The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-02-25
Eighty Of the South Sea Isl
andS Devastated and
~ . 81.
1000 Lives Lost i
SEA MANY MILES INLAND
Surviving Inhabitants Left Destitute
Of Food, Shelter and Clothing
light White People
Pe.;shed.

San Francisco. CaL.-News Of q fear.
full loss Of life in q destructive storm
that swept over the South Sea Islands
last month reached here by the steam
er Mariposa direct from Tahiti. The
loss Of life Is estimated at 1000 persons.
On January Is last q huge tidal wave.
accompanied by a terrific hurricane.
attacked the Society Islands and the
Puamoto group with fearful force.
causing death and devastation never
before equalcd in q land Of dreaded
storms. ,
The storm ragged for several days.
reaching its maximum strength be-
tween January II and 10. From the
meagre news received at Tahiti up to
the time the vessel sailed 1t IL esti-
mated that 1000 Of the islanders lost
their lives. It Is feared that later ad-
vices will increase this number.
The first news Of the diseaster
reached Papeeta. Tahiti January Is,
by the schooner Eimeo. The captain
placed the fatalities ut 500. The steam
er Excelsior arrived at Papeete the
following day with 400 destitute sur
vivors. The captain Of the Excelsior
estimated the total loss Of life to be
800. -
These figures comprised only the
deaths on the three islands Of Hao.
Hikuera and Makokan, whose ordi-
nary population Is 1900. On Hikuera
Island. where 1000 inhabitants were
engaged In pearl diving. nearly one.
half were drowned. On an adjacent
island 100 more were washed out to
sea. Makokan and Hao are depopu-
lated.
The number Of islands visited by the
tidal wave Is placed at eighty. The
surviving inha bitants are left destitute
Of food. shelter. and clothing. all hav-
ing been swept away by the storm.
The French Government, upon re-
ceipt Of news Of the disaster. took
prompt measures to relieve the dis
tressed districts. and dispatched two
war ships with fresh water and provi-
slons. The Italian man-of!war Gala
brIa accompanied the French vessels
on their errand Of mercy. As the sup
ply OF fresh water and provisions was
totally exhausted by the storm It Is
feared that many lives will he lost be.
fore the relief ships can arrive.
AS far as Is known eight white peo-
pie were among the drowned. lnclud-
ed in these were Alexander Brander,
NJ. 2. Plunkett, Of Oakland; T. d. Dom
nelly. formerly q fireman on the steam
err Australia. and the local agent OF @.
Coppenrath. a merchant OF Papeete.
Added to this number was an unknown
woman, who committed suicide from
fright. ,
As the islands were barely twenty
feet above sea level. and were not sur.
rounded by coral reefs. IL was neces-
q for all Of the Inhabitants to take
TO the cocoanut trees WHEN the tidal
wave began to cover the land. These
trees grow to an immense height. many
reaching an altitude Of 100 feet. All
Of the lower trees were covered by
the raging seas. which swept with pitt
less force about and over them. The
natives In the taller trees were safe
until the cocoanut roots gave way. and
then, they, too, were swept into the
sea.
The O survivors brought by d
Excelsior to Papeete gained the ships
side by swimming three and four miles
from the tops Of the cocoanut trees.
The Eimeo. though badly damaged by
the storm. also brought of as many
persons as could swim to her sides.
she, like the Excelsior. being unable
to run close to the shores because OF
tine violence OF the ocean swells. which
continued to run abnormally high for
q week after the tidal disturbances.
Thousands Of tons OF copra and more
than 200 tons of mother Of pearl shells
are known to have been lost. The pearl
shells are valued at $500 per ton. and
many valuable pearls may now be lost
to the world forever. as these were
considered some Of the best pearl ISL
andS in the world.