The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-13
PRECEDED BY AN EARTHQUAKE
otp TIMERS SAY PRESENT koNA
EXCEEDS ALL PREVIOUS
STORMS.
Hundreds OF Fruit Trees OF All Kinds
Blown Oo"n-Tso Native Church
es Lose Their Spires-Railroads
Pushing for Kau.
Special Cor-esnonisncel

kONA COUNTY. Feb. IG.-Olf time
konas were proverbial as lasting
tnree days. The present storm has
been double JnaJ duration. for com
mencing on the night of the srd the
erd IS not yet, although Friday night
saw the worst over. The very oldest
inhabitant" whose memory could be
trotted out, declared this months
storm 10 be more violent than any
previously remembered. However.
memories. like faces. fade.
The first premouitiou OF storm
was a violent earthquake which shook
Nona at 3 p. N. Feb. 1st and this
seems. by actual observation 70 be
somewhat of guide TO ctmos pheric
conditions and change Vivid light
ming and thgnder's cannonade were
local adjunCts. Boreas was rude ex-
tremely so. for his visit resulted in
the smashing OF two ard a half bal
loon frame house. which was being
erected at Waiaha. North Koua. by
II. Wilgeroth. the sugarboiier. Auoth-
or larSe house. that Of J. Alawa. nj
Laaloa. shared the same fate. while
many smaller Aomes Of Portuguese
and natives. are little better than fire
wood value.
In central Kona, hundred OF trees.
hreadIuit orange. etc. are down and
in the southern district the same CON
ditions prevail The orange. bread
fruit and alligator pear crops are
about ruined. not 10 mention the thoC-
sands OF banana and pspaia trees,
whose heavy heads were early decapi-
tated
The native churches along the beach
at Hookena. Fonaunau and Napoopoo
suffered structural damage. the two
former losing spires. while the latter
had a portion Of the roof torn Of and
much injury done 20 tine Hoa raws
by the rain. Father Victor conE-atu-
lates his flock that no hurt came TO
arv of the Catholic places OF worship.
The cross surmounts OUR towers
said the venerable padre. as he de-
youtly counted his beads
Il is significant that the gasoline
schooner and the lumber vessel Queen
he'd q slip anchor at Kailua and run
to the open. where they still are, while
the little Upolu scarcely rocked on
the calm bosom OF Kealakekua Bay.
at which place she stayed until Thurs
day morning
Vehicle traffic was for some days
impeded. but the Road Boards employ
ed men to clear the highways The
telephone system was and is yet de-
moralized.
In this connection it may be re-
marked that the s. Kona Road Board
has just had "Doled' out to ii some OF
the funds which, under local control
OF taxes. should have been available
last November. The feeling Is grow
ing that we must have County Gov.
ernment. and such incidents as the
retention OF Roaa runds. are working
the people in the right way.
An impression is gaining ground
that the Hilo r. r. Co are trying 20
get into Kau and so forestall the kona
Railway. Surveys are now being made
WllCu Hpuld UFluS the 6&ip Aur tttb
that sugar section BY way Of the Vol
cano House. In addition 10 the fran
chise now being arranged for. and
which. by the way. Is thought TO be a
mere blind by the HilO Company. a
second charter will be fought for in
the Legislature. and local sugar man
who is reliable. states that Dilliug-
hams visit to the Coast now is in this
The Kau freight Is said TO be worth
over $500 a year 10 the steamship
line; and as trains could earn money
both ways supplies 10 ana sugar from.
il is easily seen that the Hilo people
would be gamers by the Kau feeder.
but Hilo Bay can never equal Keala-
sekua sheltered blight
The rainfall for the last five days
has been II 1-2 inches.