Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-09
A THOUSAND
LIVES ARE LOST
In Destructive Storm That Swept
Over South Sea Islands,
DEATH AND DEVASTATION,
We're Never BEFORE EquaIed In That
Region OF Hurricanes Surviving
Inhabitants Left Very Destitute,

San Francisco, Feb. S,--News Of a
fearful loss Of HE in a destructive
storm that swept over the South Sea
islands last month reached here today
on the steamer Marlposa direct from
Tahiti The loss Of lie Is estimated at
LOCO souls on Jan 10 last huge
tidal wave, accompanied by a terrific
hurricane, attacked the Society islands
and the Tuamotu group with fearful
force, causing death and devastation
never before equalej in a land Of
dreaded storms. a yerincation Of mans
inability to contend with wind and sea
The storm ragged several days
reaching It's maximum strength bee
tween Jan. "A ard Jan. IS. From the
meager adyices received at Tahiti up
to the time of sailing Of the Mariposa,
It Is estimated that at least 1000 OF the
islands inhabitants lost their lives.
II Is feared that later advlces VIII add
TO the long list
The first news Of the disaster arrived
at papeetc. Tahiti Jan &C. on the
schooner Eimeo. The captain Of the
schooner placed the fatalities at 900.
The steamer Excelsior arrived at Pa
pcete the following day with 400 destl-
tute survivors. The captain OF the
Excelsior estimated the total loss OF
life at 500 These figures comprised
only the deaths on the three islands OF
llao, Hikucra ana Makokau, whose or
binary population Is lS0O,
On Hikuera island, where 1000 inhab-
itants We're engaged IN pearl diving,
nearly one-h half We're drowned on an
adjacent island 100 more were washed
out 20 sea. Makokau and llao are de,
populated, Conservative estimates at
Tahiti place the number of islands Wis
tied by the tidal wave and hurricane at
eighty. All of them are under the COM
troll OF the French governor at Tahiti.
The surviving inhabitants are left des-
titute Of food, shelter and clothing all
having been swept away by the storm.
The French government, upon re-
ceipt OF news Of the disaster took
prompt measures TO relieve the dis
tiessed district aud dispatched Two
warships the Duranee ana Eclee, with
fresh water and provisions. The ltal-
ian mnn-of-war CaAhria accompanied
the two French vessels on their errand
Of mercy AS the supply of fresh water
and provisions was totally exhausted
by the storm. II il feared that many
lives will be lost before the relief ships
arrive
As far as Is known eight white peO-
pie were among the drowned, Includ-
ed these We're Alexander Brander. y.
I. Pmnkett OF Oakland, T. Donnelly,
formerly a fireman on the 'teamship
Australia, and the local agent Of q.
Coppenrath, a merchant Of papeete.
Added TO this number is an unknown
woman, who committed suicide from
fright
As the islands were barely 20 feet
above sea level and not surround
cd by coral reefs, It was necessary for
all the inhabitants to take TO the cocoa
nut trees when the tidal waves 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 raging seas,
which swept with pitiless force about
and over them. The natives in the
taller trees were safe until the cocoa
nut roots began to give way and then
they. too, We're swept onward, far out
into the sea.
The 400 survivors brought by the EX-
celsior 20 Papeete gained the ships side
by swimming three and four miles from
the tops Of the c0acoanut trees. The
Fimeo, though badly disabled by the
storm, also brought or rs many persons
as could swim to her sides, she Ike the
Excelsior, being unable to run close 10
the shores. because Of the Fearful vlo-
lence of the ocean swells, which con-
tinued to run abnormaliy nigh for a
week after the tidal disturbances.
Another schooner the Gauloise, from
the Marquesas Islands, 600 miles from
Tahiti. encountered the hurricane while
en- route TO the latter place and only
| the timely action OF the captain In hav-
ing the cargo. consisting OF 81 head
| OF cattle 30 pigs 80 tons Of
cotton. iettlsoned saved the lit
| tie craft from destruction. Even with
this precaution. the life OF one man was
lost by waves sweeping the decks.
one Of the many acts OF heroism re-
ported rs that OF woman. who climbed
one Of the tan coc0anut trees and
dashed her little babe to the branches,
hanging on 20 the body OF the tree be-
meath the little one as best she could,
There they remained FOR 10 hours suf-
fering great torture untu finally res
cued.
Thousands OF tons OF coprn and over
200 tons OF mother ~ pearl shells IRE
known TO be lost. The pearl shells are
valued at 81 500 per ton, and many yalu-
able pearls may now be lost TO the
world forever. as these were considered
some OF the best peal Islands In the
world.