The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-19

After a sudden chilling of the air
about IL o'clock yesterday morning.
heavy clouds surcharged with rain fell
upon the peak on the Eva side OF the
Pail. and bursting. sent a roaring tor
rent OF water down through the valley
past the reservoirs. filling the main
stream until when 1t reached the Nuu-
anu bridge near Hobron's place, it had
risen several feet. overlooking the
banks and sending it's surplus down
Nuuanu street as far as the Honolulu
hotel. The cIoud-burst was preceded
by series of thunder ciaps. but there
was no warning OF such a flood de-
scending from the heavy masses OF
clouds which rolled citywards over the
range OF mountains at the Pail. until
ing down through the stream at a rate
described as faster than a horse can
gallop. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
and the damage done is mostly from
the flooding OF few buildings and the
loss OF the contents of poultry yards
and coops. The freshet was similar to
that which occurred on March "a. 1898.
and not March IS, as stated in the Bull,
letin- One life was lost at that time.
The record OF the rain gauge at Lau-
kaha, Nuuanu valley, from 1 a. m. 10
noon yesterday indicates the severity
OF the descent of the torrent The fig
ures supplied by Government Meteor
Oiogist Lyons OF the rainfall at Luaka-
ha are as follows:
Inches.
From 1 a IN. to = a. IN. .5.15
From a. m to IL n m. -......--.2
From IL a m. to 1850 a. m. ........5.55
Making a total of ........127 20
This covers a period of about Il
hours. The rainfall of $50 inches in 50
minutes crowns the record for Homo
lulu. Prof. Lyons states that such a
cIOudburst came from a sudden chilling
OF the atmosphere during north wind
which was then blowing. The warmer
atmosphere, full OF moisture. in rising
met the cold current above. This con-
densed the vapOr in the air and shortly
after precipitated IL upon the mountain
side.
About 4 o'clock yesterday morning
there was a cloudburst in about the
same place, but more on Konahuanui
Before any damage could be done to
the reservoirs or dams. the water was
switched over into the stream, and no
damage was reported during either
freshet by Watermaster Brown. The
made two trips up the val
ley. one shortly after 4 o'clock in the
morning, and again at noon. He found
no damage except where rush of wa
IN,
a few places
When the torrent from the second
reached Nuuanu bridge il
was the first intimation that the resi-
dents thereabouts had OF the danger.
The cuIyert beneath the bridge is mar
row and thefwaters were crowded back
until they rose to- a great height in
few minutes, overlooking property on
the lower 'bank. The restraining wall
which partially obstructs a free flow OF
the water before il reaches the cUlvert, ,
caused the waters to surge with ter
rife force toward the lower and unpro- !
tected side Through the property it
rushed until the floors OF the cottages ,
were awash. Chicken coops and every,
thing movable lying on OF near the
ground were carried of like straws. ,
The Chinese store at the corner OF Nuu-
anu avenue and Pauoa road received
the greatest damage. being filed with !
two feet OF water and mud. and every !
thing on the floor and within reach OF $
the water was injured The torrent
swept through and around the store
and down Nuuanu street at great
rate. overhOwing property on the Wal Z
Ixi<i side OF the street Several places I
were inundated At School street the {
waters were kept from continuing -
much further down Nuuanu street.