The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-09
TIDAL wave.
It Sweeps Over the South Sea
Islands
Carrying Death and Destruction
on Huge Scale.
A THOUSAND DROWNED.
Inhabitants Compelled to Climb
Trees for Safety.
These Places of Refuge Washed
Out by the Roots.

San Francisco, Feb 9.-News of a fear
full loss of life in a destructive storm
that swept over the South Sea islands
last month reached here on the steamer
Mariposa, direct from Tahiti.
The loss Of life is estimated at 1000
souls.
On January 10 last huge tidal wave,
accompanied by terrific hurricane. at
tackled the Society islands and the Pua-
motu group with fearful force, causing
death and devastation never be 9re
equaled in a land OF dreadful storms
The storm reigned- several days,reach-
ing its maximum strength between jan
uary "a and7ganuary Is. From the mea-
ger news received at Tahiti up to the
time of the sailing of the AIariposa, it is
estimated that 1000 of the islanders lost
their lives. It is feared that later ad-
vices will add to the long list.
The first news of the disaster arrived
at Papeete, Tahiti. January 26, on the
schooner Elmo. The captain of the
schooner placed the fatalities at 500
The steamer Excelsior arrived at Pa
peete the following day with 400 desti-
tute survivors. The captain of the Ex-
celsior estimated the total loss of life to
be 500. These figures comprised only
the deaths on the three islands of HaO,
I4ikuera and Makokao. whose ordinary
population is 500. on Hikuera island.
where 1 900 inha bitants We're engaged in
pearl diving nearly one-half were
drowned. On an adjacent island 100
more were washed out to sea- Mako
kao and Hao are depopulated. Con-
servative estimates at Tahiti place the
number OF islands visited by the tidal
wave and hurricane at So All of them
are under the control OF the french
governor at Tahiti.
The surviving inhabitants are left
destitute of food. shelter and clothing,
all having been swept away by the
storm.
The French government, upon receipt
of news of the disaster, took prompt
measures to relieve the distressed dis
trict and dispatched two Warsh1pS, the
Duranee and Zelee, with fresh water
and provisions. The Italian nlan-Of-
war Calabria accompanied the two
French vessels on their errand OF
mercy As the supply of fresh water
and provisions was totally exhausted
by the storm it is feared that many
lives viii be lost before the relief ships
arrive.
As far as is known eight white peo-
pie We're among. the drowped. Included
in these We're AlexandeF Rrander, N.
P Plunket, of Oakland, T. D. Don
nelly, formerly d fireman on the steam
ship Australia, and the local agent Of
-
Added to this number was an unknown
woman, who committed suicide from
fright
AS the islands are barely twenty feet
above sea level. and not surrounded by
coral reefs, it was necessary for all 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 al
titude of 100 feet All the lower trees
were covered by the raging seas, which
swept with pitiless force about and over
them. The natives in the taller trees
were safe until the cocoanuts' roots
gave way. and then they, too, were
swept onward far out into the sea.
The 400 survivors brought by the Ex-
celsior to Papeete gained the ships side
by swimming three or four miles from
the tops of the cocoanut trees. The
Eimeo though badly damaged by the
storm also brought off as many per
sons as could swim to her sides, she,
like the Excelsior, being unable to run
close to the shores because of the fear
full violence of the ocean swells, which
continued to run abnormally
high for week after the
tidal disturbances Another schooner,
the Gaulois. from the Maquesan islands,
500 miles from Tahiti. encountered the
hurricane while en- route to the latter
place and only the timely action of the
captain in having the cargo. consisting