Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-11
AWFUL TIDAL WAVE.
Accompanied by Hurricane It Sweeps
Society Islands.
OVER ONE THOUSAND NATIVES LOST.
Inhabitants Forced to Seek Refuge
in Tall Trees-Eighty Islands
Devastat edl-Ferrible Story of
Death and Ruin.

Devastatedl-Terrib Story of
Death and Ruin.
San Francisco, Feb 9.-News of fear
full loss Of life in, destructive storm
that swept over the South Sea islands
last month reached here Sunday by
the steamer Mariposa direct from
Tahiti. The loss of life is estimated
at 1000 souls. On January 10 last
huge tidal wave, accompanied by ter
rifle hurricane, attacked the Society ISL
ands and the Puamotu group with fear
full force, causing death and devasta-
ton never before equalled in land Of
dreaded storms. The storm reigned
several days, reaching its maximum
strength between January IA and Jan
uary 16. From the meager news re-
ceived at Tahiti up to the time of the
sailing of the Mariposa it is estimated
mat l,O0O of the islanders lost their
Lives. 1t is feared that later advices
will add to the list
Eighty Islands Devastated.
The first news of the disaster arrived
at Papeete, Tahiti, january 26, 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 800. These figures COM
prised only the deaths on the three
islands of Hao, Hikuera and Makokau,
whose ordinary population is 1900
On Hikuera island, where 1000 inha BIZ
tants were engaged in pearl diving,
nearly one-half were drowned. On an
adjacent island 100 more were washed
out to sea. Makeno and Hao are de-
populated. Conservat tive estimates at
Tahiti place the number of islands
visited by tidal wave and hurricane at
so. All Of them are under the control
of the French governor at Tahiti The
surviving inha bitants are left desti-
tute of food. shelter and clothing, all
having been swept away by the storm.
Relief Measures.
The French government upon re-
ceipt of news of the disaster, took
prompt measures to relieve the dis
1ressed district and dispatched two
wa1'ships, the Duranee and Zelee, with
fresh water and provisions. The
Italian man of war Calabria accom-
panied the two French vessels on their
errand of mercy. AS the supply of
fresh water and provisions was totally
q tpI NV o. -
that many lives will be lost before the
relief ships arrive.
AS far as is known eight white people
were among the drowned Included
in these were Alexander Brander, n.
P. Plunkett, of Oakland; T. D. Don
nelly, formerly fireman on the steam
ship Australia, and the local agent of
c. Coppenrath, mercha MT, of Papeete.
Added to this number was an unknown
woman who committed suicide from
fright.
Sought Refuge in Trees.
AS the islands were barely 20 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 of the lower
trees were covered by the raging sea,
which swept with pjtiless force about
and over them. The natives in the taller
trees were safe until the cocoanut
roots gave way and then they, too,
were swept onward far out into the
sea.
Swim to Ships.
The 400 survivors brought by the
Excelsior to Papeene gained the ships
side by swimming three and four miles
from the tops of the cocoanut trees.
The Eimeo, though badly daMaged by
the storm, brought off az many persons
as could swim to her sides, she, like the
Excelsior, being unable to run close to
the shores because of the fearful vio-
lence of the ocean swells.
One of the many acts of heroism re-
ported is that of woman who climbed
one of the tall cocoanut trees and
dashed her little babe to the branches,
hanging onto the body of the tree be-
meath the little one as best she could.
There they remained for ten hours, suf-
fering great torture until finally res
cued.
Thousands of tons of copra and over
200 tons of mother of pearl shells are
known to be lost. The pearl shells are
valued at 81 800 per ton, and many valu-
able pearls may now be lost to the
world forever, as these were consid-
cred some of the best pearl islands in
the world.