THE EARTHQUAKE IN JAMAICA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8719, 19 January 1907, Page 2

THE EARTHQUAKE IN JAMAICA.

The Area of Disturbance. Listless Negroes. Press Association.—Copyright. London, January 18. The Governor of Jamaica reports that the earthquake was confined to the parishes of Kingston, Port Royal, and St. Andrew. The fire has practically ceased. The district burned comprises a triangular area between the parade, the gardens, and the sea. Duke and Princess streets, comprising one-thirteenth of the city, and many wharves were burned. The negroes are indisposed to assist in clearing, though offered double wages. Three hundred and forty-three killed were buried up to noon yesterday. The population is encamped in the parade gardens, racecourse, and other open spaces, being reluctant to return to their ruined houses while the weather is fine. Most of the provision shops were burned, and it is difficult to procure provisions. Though some pilfering has taken place, the population is wonderfully patient, though listless. The direct cable was broken three miles off the coast. Both telegraph j offices were burnt. A Swollen Death Roll. Several Thousand Injured. Martial Law Proclaimed. London, January 18. The Governor’s residence is badly damaged, and all the churches have suffered damage. The Health Board is straining every nerve to avert a pestilence. Const ant Springs Hotel where Sir A Jones’ party lodged, was burned, and eight American tourists are reported' missing. Many natives are in danger of starvation unless immediate relief is afforded. The Fruit Company's lighters rescued 700 who woro pushed off the wharves by the maddened crowd seeking shelter from the flames.

The police place the deaths at 1200, and the injured at several thousand. Government trains are conveying the homeless to Fort Antonio.

Mr Hall Caine apjieared before the curtain at the Adelphi Theatre and appealed for funds, stating that his brother had a narrow esoaxio. Jamaica and British insurance offices escape loss almost entirely.

London, January 18. Now York telegrams report that martial law was enforced until the panic subsided. The negroes at first were frantic, behoving it was a supernatural visitation.

Forty whites nro known to have been killed.

Shops wore full of buyers when tbe first shock took place. This shattered tho flimsier buildings. Tho stronger edifices were damaged but wore subsequently burned.

The main fire station was destroyed, which hindered fire fighting operations, but the officials and city police and troops, headed by the Governor, began rescue work within half an hour, and the convicts assisted.

Only a score of doctors were available. Fires, commencing at the docks, spread north with amazing velocity, completly ruining tho important commercial dis: trict, It is feared that Sir J. Fergusson’s body ha b been burned, Mr Henniker Heaton’s Peril. A Terrible Panic. London, January 18. Mr Henniker Heaton, telegraphing to the Times, says after lunching at the club with tho Governor and Sir James Fergusson, who had just arrived after visiting tho Panama Canal, ho (Heaton), accompanied by Mr Cork, a member of the Council, paid a visit to tho Post Office. When returning .the earthquake occurred.

Directly tho ground quaked thousands rushed into tho street.

He says a huge building fell across tho road a yard boforo us, a’hothpr blocked fcho street behind us, a third fell on o«p loft. Then there was absolute darkness owing to the groat clouds of dust and mortar that filled tho air for five minutes.

When light was restored we found ourselves black as negroes with dust and dirt, but had a miraculous'escape. Women were embracing their children, others were on their knees crying, “ Lord have mercy! Christ save us.” Others were fainting, and some wore wildly running after loved ones. We found the Club in ruins, the dining room being filled with tons of bricks which had fallen from the walls.

Mr H.- Heaton continued, “A young fellow without baf or coat, and with a handkerchief round his head,’ addressed mo. After some ' minutes, thinking his manner peculiar, I asked if he was Gerald Loder, tor many years my friend aud"p,u ex-Commoncr. Ho replied, “ Yes. I was waiting at the Club when the roof fell and pinned mo to the floor/’ By freeing himself of his coat ho escaped to the parapet and thence by ladder to the street. Ho saw Boadlcy, a member of the Club, dead in the street, and his bedroom at the Constant Springs Hotel was shattered,

He found numbers of ladies, who had boon resting at the hotel, had escaped to the lawn with blankets around thorn. Many slept on the lawn. Mr Heaton continues, "Three more shocks occurred before sunrise, and the blazing city was visible six miles off. Visiting Kingston he found ninety-eight out of every hundred houses hopelessly ruined, though many ought to • b.o destroyed. ,

Before Sir A. Jones wont aboard the steamer at Port Kingston, despite bis miraculous escape, he coolly ordered the ’ erection of two hundred light structures for the homeless, besides attending to the . comfort of his own houseless guests. 5 It is not believed the future'of the [ Island will bo affected by the earthquake, i Relief Funds. I Changes in the Ocean Bed. London, January 18. The Lord Mayor of London has opened 1 a Jamaica fund, and the Corporation of London, King Edward, and the Royal Mail Steamship Co have each subscribed a thousand guineas, the Queen a thousand pounds, and the Prince of Wales nv.e hundred guineas. Hew January 13, A fund has been opened at New' York. The American House has authorised President Roosevelt to supply navy stores, Ottawa, January 18, Sir Wilfred Laurior proposes to send substantial assistance. The ocean bed near Kingston has changed alarmingly, necessitating extremely cautious approach, since the lighthouse has been demolished. * Situation improved, encroachment of the SeaLondon, January 18. ■ Mr Henniker-Heaton states that within . an hour of his parting from Sir James ( Pergusson the latter was buried, under tons of bricks. His not returning to ] Government House first aroused fears of ] his fate. ]

Npw York, January 18,

Telegrams state that the situation frpm a medical point of view is improving since the destroyer Whipple arrived. Owing to the camp hospital having only one exit it proved a death trap. Private telegrams state that the shores of Kingston harbour are sinking, and it is feared the City may slip into the sea. The water in the harbour has encroached a hundred feet, and the wharves are either sinking or burned.

President Roosevelt and President Fallieres have condoled with: King Edward on the terrible misfortune. The invaluable Banana. Wooden Houses Unaffected. Kingston, January 18. One thirtieth, not one thirteenth of Kingston has been destroyed by l fire. More shocks were experienced yesterday. A tidal wave in Annotto-Bay swept away the houses. Advices thence state that an extinct volcano is shooting out flames. It is believed the earthquake originated there. Chinese in Kingston opened provision shops and raised prices a thousand per cent. The populace were so angered that *the Chinese fled from their shops, which were looted. Bananas are plentiful, preventing famine. London, January 18. Rear-Admiral Evans .reports tkat the tidal wave has changed the topography, and that the Southern Park, Kingston, is submerged. Islets have disappeared and the whole coast i« subsiding. Salvationists and others are actively helping. Major Hardyman and Lieut. Lamont were killed and several officers are in a caitical condition.

The earthquake came as a sudden oscillation in no particular direction, only up and down. The whole City seemed to shrivel up. Quean Victoria’s statuo was reversed, but not injured. More bodies have been unearthed. Sir James Forgusson’a remains were found in a cigar shop. The Times’ second edition reports that wooden structures stood well, but brick houses collapsed over a radius of six miles. The French cruiser Klober from Martinique carries stores to Kingston, Volcanic Activity. The volcano Mauna Loa, near Honolulu, is sending out a second flow of lava half a mile wide, which is advancing at tho rate of 30 feet an hour and is now within two miles of tho town and sea. More Earthquakes. St. PETEitsmnjG, January 18. Severe shocks of earthquake occurred to-day at Kuha in tho Government c.f Baku, Russia. London, January 18. An earthquake took place at Oban, Scotland, accompanied by a loud report and prolonged rumblings, the movement being east and west. Ships at sea were also affected as if they woro passing over a sandbank.