads of
several departments took what action they
could To ascertain the extent Of the dis
aster. The Bureau Of Equipment sent
messages 10 all the wireless stations on
the Southern Atlantic coast. ordering
them to try to establish communication
with the Atlantic squadron. which. under
the command Of Admiral RobIey d.
Evans. IS thought to be somewhere be-
tween Cuba and Jamaica.
The operators Of the wireless stations
flashed message after message. but At
late hour last night Capt. Leutze. COM
mandaHt Of the navy yard stated that
the efforts Of the coast stations had so far
been unsuccessful The fleet is supposed
10 have been AT Guantanamo. on the
southern coast of Cuba. yesterday There
is "a cable from Guantanamo 10 Port An
tonic on the north coast Of Jamaica.
Whether or not Admiral Evans has
learned of the earthquake from the cable
communication between the islands OF not
Is matter of conjecture. 10 is thought
possible that even this cable has been
broken by the disturbance
Unable To Reach Fleet.
capt ". +. Potter. assistant chief of
the Bureau Of Navigation. who through
the illness of Admiral Converse was In
charge Of the bureau stated that he had
been unable to communicate with Admiral
Evans, but thought the admiral must
have heard OF the disaster and gone 10
render what assistance he could The
run from Guantanamo 90 Kingston is
only "a matter OF few hours. and 1t Is
regarded as highly probable that the At
lantic fleet Is already in the harbor Of the
stricken city. and that Admiral Evans is
trying a. communicate by wireless with
the Key West station.
II is expected that the Red Cross So
ciety. should to-day's reports confirm the
accounts OF the devastation and death
caused by the earthquake. ViIl take im--
mediate steps TO go 90 the relief of the
Jamaicaus. The officials OF the orEaniza-
ton were unable last night 90 announce
any plans for relief and re~cge work
owing 20 the indefinite information To
garding the extent of the disaster
First to Respond with Aid.
When Mont Pelee created such great
destruction at ST. Pierre, ia Martinique
In May. 1902. the government here was
among the first 10 respond 90 the urgent
call for aid for the survivors. The auxil-
larry cruiser Dixie was loaded with sup
plies and sent TO St Pierre, where much
good was accomplished. To-day the ques-
tion OF repeating this action viii be con-
sidercd by government officials.
Dispatches are expected from George n.
Bridgman, the American consul at King
ston, as soon as the wires are open.
William H. Orrett is vice consul al King
ston. and the government has five consul
lar agents-in various parts OF the island.
SeismoGraph Records Quake.
The seismograph at the government OBJ
seryatory here recorded an earthquake
shock Monday afternoon. beginning at
S.3S o'clock and lasting until 3.53 o'clock.
The shock, according 10 Prof G. F. Mar
win. the government observer. was Of
moderate intensity, and the delicate in
strument did not show as great disturb
ances as when the earthquake in san
Francisco and later in Valparaiso oc-
CURED.
The shock of Monday. however. differed
materially from those in the other in
stances Instead Of beginning feebly and
then breaking quickly into strong and
heavy movement, only for "a moment or
two. this shock began feebly and grad
ually grew stronger and remained strong
for seven minutes from 3-45 o'clock to
3.52 Prof MaTvins statement follows.
THE seismosraph at the Weather Bu-
reau recorded a distant earthquake on
the afternoon of January "a, 1907 begin I
ming at 3 hours 3 minutes and p sec
onds p. m. The relatively stronger por-
tion of the motion was greatest in the
east-west cOmponents, and lasted from
3:45 p nj. until 3:52 p. m. The maximum
amplitude Of the motion in the east-west /
direction was only about 1-50tb of an
inch"
BESIEGE STEAMSHIP OFFICES.