The Globe-republican., 1907-01-17
PICTURESQUE CAPITOL ISLAND
OF JAE.alcA SADLY STRICKEN.
COMPLETE DETAILS ARE LACKING
Details of the Disaster Are Lacking
All Direct Communication With
the City Are Cut off-Reconstruct-
ing Lines.

kingston, tne picturesque Cdpltai
of the Island Of Jamaica. has been
devastated by violent earthquake
Details of the disaster are lacking
as direct communication with the
stricken city has been cut off. The
land lines had been reconstructed tG
within five miles Of Kingston Tues
day evening and from meager re-
ports received through such chan
nels as were open it has been learn
ed that many of the most important
buildings have been destroyed and
that there has been serious loss OF
life.
So far as the reports indicate the
fatalities number less than one hun
dred, although the hospitals are fill.
ed with injured and the list of vic
tins may be materially increased.
Kingston and the other points OF
interest of the island are at this
season of the year thronged with
tourists from both America and
England and the greatest apprehen-
sion Is felt for the safety of many
persons who had recently arrived at
the Jamaican resorts.
The most distinguished of these
were members of party of English
statesmen agricultural experts and
men of affairs, who, under the lead
ership of Sir Alfred Jones, had ar
rived in Kingston within the past
few days to attend an agricultural
conference there.
Among those in the company were
Hall Game, the novelist; Viscount
Montmorres; H. o. Arnold Forster,
M. P; Sir Thomas Hughes, Sir
Thomas Sham and others of equal
prominence,
The first great shock was felt
about $3.50 o'clock Monday after
noon and flames Immediately sprang
from the wreckage to carry on the
work of destruction. Tuesday after
noon the fire was still burning, al
though it was believed to be under
control.
The Myrtle Bank hotel, the princi-
pal hotel at Kingston, which, prob
ably, sheltered the great bulk of
visitors on the island, is reported
destroyed. The great military hos
pital was burned and forty soldiers
are reported dead.
Sir James Ferguson is said to
have been instantly. killed, but &C.
cording to London no other English
man, Canadian or American is be-
lieved to be missing.
The extent of the destruction
which has been wrought in King
ston, city which already bears the
scars of number of disastrous visl-
tations of fire, earthquake and eye
lone in years gone by, is still left
largely TO the imagination.
The city is one of lowly buildings
clustered along the shores of one Of
the finest and most land-locked har-
bors in the West Indies. The popu-
lation, which numbers $4,000, Is
largely made up of native blacks.
Many steamers carrying tourists
TO Jamaica were en- route 10 the Is
land when the earthquake occurred,
but it so happens that, according to
schedules, none of the ships from
New York or Boston were in King
ston harbor Monday afternoon.
Washington, Jan. 16.-Secretary Of
the navy tonight sent a cable dis
patch to Admiral Evans, in COM
mand of the United States fleet at
Guantanamo, Cuba. requesting him
to investigate the extent of the
earthquake disaster in Jamaica, and
report to the department. Admiral
Evans is authorized. if necessary.
to proceed to Kingston, which is
about a twelve h0Ers' trip from
Guantanamo.
Secretary Taft announced tonight
that the Red Cross society would
take immediate steps looking to the
relief of the Kingston sufferers,
should the disaster prove sufficiently
serious to justify call for contribu-
tons. ~