Evening journal., 1903-02-09
1000 PERSONS
ARE DROWNED
Tidal Wave Swept Over
Eighty of the South Sea
Islands
WERE COMPLETELY INUNDATED
Natives Were Compelled to Take to
cocoanut Trees When Water Gov.
cred the Land-survivors Destitute
Of Food. Shelter and Clothing.

Of Food. Shelter and Clothing.
San Francisco, Feb. 9.-News Of a
fearful loss of life in a destructive
storm that swept over the South Sea
Islands last month reached here yes
terday by the steamer Mariposa direct
from Tahiti. The loss of life is esti-
mated at 1000 persons. On January
13 last a huge tidal wave, accom-
panied by a terrific hurricane, at
tackled the Society Islands and the
Tuomotu group with fearful force,
causing death and devastation never
before equalled in a land Of dreaded
storms.
The storm ragged several days,
reaching its maximum strength be
tween January IA and January 16.
From the meager details received at
Tahiti up to the time the vessel sailed
it is estimated that 1000 Of the
islanders lost their lives. II is feared
that later advices will increase this
number.
The first news of the disaster reach
ed Papeeta. Tahiti. January 26 by the
schooner Eimeo. The captain of the
schooner placed the fatalities at 500.
The steamer Excelsior arrived at Pa
peeta the following day with 400 des-
titute survivors. The captain Of the
Excelsior estimated the total loss Of
life to be 500. On Hikuera Island,
where 1000 inhabitants we're engaged
in pearl diving, nearly one-half were
drowned. On an adjacent island 100
more were washed out to sea.
The number Of islands visited by the
tidal wave is placed at so. The sur
viving inhabitants are left destitute
Of food, shelter and clothing. all nav
ing been swept away by the storm.
AS the islands were barely 20 feet
: above sea level and we're not sur
rounded by coral reefs, it was neces
sary for all the inhabitants TO take tc
the cocoanut trees when the tida
wave began to cover the land. These
trees grow to an immense height, many
reaching an altitude of 100 feet AL
of the lower trees were covered by the
raging seas which swept with pitiles.
force about and over them. The ma
tives in the taller trees were safe un
til the cocoanut roots gave way. ant
then they too were swept out into the
sea.
! The 400 survivors brought by th'
Excelsior to Papeeta gained the ships
side by swimming three and four miles
from the tops of the cocoanut trees
The Eimeo, though badly damaged b.
the storm, also brought or as man!
i persons as could swim to her sides
She like the Excelsior, being unable
to run close to the shores because o
the violence Of the ocean swells, wLicl
continued to run abnormally high 70
a week after the tidal disturbances.
One of the many acts of heroism re
ported is that of a woman who climbel
one of the tall cocoanut trees an
lashed her babe to the branches, hams
ing to the body of the tree beneat
the little one as best she could. Their
they remained for 10 hours, sufferin
great torture, until finally rescued
Thousands of tons of cOpra and NOR
! Alldu -UN Allc vi lA0AANl vi pearl oAANAA
are known to have been lost TIL
+ pearl shells are valued at s1,S0O pc
} ton. and many valuable pearls ma
[ now be lost TO the world forever a
these were considered some of the bes
e pearl islands in the world.
The French government upon r.
ceipt of the disaster, took promr
measures TO relieve the distressed di
4 tricts and dispatched two warship
with fresh water and provisions. TIL
r. Italian man-of-war Calabria accompal
e led the French vessels on their erran
of mercy. AS the supply Of fresh WI
ter and provisions was totally e,
hausted by the storm, it is feared tbs
! many lives will be lost before the r
lief ships can arrive. As far as
. known, eight white people wei
. among the drowned.