The Washington herald., 1908-07-29
REBUILDING OF KINGSTON
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

stand the sentiment Of the celebrated
English author who said that when the
Almighty was destroying Paradise He
forgot 70 wipe out Jamaica
The residences Of Kingston are all eth
er villas. lodges. OF cottages. Whether
II is a beautiful villa. a restful-lOoking
lodge. or a cozy cottage Il is certain to
be IN harmony with the landscape The
added touch Of broad closely trimmed
lawns. large. well-kept flower gardens.
and winding walks, make the scene en-
trancing- The residences are all named
n keeping with the surroundings. On the
broad posts by every gateway one sees
the name OF the place cut IN marble.
Here Is one named "Seaview Cottage"
there another Retreat Lodge" and an
other 'Tdlewild villa" Considerably
more than half OF the suburban houses
have been restored, and perhaps half Of
the remainder are now being rebuilt II
viii be only a short tine until reminders
OF the earthquake viii no longer appear
in these residential portions Of the town
Gov Swettenham. the marplot OF the
Kingston disaster, still resides IN ia
maica- He has an upland home. and
there in comparative solitude he has tine
10 reflect over his action IN trying 10 be
witty and gay. The sympathy usually
bestowed upon Swettenham. excusing his
famous letter 20 Admiral Davis on the
ground that he was under great stress
OF feeling and quite beside himself. IS
deemed by many here TO be misplaced
said a magistrate Of the island: 7
was in an unpleasant position myself as
a result Of his action One OF the other
magistrates was q personal friend OF
Swectenhem, and he brought a petition
for me to sign expressing deep confidence
in the governor. refused 70 sign II. and
ever since he had not been a friend OF
mine. No. do not think that 6wettsn-
ham deserves any sympathy"
BE has a whole lot OF antagonisrn for
Americans IN his makeup. and Il was
that which led him 70 write his famous
note" Another thing which led him
70 90 It Is the gradual ascendency OF
America IN the island England grad
uslly sees the trade Of her best West n
dian possession slipping from her grasp.
and IS beholdtng the Jamsicans them
selves giving their affections 70 the Unit
ed States This would be but another
I evidence 70 the natives that America
could take care OF them better than Eng
: land. and 50, from the standpoint OF
{ Swettenhan, American aid could not be
tolerated- That was why he wrote 70
I Admiral Davis as he did Swettenham
was . good governor before that He
.
l could. but he could not rise 70 the oc-
[ casiOn in times Of stress
/ Outside of Kingston Harbor 3 a pa
( thetic reminder OF the earthquake Two
[ OF the most magnificent steamers Of the
[ Hamburg Line lie high or the
/ rocks. The Augusta Victoria has list ID
Z 10 starboard and looks the wreck she IS.
I but the Prinz WaIdemar. which went
upon the rocks the night Of thsearthqJake
I is as high and dry as e On a marine
Z railway. and Is headed as z 10 ssil di-
rectIy through the Blue Mountains As
the relentless wash OF the restless Ca
I ri5bean sweeps against them i makes one
! Of the saddesc spsctaCles that remain OF
the tine when nature shUd5ered at
/ Kingston
,CopyrsEt. Iss. b. Frederic J. Haskiur
TO-morrOw-Brftish Rule in ia
maica.