TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3742, 19 January 1907, Page 3

TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE.

Further Particulars. London, Jan. 17. Sir Alfred Jones’ party was attending a conference at the Collegiate Hall when the first shock occurred. The building rocked, but all present refused to take refuge on shipboard. The earthquake lasted four minutes. The water-mains were broken and the fire brigade paralysed. The debris on the water-front took fire and the flames spread rapidly, being assisted by strong winds. Four streets were soon in ruins. The wind changed on Tuesday and the fire burnt itself out. The fruit supply is abundant and the neighbouring towns; St. Thomas, Trindad and other islands are sending food. There is a great scarcity of medicines. Scores of bodies were buried lor sanitary reasons without identification,' and many are still among the rnins. There are 900 people homeless. A relief fund has been opened in New York. London, Jan. 17. Falling masonry killed Sir James Ferguson. A tremendous windstorm accompanied the shock. Partial darkness, forewarngd the white people of the disaster, and they rushed into the open. Hence their death-roll was comparatively small. The natives took shelter in the poorer quarters, where the chief fatalities occurred. The battery at Port Royal was submerged and two gunners were killed. A relief fund has been started at Mansion House. Sydney, Jan. 7. The Orient Company’s flags are at half-mast in respect to the memory of the late Sir Jas. Ferguson, who was also deputychairman of the Royal Mail Company. New Zealand’s Sympathy. The Premier has forwarded, through the Governor, a cable to the Governor of Jamaica, expressing the sympathy of New Zealand with the people of Kingston in the' terrible disaster that has befallen them. London, Jan. 17. It is reported that an extinct volcano at Portland Point is showing signs of activity. There is no news from the in terior of the island, communication being very difficult. The, Press Association’s representatives with Sir A. Jones’ party state that several additional shocks and fires were experienced on Tuesday.

Negroes are looting the rum shops. At least five hundred were killed. ' Forty-five invalid soldiers were burnt to death in the military hospital. Sir Alfred Jones telegraphs that Sail thehouses within a radius of ten males <f Kingston are damaged and indict if the houses in the city d*estroyed, fire having completed the destruction. It is estimated that a hundred persons were killed and a thousand injured. The public offices and hospitals are ruined. Sir James Fergusson and many prominent merchants and professional men and a great many natives were killed. The business quarter is ruined. King Edward and Queen Alexandra have telegraphed to the Governor, Sir J. A. Sweteham, their horror at the terrible catastrophe and their sympathy with the sufferers.