The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-04-23
An April Frs.hst


Ats O'Clock on Monday morning slight freshet
came down the Nuuauu stream and throughout
the day the water continued 10 rise slowly. There
was but little rain in the neighborhood of the CITY
though evidently heavy rains were falling in the
mountains
At am. on Tuesday the water had risen above
the yard on the east side of the One-nile bridge,
and before am. the whole of the premises at the
corner of Nuuanu and Pauoa were flooded. The
occupants, Portuguese family were fairly flooded
out, their furniture and bedding spoilt, the foor
OF the dwelling house being completely under wa
ter. They state thar they have lost all their five
or six dozen fowls, goat etc, and their express
carriage is wrecked. At about $50 the stream
seems to have broken loose higher up and per-
feet torrent rushed down the PawOa road, and act
ualy hoated away some articles Of furniture which
had been put for safety out on the Nuuanu road,
and laid the lawn between Capt. Mist's house and
the road, under water. This however soon drained
away.
In the Nuuanu stream itself the water was lap
ping over the timber struts of the bridge where
they rest on the masonry The water space under
the bridge being narrow, the water rose within
few feet of the roadway on the Pauoa side of the
bridge and fell like a cataract underneath, being
several feet lower on the Eva side, where 1t only
Just touched the timbers- By am. the water
had fallen considerably. leaving behind it traces
of having reached height beyond any recorded
hitherto. The low foot bridge built by former
superintendent of water works, for carrying the
waterpipes across the stream in line with Judd
street was carried away pipes and ALL Except the
bridge, and the property of the unfortunate Port
uguese, Bento Enos, but little damage was done
in that neighborhood. The Portuguese it is be-
eyed have lost every thing they possessed and the
man Bento hurt himself badly in attempting to
save some of his household goods. The cottage
itself at gtdtku corner of NCuanu and Pauoa
streets was moved from its position.
Conrsing along IN its mad career, the wild toy
| rent of water devastated the banana plantations
that lined the bank either side, uprooting trees
out in a wider stream, it flooded the yards drown
ing out chickens and sweeping away ducks, of the
residents in the vicinity of Makela. Here the Gull
tivated taro patches and gardens were soon a wild
waste Of water and the force of the freshet speed
| lily carried away the foot bridge of Beretania
street bridge also DESTROYING the fences, flooding
the lower stories OF the houses in the VANITY and
causing panic amongst the occupants who quick
/ lY set about moving their valuables to more safe
and drier ground.
The scene along the course of the river in the
| early morning, was grand in the EXTREME the best
view being obtained from the School street bridge,
| from which point of vantage no less than three
| roaring, foam tossed waterfalls were visible,
which with the afterlow of surging, heaving waves
buheting the banks and boulders in frantic efforts
i to escape the bounds which confined the angry
waters, formed Il moving panorama thewild pic
turesqueness of which chained the beholder in
| amazement and awe.
| Happily the loss at present reported, with the
exception of that sustained by Mr.. EnOs, is con-
fined to small portions of banana, taro and vege-
table gardens although considerable Inconvenience
and discomfort has been caused by the flooding of
residences yards ETC.; loss of life adds story
10 the unlocked for occurrence which is something
| to be thankful for. At 1880 am. the bridges on
/ King, Smith and Nuuanu streets, visited by II
crowd of curious ones, and all were found 10 be in
good condition. The roadways opposite the Chi
nese Theatre and ut Makea will have TO be repair
| ed, as we'll as the bridges mentioned as having
| been washed away.
| A telephone message received by the Messrs j.
| NJ. Dat Jr IL Co, from Waimanalo conveyed the
/ information that over 800 acres of cane were I'M
der water in that locality and that mile of rail
| way had been WASHED away. Hopes are entertained
that no serious damage will result to the flooded
| cane.
| At 9.15 a.m, the wind shifted to the N. E, the
/ rain clouds dispersed, and by pm, the Nuuanu
| river resuming its sluggish mOtiod