An earthquake and accompanying tsunami causes massive damage throughout the Virgin Islands.

A massive earthquake struck the sea bed between St. Thomas and St. Croix in the Virgin Islands in mid-afternoon.  Moments after, a powerful tsunami hit the surrounding land masses. The British passenger ship La Plata had a narrow escape while coaling at Water Island, near St. Thomas and was almost thrown up onto the beach..  The U.S.S. Monongahela, moored in Frederiksted Harbor on St. Croix, was not so fortunate.  The crew of the sizeable warship watched as the bay first emptied and then a thirty foot tidal wave returned and washed their ship over quayside warehouses onto the first street of the town before carrying her back to the beach where she was stranded. Three sailors were killed in the incident but the Monongahela suffered minimal damage and was later refloated.  The earthquake and the tidal wave following caused damage, injuries, and deaths throughout the Virgin Islands.  (By John Osborne)