The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-25
A South Sea Cyclone.

been the theater of immense disasters.
caused by the cyclone which ravished
the islands. Immediately the Governor
iss ued orders to the commander of the
war-ship SECOND to proceed to the scene
of events and render all the aid posi-
BILE to the unfortunate sufferers. The
SECOND has returned, and reports that
the loss of life and property has been
very large. In the district of Tunhora.
island of Anaa, the losses alone will
reach S120,000. Over 112, 900 cocoanut
trees were destroyed. In this estimate
no valuation is placed upon the great
disasters to residences, warehouses.
wharves, cisterns, and the number of
coasters thrown on the shore. At
Faaite dano Fakarava several villages
suffered, but not so disastrously as else
where. At Manibi and Arutua houses
were tossed upside down, as also on the
island of Niau. The damage was very
grave at Apataki, the village being de-
stroyed and number of small craft
cast ashore as if they had been straws.
At Rairoa two vessels at anchor were
lifted from the water and cast inland.
Many lives were lost, and the bodies
were ravenously devoured by dogs and
hogs perishing from hunger.
But the most terrible events trans
pired on the island of Kaukura. This
island was so situated as to be in the
center of the cyclone. The wind swept
over it like an Infatuated demon, des-
tined to avenge itself upon unfortunate
humanity settled there. A terrible
tempest of rain accompanied the merci-
less winds, both bringing terror to the
people. All fled for safety in their ca
noes to the lagoon, but during the night
of the 9th of February an enormous
tidal wave swept across the island, and
of the III souls that had taken refuge
in their frail crafts, but one escaped to
tell the tale of the awful fate that befell
them. The survivor, by miracle, as
it were, was washed out of his canoe
and chung to a rock. All the others
were swept away into the remorseless
depths of the ocean. The force of the
waves was such as to completely change
the physical aspect of the island.
Mountains of sand were cast upon the
coral reefs, crushing and burving be-
meath them cocoanut trees from fifty to
sixty feet high.
1t has been ascertained that the enor-
nous body of water known as tidal
wave, which swept over Anaa and re-
suited in such lamentable losses, was
only link in the chain of tidal waves
which attended the cyclone. At the
same moment that the island of Anaa
was deluged tidal waves struck the set
Element of Hitiaa, island of Tahiti and
Papotoel, island of Morea, but not with
such terrific force. The distance be-
tween Anaa and Tahiti is over 100 miles.
The old natives on the island have no
traditions that any such cyclone ever
passed over the island before. The
Pomoth group are subject to heavy
squalls at certain seasons of the year,
but they are not considered as within
the cyclone belt, as are the Samoan
and Fiji groups. 1t is usually plain
| sailing from here to Tahid, with fair
winds, without a thought of cyclones
or tidal waves, but vessels when off the
Pomoth group are always on the look
out for squalls.
At Anaa, an American, a colored
man, was surprised by tremendous
sheet Of water which threatened his in
slant destruction. With great presence
of mind he fled for the nearest cocoa
nut trees, and carrying with him a lit
tie native child, whom he found CRYING
and terrified, climbed the nearest tree
with the child on his back, and thus
both lives were saved At Moturaa,
island of Kaukuro, a native policeman
saved little child eight years of age
by climbing a cocoanut tree. The child
proved to be the daughter of NJ. Aumer-
an, the mother having been engulfed
by the tidal wave. The French resident
director at Anaa had narrow escape
for his life. The full particulars of all
the incidents, disasters and loss of life
are not yet known, but sufficient is now
before the public to make the cyclone
ever memorable in the history of the
islands.
The Pomotu islands are French pos
sessions and lie south by west of Tahiti.
There are said to be over 100 islands in
the group and all are what is known as
low islands. They are of a coral for
nation, and but few feet above the
level of the sea. In the center are la
goons, some of which are shallow,
while others having been sounded and
no bottom could be found. The pearl
fisheries are within the lagoons, and
are very valuable. The cocSanut tree
produces the principal source of food,
and there is scarcely any other vegeta-
ton. Gathering cobra, the meat Of the
cocoanut, is one of the chief employ
ments of the natives. This, diving for
pearls and fishing are the chief occupa-
tons. The natives are quiet and sim
pie in their habits, and friendly to the
whites. 1t is said that there are some
cannibals on the more distant islands
of the group, but the fact is not au-
thenticated. The American, English
and German houses at Tahiti do large
trade with the Pomotu group, and will
certainly suffer heavy losses in the gen
eral calamity that has befallen the ISL
and.-NeSSenger de Tahiti.
DAT