Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-02-12
FEARFUL Loss Of LIFT.
Huge Tidal Wave and Hurricane
Sweeps Over a Part of the
South Sea Islands.
THE DEAD NUMBER OVER ONE THOUSAND.
storm Lasted Several Days, and
1t Is Feared that Later Reports
VIII Increase the Number-Re-
naming Inhabitants without
Food. Clothing or Shelter.

Food. Clothing or Shelter.
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 Sun
day on the steamer Mariposa, direct
from Tahiti. The loss of life is esti-
mated at 1000 souls. On January -
last a huge tidal ave accompanied
by a terrific hurricane attacked h
Society islands and the Tuamotu
group with fearful force, causing
deaths and devastation never before
eaualed in the land of dreaded storms,
a v%erffication of mans inability to
contend with wind and sea.
The storm reigned several days,
reaching its maximum strength be-
tween January ii and January 10.
From the meager news received ut
Tabita up to the time of the sailing
of the Mariposa it is estimated that
1000 OF the islanders lost their lives.
1t is feared that later adrices will add
to the long list.
First News of Disaster.
The first news of the disaster ar
rived at Papeete. Tahiti. January 20,
on the schooner Eimeo. The captain
of the schooner placed the fatalities
at 500. The steamer Excelsior arrived
at Papeete the following day with
400 destitute survivors. The captain
of the Excelsior estimated the total
loss of life to be 500. These figures
comprised only the deaths on three
islands of Hal, Hikuera and Makokau,
whose ordinary population is l,ooo.
On Hikuera island, where 1,O00 1nhab-
itants were engaged j n pearl diving
nearly one-half were drowned. On an
adjacent island 100 more were washed
out to sea. Makeno and Hao are de-
populated. Conservative estimates at
Tahiti place the number of islands
visited by tidal wave and hurricane
at so. All of them are under the con
troll of the French governor at faint.
The surviving inhabitants are left
destitute of food, shelter and cloth
ing, all having been swept away by
the storm.
Aid for the Sufferers.
The French government, upon the
receipt of news of the disaster, took
Drompt measures to relieve the dis
tressed district, and dispatched two
warships, the Duranee and Zelee, with
fresh water and provisions. The ltal-
ian man-of-war Catabria accompanies
the two French vessels on their er-
rand of mercy. As the supply OF fresh
water and provisions was totally eN-
hausted by the storm it is feared tina
MANY lives will be lost before the re-
lief ships arrive.
As far as known eight white people
are among the drowned. Included
among them were Alexander Bran
der; \. p. Plunkett. of Oakland; L
d.. Donnelly, formerly a fireman on
the steamship Australia, and the locaI
agent of c.. Coppenrath, a merchant oil
Papeete. Added to this number was
an unknown woman, who committed
suicide from fright.
Refuge in C9cOanut Trees.
As the islands were barely twenty
feet above the sea level, and
ed Nv coral reefs, it was necessary Tor
FL inhabitants to take to the cocoa
nut 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 rag
inc seas. which swept with pltlless
force about and over them. The ma
tiyes in the smaller trees were safe
until the ~cocoanut roots gave way
and they too were then swept onward
far out into the sea.
The 400 survivors brought by the
Excelsior to Papeete gained the ships
side by swimmingthree and four mile
2rom the tops of cocoanut trees. The
Eimeo, though badly damaged by the
storm, also brought off as many per
sons as could swim to her side. she
like the Excelsior, being unable tt
II close to the shores because OF thu
fearful violence of the ocean sWell
which continued to run abnormall.
hieh for a week after the tidal dis
t%urbances.
The Damage Vas Great.
Among the passengers on the Mari
posa was G. w. Waterbury, formerl.
Of Chicago who was in that portion