The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-17
DETAILS OF THE HORROR.
How the. Natives Were Killed OF
Drowned-Many Narrow Escapes.

Correspondence OF the Associated Press.
PAPEETE. March 4, via San Francisco.
March 16.-The latest intelligence relative
TO the hurricane in Tuamotu. or low archi-
pelago. indicates that the fatalities will
number 600. The loss of property will be
$4,000 Relief measures have been insti-
tuted- The hurricane and high water lasted
during Jan. IA, Is and Is At Hikuera 81
deaths occurred, in most instances among
visitors from other islands sojourning there
during the pearl-diving season. From six
other small islands 142 deaths are reported.
In this report there Is no record of the
known dead, and Ii Is believed that the to-
tai number of fatalities in the entire archi-
pelaSo was not less than coo. On the isle
south of Hikuera 262 natives persisted. being
swept into the lagoon and again into the
great sea. The bodies were lacerated ter
ribly by contact with rock coral and debris
of all sorts. Upon some cocoanut trees fell,
manning OF killing them outright or hold
ing them beneath the water. where they
were drowned.
On the night Of Jan. 10, in the darkness
and under driving downpour of rain that
stung faces and naked bodies, parents on
Hikuera island tied their little children
TO their backs and sought safety. But over
their heads rolled the mighty waves and
when the surges retreated the infants and
half drowned boys and girls succumbed.
retain the corpses of their dead, but at
length had to abandon them. They tied
, WEBS w IL, TO sS9oaars trees: some OF
capped. clinging 10 trees or other floating
debris until picked up after many hours.
About twenty natives. including girl.
swan across lagoon and after five or
SIX hours battling with the waves, succeed
ed in landing safely on the leeward side of
Hikuera island Those who persisted In
numerous than those who succeeded. The
sea and the lagoon was as unsafe by
reason of the debris floating on its surface
dc h. IF
the water in most parts OF the island was
from fifteen to twenty feet, but the meeting
OF waves from the outside and those forced
much greater in places.
The gale found the natives weakened
from a virulent form of measles that had
have been spared in the struggle with the
water Those who survived were the ones
who were able to leave the main village
and cross several dangerous low stretches
where the waves washed into the lagoon.
wading neck deep. aiding one another and
holding to debris and gradually withdraw
ing from the danger to a slightly more
elevated section on the north shore.
TOLD BY MORMON ELDERS.
Messrs Scheffield and Allen, elders of the
Mormon church, and Mr.. and Mrs Gilbert,
of the Latter Day Saints mission. In a re-
port to the United States consul give grew
some details of the disaster. The Gilberts
lost one shelter when a cocoanut tree fell.
but secured another in a high stump of
booran tree.
The water. which had all but submerged
them. now reached only their feet The
wind threatened 10 tear them from their
position again and again. and so these
Americans passed that awful night In
the morning the scene OF horror that met
the eyes of those on Hikuera island on every
side was harder TO endure than the terror
OF the night. Corpses friShtfully mutilated
were strewn about and there were living
In some instances only one out OF a family
had survived. Upon the barren reef many
bodies had lodged and as the brown skin
had been scraped off by the coral, the APP
pearance OF these corpses was CHASTITY. Out
on the surface of the deep the sharks were
seen TO devour many bodies while in the
lagoon bodies were floating upon debris
The story OF fatality In Makokau, where
ninety-tve out of every one hundred inhab-
itants persisted, is likewise extremely sad
and so also with regard 10 the other islands
where deaths occurred. Ii Is probable that
one-hfth OF the entire population of the
Tuamotu group succumbed. To aid the in
iured a temporary hospital was constructed
and Or. Brunati. acting administrator of
the group. rendered medical aid. From the
debris was secured tins containing food
stun but most of the food was spoiled
small supply had been taken 10 the highest
ground from store OF a trader who paid
the transporters at a rate OF S. an hour
The cocoanuts were soon exhausted To
eat FISH out OF the sea or lagoon would
doubtless have been suicidal considering
the danger from poison. as there Were
hunureds of corpses floating about in the
water upon which the fish were preying
From drinking brackish water the natives
soon became afflicted with dysentery OF
sixty-six sailboats all but one or two had
been destroyed. and these could not be sent
TO Tahiti. a distance of nearly 400 miles
SUCCORED BY AMERICANS.
About one thousand survivors were In
danger OF starvation or perishing from
thirst or disease. Shelterless. nude. weak
and discouraged. some of the natives be-
came hooters OF their neghbors' goods.
However. on the whole. the order was COM