Earthquake relief

Letter from John R. Carter to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Carter, Secretary of the American Embassy in London, thanks President Roosevelt for his letters, and for having his daughter Mildred stay at the White House. Carter discusses the response of the British public and press to the “Jamaica incident.” This likely refers to the inadequate relief provided by British Governor of Jamaica James Alexander Swettenham to Jamaican residents after the Kingston earthquake, and the subsequent intervention by American Rear Admiral C. H. Davis. The reaction in Britain is one of “amazement, indignation, and mortification.” However, Roosevelt’s answers to British Secretary of State for War R. B. Haldane’s and British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Edward Grey’s telegrams “had a most soothing effect.” Carter also references an earlier conversation he and Roosevelt had about Swettenham, in connection with the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-25

Creator(s)

Carter, John R. (John Ridgely), 1862-1944

Letter from Douglas L. Howard to Edwin C. Pendleton

Midshipman Howard of the USS Missouri informs Captain Pendleton that he took a team of sixteen men ashore to Kingston, Jamaica, following the earthquake. First, they extracted the American Consulate archives. Howard then met up with Lieutenant William P. Scott where they began searching for and recovering bodies. Next they helped the owner of the company Milke Bros. recover a safe and return the contents to the owner, Mr. Milke. They also assisted a Mr. Newton in recovering and opening another safe for him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-20

Creator(s)

Howard, Douglas L. (Douglas Legate), 1885-1936

List of stores left behind from U.S.S. Missouri

A three page list of supplies left behind by the USS Missouri, USS Iowa, and USS Indiana for hospitals to assist those hurt in the earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-20

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Howard E. Ames to C. H. Davis

Navy Medical Inspector Ames writes a narrative to Admiral Davis relating the events that unfolded when he arrived in Kingston, Jamaica, to provide medical relief after the earthquake. Ames found the city of Kingston to be absolutely demolished, and the populace to be in a “dazed, frightened, and nervous condition.” When Ames offers medical assistance and advice to Governor James Alexander Swettenham, the assistance is refused, and the suggestions denied, with the exception of some limited supplies for which the governor is thankful. Because both Ames and Davis, among others, found that the official city response was lacking, Davis informed Governor Swettenham that the naval medical officers would establish an independent hospital that would serve everyone “irrespective of age, sex, creed, or nationality.” The Jesuit fathers gave their cottage in Winchester Park as the site of the hospital, and they were able to treat many injured people with the help of the Sisters of Mercy. Ames offers comments on the casualties and destruction caused by the earthquake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-20

Creator(s)

Ames, Howard E., 1851-1918

Letter from Charles Walter Tait to C. H. Davis

Charles Walter Tait, the mayor of Kingston, Jamaica, writes to Admiral Davis to express his “deep and sincere regret that any unpleasantness should have arisen” that would have prompted Davis to withdraw any aid to the city and island after the events of the January 14, 1907, earthquake. Tait asks Davis not to withdraw his assistance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Tait, Charles Walter, 1839-1907

Memorandum from Arthur Bainbridge Hoff to Edwin C. Pendleton

Lieutenant-Commander Hoff, of the USS Missouri, updates for Captain Pendleton accounts of the United States Navy’s aid efforts in Kingston, Jamaica, following the earthquake. This aid took the form of supplies and medical assistance given to hospitals, food and other assistance given to Americans on the island, and dangerous damaged buildings destroyed with gun cotton (an explosive now known as nitrocellulose). The Governor of Jamaica, John Alexander Swettenham, told the Americans not to destroy any buildings without the owner’s approval.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Hoff, Arthur Bainbridge 1869-1925

Memorandum of events in connection with a visit to Kingston, Jamaica, after its destruction by earthquake and fire

Lieutenant Gilmer of the USS Missouri provides a detailed description of the United States naval response to the January 14, 1907, earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica. Gilmer explains that the Navy landed in Kingston on January 17, setting up a hospital, landing forces, and providing aid. Gilmer describes the destruction of the city both from the earthquake and the subsequent looting and the various dead victims he sees and living victims he interacts with. After the governor of Jamaica asked the Navy to leave the island, Gilmer interacts with many who request that the Navy stay and insist they are badly needed. The Navy withdraws on January 19, back to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Gilmer, James B. (James Blair), 1876-1963

Letter from C. H. Davis to Lewis Jacob Clark

Admiral Davis directs Lewis Jacob Clark, as commanding officer of the USS Celtic, that the Celtic is not to leave supplies as there are enough in Kingston (following the earthquake), and that the Celtic is not to allow shore leave but to proceed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after as brief a stay as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Davis, C. H. (Charles Henry), 1845-1921

Letter from C. H. Davis to Victor Howard Metcalf

Admiral Davis reports to Secretary of the Navy Metcalf that he has left two orders for the USS Celtic through the Vice-Consul. First, the Celtic is not to leave supplies as there are enough in Kingston (following the earthquake). Second, the Celtic is not to allow shore leave but to proceed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after as brief a stay as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Davis, C. H. (Charles Henry), 1845-1921

