The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-01-18
DEVASTATION AND
DEATH IN JAMAICA
Earthquake on the Island Mon
day Afternoon.
EXTENT OF DISASTER UNKNOWN.
Some Dispatches Place the Number OF
Killed as High as 1900 and State
That 10000 Are Homeless-city OF
Kingston Suffered the Most.

Killed as High as l2OO ana State
That 10000 Are Homeless-city Of
Kingston Suffered the Most.
An earthquake shock which occurred
ON the island OF Jamaica Monday alter
noon and the resulting fire laid low the
city OF Kingston, causing the loss oil
many lives and immense financial damage
One despatch says that 1000 people were
killed by the catastrophe and sO,0oo lett
homeless by the destruction OF their
dwellings. II is as yet impossible with
any degree of accuracy to fix the extent
OF the earthquake owing to the utter con
fusion of the dispatches, The first bull
letins set the loss of life at high hg'
ure. These were followed by messages
reducing the number of those killed
while still later sable advices place the
extent OF the destruction even higher
than the first bulletins. A despatch from
the United States consul at st. Thomas,
Danish West Indies, sets the. financial
loss at SlO,0O000O and speaks Of the mis-
cry in Kingston as indescribable. =,
Ii seems likely, however that most oil
the dispatches now coming in are those
fled Immediately after the disaster, be-
fore the actual situation was known.
They contain wide contradictions. One
despatch says the earthquake began
with faint tremblings which gradually IN
creased until the eliminating shock
which did the damage. The whites,
alarmed, rushed from their houses and
escaped serious harm. The negroes sought
shelter. and the casualties were mostly
among them. Still another despatch
saws the disaster came with appalling
suddenness." An analysis OF the news IN.
dicates that Kingston alone OF the cities
of Jamaica was greatly damaged by the
earthquake. 1t does not appear that the
city was destroyed. The principal loss,
as was the case with San. Francisco. was
by fire. The whole district from Tower
street to the waterfront was swept, by
the flames. Order was early restored IN
the city so that the work of rescue could
be begun. The two regiments OF soldiers
stationed in the city were called on to
do police duty. There have been some
reports of looting, but late advices say
this was confined chiefly to petty THEY
cry and even this was speedily sup
pressed. Real famine conditions probably
will not prevail, although there may at
first be scarcity Of food chiefly be-
cause the usual supplies have been dis
turbed. There is an abundance OF iruit
on the island, and many OF the surround
ing towns viii send in food There IS
probably a great scarcity OF medical sup
plies. These are also being fastened to
the city from nearby places, and II IS
thought that some will soon reach tnefe
on the Atlantic warships and from neigh
boring islands.
\ despatch from Holland Bay, Jamaica,
dated Yesterday says:
Adviees from various parts of the is
land show that Kingston was the only
place damaged by the recent earthquake.
An the other towns of Jamaica are in
good condition. No further earthquake
shocks have been felt in Jamaica
All reports agree that the entire bust
ness section of Kingston is demolished,
mainly as a result of the fire which fol-
lowed the earthquake OF Jan. Il. The
Quilted section of Kingston includes that
portion of the town between East and
West streets, from Tower street to the
waterfront All the piers are down with
the exception OF that of the Royal Mail
Steam Packet company and that OF the
goods house of Nathan, Sherlock & com
pany and all the other buildings in the
have been burned.
The Elder Dempster companys steam,
er, Port Kingston, and the Admiral
Sampson, belonging to the United Fruit
are safe in Kingston harbor.
The Port Kingston is being used as a
hospital. Lighters of the United Fruit
company have been rescuing people who
were pushed overheard from the wharf
by the half maddened crowds seeking
shelter from the flames. About 700 per
sons were saved in this way.
The city hospital is oyercrowded and
the military hospital at up-Park Camp
t,n,+nl b,r fro An nnfIante who !
were in their beds, being burned to
death. Hardly building is left stand
ing in the entire city of Kingston, and |
every one not demolished is dangerously |
damaged and uninhabted. The telegraph |
office is destroyed.
The estimates of the loss of life vary
from several hundred to 1900, which is |
the police estimate, Possibly several !
are injured, and it is believed !
that about 10000 persons are homeless
The dead include \. NJ. Nathan and |
Charles Sherlock, the leading merchants |
Of Kingston, many of the most promi- |
tine local superintendent for the Royal |
Mail Steam Packet company. The gov
eminent railroad from Kingston to Port |
Antonio, has not been greatly damaged |
and special trains are taking homeless |
people to Port Antonio. A number of |
vessels are taking people to the same
port.
The Constant Springs hotel in st. An |
lrews, SIX miles from Holland Bay, an
much frequented by tour
sts was destroyed, mainly by fire. Many |
distinguished guests were stopping there,
all the delegates to the West |
Indian Agricultural conference, which |
was to have held its sessions at Kings
.on this week. and Sir Alfred Jones, pres
dent of the Liverpool chamber of com
nerce, and large party of distinguished |
persons who arrived recently from Eng |
and to study the agricultural conditions
Of this island The party includes many
British peers and members Of parIia-
nent.
The Hotel Tichfeld is said to be the |
,nly prominent hotel in Jamaica which |
mas not sustained injury.
So far as known, no Americans have
been killed or injured.