The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-01-27
KAUAI NEWS.

Tuesday, were the pride OF Kauai, are
now a mass Of mud and water, filled with
the rubbish which was INTERESTINGLY
swept over the land from the mountains
down into the sea. On Tuesday at l. 80
n. NJ the rain began to fall and continued
IN an unbroken stream until about Pm.
on Wednesday. Daring the night the
tiny rlyulels grew into rivers which con
stantly increased III size and momentum,
and the early morning light showed a
large quantity oil water spread over the
surface of the ground. Still, nothing
serious was apprehended, though the
pressure Of the water against it's environ
ments was terrific. In Lihue the canals
for irrigation were OVERLOOKING, and the
roads were transformed into madly rush
ing rivers. The water Of the mill pond
was rapidly rising. and fears were enter
tanned that it wonld monentarily pour
over the embark ment. But the pressure
against the dam was too great, and il
gave way with IA tremendous crash,
Now the great barrier being removed.
there was nothing to check the wild flow,
and soon the entire valley surrounding
the Lihue mill, was like vast lake,
seethng and kissing, while it carried
destruction in its path. On and on the
waves rolled, breaking fences and young
trees, leaping bitches whose waters added
their volumes to the rapidly flowing
river, through rice fields and taro patches
which were ruhlessy destroyed, gather
ing wood, underground and plants on its
way, it spread terror and devastation on
all sides. Small cottages and grass huts
We're temporarily submerged, the inhab-
itants having FASTENED to higher ground
were unhurt, but chickens, ducks and
young pigs were carried far out into Ma
wiliwili bay. The bridge at Nawliwili
was demolished, and the break water that
had been built was swept away like
cobweb. All the outhouses belonging to
G.. A. Spitz were raised bodily by the
angry river and carried far out to sea. A
large stable containing carriages and sad
dies was also swept away, while the store
was turned at right angles to it's previous
position. The house occupied by A.
Maclean had half of its supports carried
away by the relentless tide, but though
time was granted to the occupants to re-
move all the contents OF the builing, it
has since then toppled over into the sea.
AT kapaia, the bridge was torn from
its foundation and went crashing along
the great river which had formed in this
valley. A store and dwelling belonging
to a Chinaman was carried away and the
dry goods and groceries went sailing
along the stream. The new bridge near
Hanamaulu was also destroyed. Though
there were heavy rainfalls at kealia,
Kilauea, and Hanalei, there was no in
jury done, the fury of the storm seemed
to have concentrated itself on the east
ern and southern sides of the island.
The smaller bridges between kolOa and
Lihue were washed away, as they have
been on the other side OF kOlOa. kOloa
suffered nearly as much as Lihue. The
water rose in some OF the private resi-
dences to a height of two or three feet,
bullock carts were carried into the sea,
and much damage done around the mill.
The carpenter shop belonging to J. ID.
Neal was literally cut in two, half of it
being borne to the sea, and the other
half, striking against high barrier Of
lumber, was left on the road. Two or
three stores belonging to Portuguese and
Cinnamon were utterly ruined. The
Laval valley, which looked like paint
ing nestled as it was at the foot of the
surrounding mountains, has only mud
and water to show where few days ago,
a blooming vegetation gladdened the
eyes OF the traveller.
The oldest residents say, that though
there have been many severe storm
visitations to. Kauai, there has never
been one which in SO short a time, carried
such ruin with it. Fortunately the loss
Of life was not great. The death of one
native in koloa, and two Chinese in Ka-
paia, are all that have been reported.
The Chinese in Kapaia lost heavily, so
did also Mr.. Spite. He estimates his
loss at about 81 900. The Lihue Sugar
Co. lost several hundred dollars worth of
sugar, which was ready for shipment,
for the water rose in the mill to height
of nearly four feet. Their loss of time
| was great, too, for there were several fis-
sures in the ground surrounding the
mill, which it will take time to fill up,
while the repairs about the old dam,
and the building of the new one, will
delay grinding for some time.
A Chinaman remained in his store as
it was borne away, but seeing the waite,
| enter it, he managed to crawl on the
roof, and just before the shanty was
dashed to pieces, he happened to catch
| on to g branch OF a mango tree, and thus
saved his life
Water rose in the houses of many O
the natives and other laborers to 9
height of two or three feet, but except a
wetting and fright no damage wa.
done.
The employees in the mill caught tn,
fish that were swimming around Their,
and sent them home to their families a:
curios.
A native, anxious to get good view
of the situation at Nawliwili, stood on
piece of ground close to the raging food
when, with crash, it gave way. an,
kaaihui, where was he?
OH Floundcring in the sea
but being good swimmer he went on
with the current and swan ashore to
safer place.
A large number. of natives were con
gregated at Nawiliwli on "Wednesday
morning at The hour when the excite
ment and destruction We're at thei
height, but they proved themselve
equal to the occasion by being very helv
ful. a number of horses were in Spitz
stable, and before any danger wa
thought of the building was moving
Seeing that the horses would soon l.
lost, several Hawaiians leaped into tn
water, battered open the doors. iiberate
the poor animals and drove them int
the water. where they swan ashore an
| were safe