Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1907 — INSULT TO AMERICA. [ARTICLE]

INSULT TO AMERICA.

JAMAICAN GOVERNOR EJECTS UNCLE SAM’S TARS. Briton’. Pride Is Hurt by Seeing American Marine, in Kingston Street., and He Refuses to Let Them Aid Earthquake Victim.. Practically ordered from the island by Governor Swettenham. thW American battleships Indiana and Missouri and the gunboat Yankton, under command of Admiral Davis, ceased their work oPmercy at Kingston and sailed away for Cuba. With them went the ship's surgeons -and marines who had acted as nurses. Behind they 'left scores of victims of the, earthquake, with broken limbs, fractured skulls and ghastly wounds, who w'ere begging for assistance. They had applied in vain for treatment at the government hospital, and many were dying for lack of medicines and attention which the island authorities did not have, and seemingly were making no effort to obtain. Governor Swettenham, from the first, resented the presence of the American marines on British soil. His pride revolted w-hen he saw the blue jackets efficiently guarding the consulate, directing the work of clearing the streets and overawing the lawless crowds of blacks in a manner which the local authorities were unable to do. This feeling culminated in a sarcastic letter to the admiral peremptorily requesting him to re-embark all the details of men which had been landed. - Admiral Davis was shocked at the Governor’s attitude, and being desirous of doing everything possible for the helpless and suffering populace, paid a visit to the Governor. There he was received with scant courtesy, and as he left announced to the Governor that since he desired no further assistance, be had taken the liberty to countermand the order of President Roosevelt for the naval supply ship Celtic to proceed to the island and distribute its cargo of supplies among the needy. Later Admiral Davis said that immediate cdmpliance~wlth Governor Swettenham’s request was the only course consistent with the dignify of the United States.