Letter from C. H. Davis to Charles Walter Tait

Admiral Davis assures Charles Walter Tait, the mayor of Kingston, Jamaica, that no offense has been taken from the actions of the Jamaican authorities. Davis has furnished all the aid that he could to the city and island after the events of the earthquake and he will be soon departing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Davis, C. H. (Charles Henry), 1845-1921

Report from William P. Williamson to Dennis H. Mahan

Midshipman Williamson reports to Dennis H. Mahan regarding the evacuation of Americans from Kingston, Jamaica, following the Kingston earthquake. After going ashore to bring women aboard the USS Indiana, Williamson was joined by Chaplain Matthew C. Gleeson of the USS Missouri. The Americans ashore were out of food other than cheese and crackers. Williamson found 40 or 50 women and 100 men, but only four women agreed to be evacuated, so Williamson brought them with the four men attending them. Williamson delivered a memo regarding the people’s need for food to his executive officer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Creator(s)

Williamson, William P. (William Price), 1884-1918

Report from Robert Restad to Dennis H. Mahan

Chief Quartermaster Restad reports to Captain Mahan that after repairing the Plum Point Lighthouse, the Captain of the Vladimir told Restad that he wished Restad had repaired it a day sooner. Restad was involved with earthquake relief in the area.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Creator(s)

Restad, Robert, 1868-1920

Letter from Arthur Bainbridge Hoff to Edwin C. Pendleton

Lieutenant-Commander Hoff, of the USS Missouri, expands upon his report from the previous day on the aid provided by the United States Navy following the earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica. Upon arrival, food and supplies were administered by Paymaster Barron P. DuBois. Hospitals and medical care were assessed by military personnel. Under the command of Midshipmen Douglas Legate Howard, the archives from the U.S. Embassy were protected and removed. Howard’s team went on to assist in removing unsafe and damaged buildings. Another patrol aided local authorities in preventing looting. Supplies were distributed to destitute Americans on the island. Considering the situation, the hospitals were properly functioning and the water supply was untainted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Creator(s)

Hoff, Arthur Bainbridge 1869-1925

Letter from E. F. Hall to D. H. Mahon

Paymaster E. F. Hall reports updates on the U.S. emergency response in Jamaica following the earthquakes. Famine is kept mostly at bay, though certain provisions are difficult to obtain. He notices that there are still many injured people who have not received medical care. With the help of local priests, they assist some injured people in receiving that care. The British troops, however, are not being as helpful as they could be.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Creator(s)

Hall, E. F.

Telegram from James Alexander Swettenham to C. H. Davis

Governor Swettenham thanks Admiral Davis for his offer of assistance to Jamaica after the earthquake, but asks that he reembark all sailors and soldiers that he had landed in an effort to provide relief. Swettenham believes that the situation is no longer a question of humanity, but of convenience, and thinks that the present police force in Kingston will be enough to maintain the peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Creator(s)

Swettenham, James Alexander, 1846-1933

Letter from Jack Sutherland Abbott to Dennis H. Mahan

Ensign Abbott reports to Captain Mahan from his posting in Kingston, Jamaica. A British army officer there reported that British troops were camped outside Port Royal because of a stench emanating from cracks in the earth opened by an earthquake in the city.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Creator(s)

Abbott, Jack Sutherland, 1873-1943

Letter from John Low Sticht to Dennis H. Mahan

Lieutenant Sticht reports on the United States Navy landing force under his command, which assisted the local forces in quelling a prison riot following an earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica. The warden was pleased with their performance, and others thought that if the U.S. forces had not arrived to help, the case would have been lost.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-17

Creator(s)

Sticht, John Low, 1873-1943

Memorandum from Arthur Bainbridge Hoff to Edwin C. Pendleton

Lieutenant-Commander Hoff, of the USS Missouri, notifies Captain Pendleton that he arrived in Jamaica with fifty men, including Lieutenant William P. Scott, Midshipman Richard S. Edwards, Gunner Robert E. Cox, and Carpenter Harry E. Cooper, and began removing damaged walls and clearing deceased bodies following the recent earthquake. Hoff and six others protected the United States Embassy while its archives were safely extracted as well as stopped looters and protected property.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-17

Creator(s)

Hoff, Arthur Bainbridge 1869-1925

Letter from Robley D. Evans to Walter R. Gherardi

Rear Admiral Evans orders Commander Gherardi to prepare his vessel to sail, sending him to Kingston, Jamaica, and thence to Guantanamo Bay. Evans instructs Gherardi to gather any sort of information available. The orders are likely related to disaster relief after an earthquake in Kingston.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-17

Creator(s)

Evans, Robley D. (Robley Dunglison), 1846-1912

Letter from C. H. Davis to James Alexander Swettenham

Rear Admiral C. H. Davis apologizes to James Alexander Swettenham, Governor of Jamaica, for the mistake regarding a naval salute. He also provides an update regarding the landing of troops from the USS Missouri to assist with disaster relief. He will land further troops to help clear away ruins, stop looters, and offer medical assistance in areas that the Jamaican government would not otherwise reach, unless the governor directs him otherwise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-17

Creator(s)

Davis, C. H. (Charles Henry), 1845-1921