The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-16
FIRST WORD FROM KINGSTON.
Short Cablegram Says City of King
ston Was Overwhelmed.

SION YVES ONcFyIICLAACu-
Kingston Jamaica. Jan. 16-Kingston
was overwhelmed by an earthquake
at $3.50 on Monday afternoon. All the
houses within radius of ten miles
We're injured and almost every house in
the city was destroyed. Fire broke out
after the earthquake and completed the
work Of destruction. The business sec
tion of Kingston is a heap of shoulder
ing ashes. The killed number about 400
and thousands were injured.
The churches. public offices and ho-
tells are all gone. but there were no
fatalities at the Constant Springs no.
tel Among the killed were Sir James
Ferguson and prominent merchants
and professional men.
To the above dispatch the Associat-
ed Press appends the following note to
editors:
1.-The dispatch sent you under King.
ston. Jamaica. date today reached the
Associated Press this afternoon and
may have been delayed by the great
press of official business on the cable
lines It is possible that it was filed a
before the later estimates of the num-
ber dead and injured were availa ble.'
St Thomas Hears Same Story.
St Thomas d. w. l., Jan. 16.-
Late advices confirm the news re-
garding the Kingston earthquake re-
celNed yesterday ana state tnaJ the nTe
which followed the earthquake COM
pleted the destruction of Kingston. 1t
is feared that the loss of life may be
heavy. All the hotel guests are re-
terruption of government telegraph
lines information from the country
districts is meager, but it is reported
that Port Antonio has not been seri-
ously damaged.
Hall Gaines Brother There
Tan
that the Hall Caine mentioned
being among the members OF
the party of visitors at Kingston headed
by Sir Alfred Jones. president of the
British Cotton Growing association and
president of the Liverpool Chamber of
Commerce, is William Hall Caine,
brother of the English novelist. The
latter called at the Colonial office this
morning and was assured that the
members of Sir Alfred Jones party
were safe.
The West Indian and Panama Gable
company's office at Bull Bay cables
that ali the people in Kingston are
camping in the open and that the earth
quake extended as far as Holland bay
where the West Indian and Panama
Gable company's station is seriously
damaged
Between Bull bay and Kingston"
the message adds, there is not a safe
house. Ruin and desolation are here"
Inc rate OF Sir James Ferguson is
still in doubt. His relatives say that a
dispatch received through the Colonial
office shows that he is dead. The Colon
ial office states that its advices relative
TO Sir James are not official and are not
confirmed.
John Armstrong. an official of one of
the largest establishments in Jamaica
informed the Associated Press TODAY
that the latest advices he had received
foreshadowed the disaster. owing to the
unusual meteorological conditions and
the phenomenal drop in temperatures
Calls were made today upon nine of
the leading fruit merchants dealing
with Jamaica who were all without any
direct information regarding the earth
quake
Preparing to Dodge
London, Jan. 16.-The fire insur-
Gnce policies in Jamaica effected
through British companies are said to
aggregate about $7.5OO.OOO. All are
safeguarded by an earthquake clause
and a leading manager today said the
companies would not recognize any
liability for damages caused by the
earthquake.