This timeline represents the actions of the United States Navy in response to the earthquake, primarily using documents in the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library at www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/. Roosevelt was president at the time of the earthquake.
The earthquake, which shook the capital of the island of Jamaica, was at that time one of the deadliest earthquakes recorded in the world's history.
Sailors in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are ordered to report to their ships to sail for Kingston.
The USS Missouri under the flag of Admiral C. H. Davis and the USS Indiana depart Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for Kingston.
USS Whipple arrives in Kingston.
USS Indiana and USS Missouri arrive in Kingston and begin dispatching troops.
United States Navy officers arrive on Hamburg Line Wharf and discover approximately 200 Americans as well as other refugees from the earthquake.
A force of 70 naval men and four officers land to quell a mutiny in the penitentiary and calm 800 inmates.
A naval party lands on Plum Point lighthouse, which had been dark for two days. The light is in working order by sunset.
A working party of 50 Navy men lands and moves to the hospital.
At some point in the afternoon, a gun salute is set off by the United States Navy, against the express will of James Alexander Swettenham, the British colonial governor of Jamaica.
Sometime in the evening, after receiving reports from men under his command that the city is in far worse shape than he was led to believe, Admiral Davis, the man in charge of the operation, writes to Governor Swettenham. Davis apologizes for the gun salute and notes that he will land troops the next day "unless you expressly desire me not to do so." He hopes the governor understands that his actions are "in the common cause of humanity."
At some point on the 18th, Governor Swettenham requests that Admiral Davis "disembark your working parties." He notes that "the dead died days ago" and says that the Navy is not needed for private property protection, making an analogy that a British admiral would not land in New York with an armed party to help a looted townhouse.
Following the request from Governor Swettenham, all work done by the United States Navy ceases at 1:00 p.m.
Having been informed that the Navy is leaving, Charles Walter Tait, the mayor of Kingston, sends a letter to Admiral Davis pleading with him to stay: "I ask you not to let the sick wounded and destitute call in vain for the comforts which until now they have been receiving from your hands." Tait, 68 years old, was injured in the earthquake and would die of his injuries on February 10.
Admiral Davis replies to Mayor Tait that he cannot stay. He diplomatically suggests that there has been no unpleasantness but that "I am bound to respect the wishes and requirements of the supreme authority of this island."
The United States Navy departs from Kingston harbor and returns to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Admiral Davis sends a detailed report to Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf. Davis describes the horrifying conditions of the city and what the Navy could have to done to aid the people had he stayed and honored these citizens' requests. However, in light of the direct request of Governor Swettenham, he believed that to stay, even to deliver aid, would violate international law.
The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) runs an article entitled "All Score Him for Not Letting Davis Give Help" with the sub-headline of "Action of Gov. Swettenham of Jamaica is Universally Condemned in London."
Lord Elgin, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies, orders Swettenham to "withdraw his offensive letter," an action which is reported to Parliament by Under-Secretary Winston Churchill. Source: "The Measure of Empire: Crisis and Responsibility in Postemancipation Jamaica." Christienna D. Fryar. Dissertation, 2012. p. 206.
Swettenham tenders his resignation as Governor of Jamaica, citing his age as the reason.
The Secretary of the United States Embassy to England, John R. Carter, writes to President Roosevelt, "Since the publication of Admiral Davis' report stating his reasons for landing the Marines there has been no criticism of his action." Carter relates that the episode has made the English people wary that their government is not providing enough support in the West Indies. Otherwise, it would not be necessary for a foreign power to provide aid after a natural disaster.
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