The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-01-18
FLAMES FOLLOW
EARTHQUAKE
CITY OF KINGSTON, JAMAICA, IS
~ RUINS.
Loss Of Life Heavy, Sir James Fer
gusson Being One of the
Victims.

NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-Kingston, the
picturesque capital OF the island of
Jamaica, has been devastated by a VIC
lent earthquake
The details OF the disaster are lack
ing, as direct communication with the
stricken city has been cut OF. The
land lines had been reconstructed to
within Ave miles OF Kingston Tues
day evening. and from meagre reprots
received through such channels as
were open, It has been learned that
many Of the most important buildings
have been destroyed and there has
been serious loss of life.
So far as the reports indicate, the
fatalities number less than one hun
bred though the hospitals are filled
with injured and the list Of victims
may be materially increased.
Kingston and the other points of in.
terest of the island are at this season
Of the year thronged with tourists
from both America and England and
the greatest apprehension is felt for
the safety of many persons who had
recently arrived at the jamaican re-
sort.
The most distinguished of these
were members of a party of English
statesmen agricultural experts and
men of affairs, who, under the leader
ship of Sir Alfred Jones, has arrived |
in Kingston Within the past few days
to attend an agricultural conference.
The first great shock was felt about
$3.50 o'clock Monday afternoon and
as in the San Francisco and Valparai-
so disasters, flames Immediately
sprang from the wreckage to carry on
the work of destruction. Tuesday af-
ternoon the fire was still burning, al
though it was believed to be under
control The great military hospital
was burned and forty soldiers are re-
ported dead.
Sir James Ferguson is said to have
been instantly killed, but. according
10 London reports, no other English
man, Canadian or American Is believ-
ID to be missing.
The extent of the destruction which
las been wrought in Kingston, a city
which already bears the scars OF a
lumber of disastrous visitations OF
Ire. earthquake and cyclone in years
zone by, is still left largely to the
The city is one of low-lying build
ngs, clustered along the shores of
me of the finest and most securely
and-locked harbors In the West In
les. The population, which numbers
5000, is largely made up of native
lacks.
Many steamers carrying tourists to
amacia were en- route to the island
then the earthquake occurred, but 1t
n happens that, according to sched-
les, none OF Cu0 SHIPS LIOh lNOW AUA
r Boston were IN Kingston harbor
ronday.
The Rt. Hon. Sir James Ferguson
,entioned in the foregoing dispatch,
as a man of considerable promi-
ence. He served in the Crimean
,mpaign with the Grenadier Guards
nd was present at the battles OF Al
IA and Inkerman, where he was
ounded, and the siege of Sebastopol
e was several times member OF
e House of Commons. He was Un-
n Secretary for India In Lord Der
rs third and in Disraeps first adj =
He was made Cover
n of South Australia in 1868, Cover
IF of New Zealand in 1873 and Gov
p.r of Bombay in 1885. He was Un-
f1lecretary Of State for Foreign Al q :,
lrs in 1886 and from 1891 to 1892 he I
IS Postmaster General. q