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Vice Consul Orrett thanks Admiral Davis for his great service and tells him that many people come to the Consulate daily to express their gratitude for his help following the earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Captain Mahan reports to Rear Admiral Davis the extraordinary work of Navy men in responding to the earthquake crisis in Kingston, Jamaica. Mahan names individual sailors who have performed remarkably well in the dangerous conditions. They commanded the work done on shore, quelled a mutiny at the penitentiary, and repaired the Plumb Point Lighthouse.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Captain Mahan updates Rear Admiral Davis on the work done by sailors on Friday, January 18, in Kingston, Jamaica, following a devastating earthquake.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Rear Admiral Davis tells American Vice-Consul Orrett that he is expecting the supply ship Celtic to arrive at the Port of Kingston, and asks that Orrett deliver a letter to that ship’s captain if it arrives after Davis leaves. Davis stresses the importance of the American Consulate in Jamaica remaining open in the wake of the earthquake. He suggests that if Orrett ends up needing police protection, that he should ask the local government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Midshipman Logan Cresap reports to Commanding Officer Mahan of his attempt to search for bodies at the Myrtle Bank Hotel, where a guard denied him entrance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Robert E. Cox, a gunner in the United States Navy, provides a report to Captain Pendleton, commander of the USS Missouri, outlining the services performed by officers landed in Kingston, Jamaica on January 17 and 18, and commends their actions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
H. E. Cooper, a carpenter in the U.S. Navy, writes Edwin C. Pendleton from Jamaica in the wake of the Kingston Earthquake. He reports that he went ashore with Lieutenant W. P. Scott and 50 other men, where they worked construction under the supervision of Captain C. Jones and H. Humphrey. He reports that the emergency hospital building was badly damaged and details the work done by his crew to fix it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Barron P. DuBois delivered American provisions to the Jamaican earthquake survivors. However, the company’s buildings were already crowded with provisions. Small amounts of rations were given to “several parties of destitute Americans.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
Warrant Machinist Grant reports that he and others were removing damaged structures and reinforcing existing structures following the devastating earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica. He also reports that he helped in handling the sick and wounded at Winchester Park Hospital.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
Lieutenant Commander Robison reports to Captain Mahan that he distributed food to the refugees of the recent earthquake, most of whom claimed to be American citizens. The refugees were seeking transportation to the United States and many of them were brought aboard the USS Indiana. Robison assured them that the Navy was there to protect them and “succor distress” wherever they found it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
Midshipman Page reports to Captain Mahan that he went ashore in Kingston, in compliance with Mahan’s orders, to look for any temporarily destitute Americans following the earthquake. Page reports they found no Americans destitute or in need of assistance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
Assistant Surgeon May recounts the medical treatment he and other Navy sailors dispensed in responding to the earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
D. J. Marx, the Acting Warrant Machinist on the USS Indiana, reports on the condition of the Plum Point Lighthouse in Kingston, Jamaica, and what was done to repair it. The reported damage to the lighthouse was likely due to an earthquake that occurred in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 14, 1907.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
Sister Madeline asks if Rear Admiral Davis would be willing to send two white American children, Ada Manguall and Norman Manguall, back to the United States. She provides the address of their mother and explains that their father left the children as boarders. She feels that at this time the Deaconess Home’s resources are better geared towards helping those Jamaicans on the island who need their help following the earthquake.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18