The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-05-16

TIDAL DIsTURBAScE.-0n Thursday last, about
twenty minutes past five O'Clock in the morning,
number of individuals on the wharves noticed that
the tide was running out with great rapidly, and
by accurate measurement, made by Pilot Babcock,
it ascertained that it fell 81 inches In five
minutes. AT six O'Clock there was a return tide,
when the sea rose 81 inches in ten minutes. a
similar Influx and reiux of the tide continued all
through the day and night, gradually diminishing
in volume. The greatest difference observed be-
tween high and low water in the harbor during the
forenoon was IS inches. There is no doubt but
that this disturbance in the billowy main Indicates
some terrible CONFUSION OF Nature thousands of
miles away. probably on the coast of North or
South America. The tidal oscillation was observed
on the islands OF Kauai, Maui and Hawaii, well
on the shores OF this island. At Bahului on the
north side OF Maui the subsistence drained the
harbor, leaving the usual anchorage of coasters,
which is 10 three fathoms of water, perfectly bare
The scow of the schooner Moi, which was lying at
anchor in the bay, was left high and dry at
angle OF forty-fye degrees on the side of n sub
marine sandh When the sea returned it rose
four five feet above the usual high-waier mark,
just covering the floor of the store house, and
slightly damaging the sugar therein stored.
letter which We publish ia this issue from Maui
correspondent. furnishes graphic account of the
appearance OF the bay and Of the results of the
wave. Nothing has been heard yet from Hilo, but
as all previous tidal disturbances have been more
marked there than other localities OF the group.
excepting perhaps Kahului We have reason to
iicipste news from that bay of an Interesting
nature. At Kawaihae, on the west side OF Hawaii,
the difference between the rise and fall of the
was about five feet, or about the same as here.
1T may be of interest to note in this connection
| former tidal phenomena which have been recorded
in this country. tidal wave is said TO have
Cured in the year 1919 short time before the death
of Kamehameha l., which calamity 1t was supposed
| to prognostigate. In 1887, the evening of the
| 9Th OF November, the retired from the harbor
with such rapidity as to greatly alarm the foreign
ers who feared that It's reaction would overwhelm
the town, like the great wave which destroyed the
city of Callao In 1916 The fall on this occasion
was eight feet. AT Hilo and Kahului, after the
first recession, there came gigantic wave which
dashed upon the shore with roar like thunder,
involving "houses, canoes, fsh-ponds, animals,
in short, property of all kinds In one common
ruin" In both places number of natives
were killed. "May nth, ls4i, the same scene,
though on a much less violent scale, and at
tended by no loss of life, occurred" The fall at
| phenomenon of this kind occurred in 1865, on the
18th and 14th of August, when the difference be-
tween the highest and lowest tide was five feet and
four inches. This event. 1t will be remembered,
! was almost simultaneous with the unparalleled
earthquakes which occurred In Peru and Ecuad or
on the same day of the month, when some 81, 900
lives were lost and three hundred millions of proper.
ty aud twelve cities and towns were destroyed. Ar
ouipa and AFRICA cities OF SIS 600 and IS 900 inhabit
ants were totally destroyed not vestige Of them be-
ing left The following is what the G. advertiser of
October Srd says Of the event: The great Garth
quake wave occurred at o'clock on the 18th OF
August, corresponding with about IL o'clock noon
| ut Honolulu. The distance between africa and
Honolulu Is about $500 miles, and as the first
movement of the sea in suddenly receding was OBJ
| served here at la o'clock midnight, IL took the
oscillation twelve hours to travel the distance or
at the rate OF little over 446 miles hour" As
IN 1865 tie tidal phenomena of last week were ac-
companied by volcanic activity at kilauea. confirm
ing the theory OF q connection between the sub
terranean fires Of Hawaii and those Of other parts
Of the world.