The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-08-19
Earthquake Wave.

Another oscillation of the ocean, similar
to that which occurred at the time of the
great earthquake OF. April end, on Hawaii,
/ showed itself in Honolulu harbor last week,
the movement being much larger and also
more rapid than the former one. 1t was first
observed by the natives on Fisherman's point
during the night of Thursday, who finding
themselves in no especial danger from the
rise of the sea, paid little attention to the
phenomena.
On Friday, the 14th inst, at seven O'Clock,
A. NJ, the attention of Mr.. Emmes, whose
shipyard is at the waters edge, was attracted
by seeing the water three feet lower than
ordinary. 1t began to rise Immediately,
making three feet and four inches in four
minutes; it stopped, and then rose six inches
more, making the rise three feet and ten
inches in eight minutes. 1t then flowed out
again; the total between the highest and low
est point being sixty-four inches. At this
time of the morning the oscillations occupied
twenty minutes The movement at half-past
eight o'clock, as observed by Captain Daniel
Smith, at the Charlton wharf, was that the
water from its lowest point rose thirty-one
inches, reaching its highest point in nine
minutes; twenty-three minutes afterward it
reached its lowest point again. AT two min
utes past nine o'clock it flowed in again,
rising this time only twenty-seyen inches in
fifteen minutes, then ebbed in twenty-five
minutes.
The oscillations continued each time slow
er, but at fifteen minutes past two o'clock,
P. M, the tide being then at the flood, the
wave reached its highest point-eighteen
inches above the highest spring tides. The
sea at this time was well up to the tops of
the wharves; fioated the spars in Mr.. Emmes'
shipyard, and at Waikiki, flowed over the top
of the beach into the yards of some of the
dwellings there. The movement continued
all of Friday, and through Saturday was also
perceptible though gradually decreasing until
four o'clock, P. NJ, when equilibrium seemed
to be accomplished.
Our tides rise and fall thirty inches the
greatest difference observed on Friday was
elAll Oue piODdOi1 thC nict OSCli-
lation of Thursday night was the greatest one
The phenomena was observed at Koolau,
but did not attract especial attention. At
Kahului, Maui, the rise and fall exceeded ten
feet, and along the South Kona coast, Hawaii,
was over twelve feet
Some Hawaiians fishing off Kealekeakua
were alarmed by what seemed to be thumps
under their canoe, and made all speed for the
shore; it was the commencement of the
oscillation at that place. The earthquake
must have reached Honolulu, for on Friday,
both Mr.. Flitner and Captain Smith found
their transit instruments out of level. That
of Mr. Flftner is placed upon block of gran
tic of several tons weight, planted on the
coral which underiies the town. Nothing
but an earthquake would have stirred this
solid block The droop, though very slight,
of both the instruments, was toward the
East.
By the Annie from Hilo, we learn that the
wave commenced there at midnight of Thurs
day, and ceased on the following Saturday.
The ebb and flow continued at intervals of q