New-York tribune., 1907-01-19
THE WRECK OF THE CITY.
Shocks Lasted Only Fee Seconds
Estimate of Losses.

lIottNtudC " L<OoSAo'
Kingston, Jamaica. Jan. 1.-THE following is
q continuation of yesterdays dispatch describing
the earthquake at Kingston:
Without a warning the earth began to shake
and tremble at $50 O'Clock Monday afternoon
The shocks, which came from the westward.
lasted exactly thirty-six seconds. The whole
city rocked like a ship in chOppy sea, and
buildings reeled and fell. Eastward, a dense
cloud Of dust rose ard enveloped Kingston in
senli-darhness. The shocks were most destruc-
tive along the harbor front, where entire streets
We're leVelled and crowds of frightened, Shrek
sng people streamed northward toward the race
course hundreds with heads and bodies cut
and bruised. streaming with blood Those who
escaped with slight injury reported that large
numbers OF persons were buried under the
fallen stores and tenements
As the dust lifted pillars Of smoke arose in
Earbor street, the parish church. and
shortly afterward flames shot into the sky. II
was then perceived that fire would complete
the work Of the earthquake. In half an hour
the flames were spreading from block 10 block
in the business section. The fire department
was unable 10 stay their course, owing TO the
inadequate supply Of water, the earthquake
having wrecked the mains. Fortunately. north
east wind was blowing at the time. which con-
the city. The fire ragged all night. and ul-
timately spent its force Tuesday forenoon
The buildings in the upper section Of the city
were uninhabitable and the residents sought
refuge in the public parks or on lawns adjoining
the wrecked houses. Thousands Of persons were
homeless and hundreds were enduring agony.
from broken heads and limbs. under the open
sky. The city doctors were busy all night, am
putating limbs and dressing wounds. The worst
1ge al Hshn
the staff Of doctors attended to them, but lsAny
died before morning.
The work of rescuing the entombed people
was continued on Tuesday and Wednesday. and
fully four hundred corpses were recovered, but
many more were burned 10 ashes in the nre'
Attempts at looting were made by the rabble'
but the military guards stationed AT the prlnclpal
corners succeeded in restoring order
Efforts. as this dispstch is fled, are being
made by the government 10 clear the wreckaee
from the streets. but the laborers are afraid OF
the ruins and of further shocks, and consequent
" slow progress is made.
On Monday night fifteen distinct. shocks were
felt but they did no damage. On Tuesday there
were twenty shocks and Wednesday there
were ten.
Among the buildings utterly destroyed are the
Supreme Court. Colonial Bank. Nova Scoua
BANK the Merchants Exchange. the City Coun-
Church. the Roman Catholic Cathedral. the
Savings Bank all the shipping offices ana
wharves. the Myrtle Bank Hotel. the Constant
Springs Hotel, the Jamaica Club. the Masonic
Temple Training College, Hope College, the
railwae terminus. customs buildings cable COM
pany Offices all the newspaper offices except
that Of The Daily Telegraph. which is severely
damaged. hut escaped the fire; the Salvation
Army Temple and the Offices OF the Presby-
terian. Methodist, Baptist and Congregational
churches and schools. In brief. not a sound
building remains in the entire area OF Kingston,
and fewer than a dozen houses can be occupied.
and the entire business section is wiped out.
The loss cannot fan short Of S5O00OOO. and
probably will be double that amount
Among the killed Sir James Ferguson, OF
Kilkerran, Scotland: Major Hardyman, Of the
West India regiment; Lieutenant Lamont OF
the same regiment; A. MacDowen Nathan.
Of Jamaica's merchant princes: Solicitors
Bertie L. VerIey and r. D. Honiball, and Messrs.
J. ". Middleton. Ainsley Mordecai. Mr..
Thwaites, d. l. Motta, Edgar de Cordoya and
Charles Sherlock. all merchants of Kingston;
the Cuban Consul. General Perez, and Drs r.
c. Gibb and Motta.
The whole of Jamaica felt the shock but 10
serious damage was done beyond a radius of
twelve miles from Kingston. Some houses were
cracked at Spanish Town, the fortihcations at
Port Royal were abandoned by the artillery
men and engineers. the western part OF the
town is partly submerged, sixteen 92-inch guns
are displaced. and the barracks are in a dam
gerous and shaky condition.
Up-park Camp, north of Kingston. is also de-
stroyed, and about forty sick soldiers were
burned 10 death before they could be removed
from the hospital
The Kings House, the residence Of the Gov
ernor, is badly injured and all its former occT-
pants are now living under tents in Trafalgar
Park. The residence OF General Marshall is
demolished.
There were many narrow escapes and the
death list is constantly growing