The San Francisco call., 1907-01-17
Great Anxiety Is
Felt in London

LONDON, Pan. 18.-The brief dispatch
received here tonight from Kingston
direct, declaring that 100 persons had
been killed in the earthquake on Mon
day. leaves the country apparently TO
renewed suspense as to the fate OF
Jamaica's capital Earlier reports, in
cluding Government dispatches, had
tended to minimize the worst features
of the first messages received, and al
though there is an inclination still to
credit these official accounts in the alb
sence of confirmation of the latter re-
ports. the relief felt this afternoon
tends to give place to dependency at
the possibility that the worst fears
will be realized when the full accounts
of the disaster come to hand.
Two things stand out of the general
gloom and bring intense satisfaction
to the British public. The first is the
fact confirmed tonight in a dispatch
from Sir Alfred Jones himself that the
Jones party is safe. The second is
found in the prompt and active steps
taken by the American Government to
investigate the real condition and af-
ford the necessary succor to the unfor-
tunate city.
Special appreciation is felt at Secre-
tary Metcalfs decision to act without
waiting for Congressional sanction.
All possible steps are being taken here.
but his generous action is neverthe-
less appreciated.
The King and the Queen and also
the Premier. Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman, have hastened TO add to the
expressions OF the country's sympathy
and are arranging to hold meetings to
express their sympathy and afford re-
lief to the victims.
Up to late hour tonight the Colonial
office had no further news to communi-
In the belief that the casualties among
the English residents in the islands
have been few. At the time of the
writing of this dispatch, however, a
dispatch has been received from Sir
Alfred Jones, addressed to Elder, Demp-
ster & Co. which confirms the worst
fears. The message is as follows:
Kingston was overwhelmed by an
earthquake Monday afternoon at 3:30.
All the houses within a radius of ten
miles have been damaged and almost
all the city is destroyed Fire broke
out after the earthquake and COM
pleted the destruction. 1t is esti-
mated that 100 persons have been
killed and 1000 injured. The public
Offices and hospitals are in ruins.
Among the killed are Sir James Fergu-
son. many prominent merchants and
professional men and many natives
There are no fatalities at the Constant
Springs Hotel The business quarter
OF Kingston is now smoldering ashes
We are thankful that our party is all
right"
The message from Sir Alfred is
practically identical with other mes
sages received from Kingston, includ-
ing one from a correspondent of the
Standard who is with the Jones party.
with the exception that all the others
give the death list as several hun
dred." while a dispatch of a similar
purport received by the direct West
Indian Cable Company says the loss of
life was heavy" and adds that Port
Antonio was not badly damaged.
At the present time, therefore, 1t is
quite impossible to form a reliable idea
of the number of lives lost, from the
information available.
King Edward, through the Earl of
Elgin, Secretary of State for the Colo
malls. telegraphed to Sir Alex Swetten-
ham, Governor of Jamaica, as follows:
Il am commanded by the King to re-
quest you to express to the inhabitants
of Kingston the horror with which his
Majesty and the Queen have learned
of the terrible catastrophe which has
befallen the town, with the loss of so
many lives, and the deep sympathy of
their MaJesties with the sufferers and
the relations of those killed"
The Earl of Elgin and Sir Henry
Campo pbell-Bannerman also have tele-
graphed TO the Governor of Jamaica
assurances of the Governments SYM
pathy.
At meeting Of Jamaican proprietors
held in London tonight. at which Sir
Neville Lubbock, chairman of the West
Indian committee. presided, resolutions
of sympathy were adopted.
At the Adelphi Theater tonight dur
ing the performance of The Bond
man." Hall Caine came before the cur
tain and announced the safety of Sir
Alfred Jones party. He said also that
the Lord Mayor of London, Sir w. Tre-
lomar. would probably open a relief
fund tomorrow, and expressed the hope
that the mimic representation of the
desolation of an earthquake in The
Bondman" would open the purse strings
of the audience. Personal messages
were received here during the day an
nouncing the safety of Lord and Lady
Dudley, Lord Mountmorris, Henniker
Heaton, NJ. p. and others.
1t transpires that the Hall Caine
mentioned as being among the party of
visitors at Kingston is William Hall
Caine, brother of the novelist,
The West Indian and Panama Cable
Company's Office at Bull Bay cable sta
tion states that between Bull Bay and
Kingston there is not a safe house.
Ruin and desolation are everywhere.
John Armstrong. an official of one
of the largest establishments in ia
maica, informed the Associated Press
today that the latest advices he had
received foreshadowed the disaster
owing to the unusual meteorological