The National tribune., 1907-01-24
rHE covEnxoR Ar JAMA1cA.

While there is no better man in the
is no bigger cad than a caddish Eng
lishman. This has been demonstrated
by no less person than Gov. Swetten-
ham, of Jamaica. Last week that fair
troplc island was stricken by one of
those great disasters only too frequent
in its history. The beautiful little city
of Kingston suffered from a terrific
earthquake shock which threw down
the buildings, catching thousands of
people in the ruins, with the loss of
hundreds of lives. Then the customary
sequence of fire followed. leaving an
! immense number of people homeless
and producing overwhelming distress
and terror. The earthquake seems 70
be part of the feverish disturbances Of
the earth's crust which have been man
ifest for several months, beginning with
the terrible disaster at San Francisco.
That catastrophe had made the Amer
ioan people alert on the subject, and at
the first news Admiral Davis, command
ing our South Atlantic fleet, FASTENED
thither with the ships Immediately at
hand, and as Funston did in San Fran
cisco, went to work with zeal to render
the much-needed help that could be
given by hundreds of able. willing, we'll
trained American sailors. The graft
tude of the Jamaican people was bound
less and eXprest freely thru the local
press. This did not please at all Alex
ander Swettenham. the Governor of the
island. who sent 4 letter which it is
painful to think could have been writ
ten by high British official 1t was
as follows:
Dear Admiral: Thanks very much
for your letter. your kind call, and all
the assistance given or offered US While
l most heartily appreciate the very gen
erous offers of assistance. L feel it my
duty to ask You to re-embark the work
ing parties and all parties which your
Kindness prompted you to land.
''If, in consideration of the American
Vice Consul's assduous attentions to
his family at his country house, the
American Consulate needs guarding, in
your opinion, altho he was present and
it was not guarded an hour ago, ] have
no objection to your detailing n force
for the sole purpose of guarding; but
the party must have no firearms anu
nothing more offensive than clubs or
slaves for this function.
II find your working party ycas this
morning helping Mr.. CrosswelI clean
MS SUI =. NFEOSSNtIl NslS ttllSntGu lIlslI
the work was done without cost If
Your Excellency should remain loua
enough. 1 am sure almost all the pri-
vate owners would be glad of the SER
vices of the navy to save expense.
1T is no longer a question of llG-
manity: all the dead died days ago, and
the work of giving them burial is mere
ly one of convenience
81 would be glad to accept delivery
of the safe which it is alleged thieves
had possession Of The American Vice
Consul has no knowledge of it; the store
is close to a sentry post, and the officer
Of the post processes ignorance of the
incident
Il believe the police surveillance of
the city is adequate for the protection
of private property. I may remind Your
FXcellency that not long ago it was dis
covered that thieves had lodged in and
pillaged the residence of some New
York millionaire during his absence in
the Summer; but this would not have.
justified British Admiral landing an
armed party and assisting the New
York police.
II have the honor to be, with pro-
found gratitude and the highest re-
spect. your obedient servant.
Alexander SwettenhIm, Governor"
This abounds in insinuations and in
nuendoes unworthy of the petiness of
school boy Rear-Admiral Davis, of
course, could do nothing else than i'm
mediately re-embark his troops and sail
away in Just indignation. much to the
regret Of the Jamaicans of the better
class and anger at their Governor. The
Information was telegra phed to London,
and the British authorities there has
tened to disclaim the Governors action
while the press has scored him unmer-
cifully. The Jamaieans say, and this is
corroborated by the Americans that
the assistance SO promptly rendered ny
Rear-A imiral Davis was of the utmost
value, and that his leaving interrupted