The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-01-25
A STATEMENT BY METCALF
Nothing in Entire Affair to Warrant
Governor SWettenham's Letter.

given to the New York, the Raleigh
and the Cincinnati to prepare to land
five parties when the signal should DO
made. An officer was dispatched tn
our consulate with offers Of assistance,
but before his return the fire had as
sumed such alarming proportions that
the signal was made for the parties
to land at once.
cone hundred blue jackets and p
marines were landed from the New
York and so men from each Of the
other ships, all under the command
of Lieutenant Commender Swift, the
executive officer Of this ship.
About 10 minutes after the parties
had left the ship received note
from the governor, asking for assts-
tance, and a copy is enclosed thereof,
thanking me for the services perform
ed on shore.
"(Signed) r. w. Mead, Rear Admiral.
"The letter from the governor OF
Trinidad to Rear Admiral Read was
as follows: Sir: beg you to accept
the best thanks of this government
for the prompt and most valuable as
sistance rendered by you at the disas-
trous fire which occurred yesterday
at Port Of Spain.
The large body Of men which yoa
sent ashore under Lieutenant Com.
mander Swift and other officers work
ed most gallantly and admirably in
the situation and it IS greatly appre-
ciated.
ct beg to assure you that this SER
vice will not soon be forgotten and
that our appreciation OF it is very
great.
"'Your most obedient servant,
"'Napiere Bronze, Governor
"The presence OF the vessels frona
the Atlantic feet at the raval station
only 80 miles from Kingston al the
time Of the earthquake, placed theni
in a position for giving first aid, and
our own experience in the San Fran
cisco earthquake and fire Of last Aprii
showed the need OF efficient police
protection and the great benefits
which result from the aid Of naval
forces in such an emergency.
"The commanded-in-chief acted
promptly and sent vessels, men ana
supplies and offered such help in the
way of medical attention and food rs
lay in his power, which action was
further helped by the department dis
patching the store ships laden with
large quantities Of food supplies intend
ed for the feet and which were di-
verted from this duty and sent to
Kingston.
sAfter the men we're Withdrawal
from shore and returned to their
ships, telegram was received front
the brigadier general commanding the
army Of pacification in Cuba"
Secretary Matcalf here quotes Gov
ernor Magoon's statement that tents
had been sent from Cuba to Kingston,
on the request of the acting British
minister, and continues:
"At the time of the above mentioned
request by the acting British ministe"
at Havana for tents for the sufferers
at Kingston, Admiral Davis had on
board the vessels under his command
then in Kingston harbor, and for sew
eral days prior thereto, many OF the
tents asked for and which were avail
able for use, had the governor desired,
and the remaining ships at Guanta-
namo had more than 200 tents. As
the acting British minister at Havana
mad asked for many more than were
actually needed to supply the wants
all OF which could have been obfainei
by Admiral Davis from Admiral Evans.
ON request by wireless, within q few
a. lSb38