Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-17
FAMINE AND PESTILENCE
STARE GRIMLY AIT KINGSTON

day. The first report did not come
to hand until we'll along In the af.
tcrnoon when despatch was re-.
ceiyod at the State Department dat
cd jamaica 1881 p. m, Jan. 49,"
and signed American Consul" stat.
ing that Kingston had been de-
stroyed and hundreds OF lives lost
ana that food was budlj wanted
The signature to this dispatch was
misleading, for the consul Is absent
on leave from his post. 1t was ais
sumed at the Department that tho
Deputy Consul William II. Orrell
at Kingston had sent the dispatch.
reference In the cablegram to tho
10 the fire proof safe Is understood
to convey assurance of the safe
of the consular records and papers.
1t was also regarded as possible
that the message might have come
from Nicholas R. Snyder. the Amer
lean Consul at Port Antonio on the
island of Jamaica. However, the
dispatch was regarded as warrant
ing the taking of instant measures
OF relief. Indeed, the Navy Depart
ment had been considering this mat
ter through Captain Beehler, the
officer in charge of the naval sta
ton at Key WCst. Wireless com
municat:on was early established
between the Navy Department and
Admiral Evans, commanding the At
lantic Fleet at Guantanamo, Cuba,
and when Secretary Root later in
dictated the dcsirability of sending
warships at once to the distressed
island, it turned out that Admiral
Evans had anticipated instructions
and had started on a torpedo boat
destroyer, the swiftest vessel in the
American fleet for Kingston ordering
two battleships to follow as soon
as they could. The appeal for
food supplies directed attention TO
the fact that under ordinary circum-
stances none Of the government sup
plies could be used outside relief
save by special authority of Con-
gress. That fact, however did not
prevent Secretary Matcalf from or
derng two supply ships with full
cargoes Of food at once to Jamaica,
leaving for tomorrow the question
as to how the supplies are to be
given to the needy inhabitants.
The War Department up to the
close of business had not acted
nt. hn 1fnnt 60, 60. l..
is assumed that in anticipation Of
the passage of the necessary leg
islation by Congress. it will at least
take measures to get supplies to
the island ready for the distributing
agencies.
The consurs cabesram.
The following cablegram was re-.
ceived at the State Department this
afternoon Jamaica, Jan. 16. 3:10j
p. m, Secretary of State, Washing
ton: Fearful earthquake followed
by fire. Kingston destroyed. Hun
dreds Of lives lost Food badly
wanted. Consulate probably destroy
cd. Fire proof safe"
(Signed)
American Consulate"
The last sentence of the despatch
is supposed TO have referred to
the consulate papers.
Evans Leaves for Kingston.
Captain Bcehler at Key West
has Informed the Navy Department
that he has received a wireless des.
patch from Guantanamo stating that
lantic fleet has sailed from that
Admiral Evans commanding the At.
place on the Torpedo boat Destroyer
Whipple for Kingston, jamaica to)
ascertain conditions and extend such
aid as may be necessary. A later
dispatch states that the battleships
Missouri and Indiana have followed
Admiral Evans. The supply ships
Celtic and Glazier, which are now
attached to the Atlantic feet and
which are fully provisioned, have
been ordered to proceed with all
haste to Kingston where their car
goes Of food will be distributed
among the needy.
Negroes Lootins Rum Shops.
LONDON, Jan. 16. p. m.-Thc