Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-03-18
Hlormons Tell
OF Tidal Wave
How Swpf Hundreds Into The Ocean and Carried Them 10
Their Doom Thrilling Escapes, Terrific Suffering and
Pathetic Scenes Detailed Sfosy of The AufM Disaster
Written For Deseset Neus Readers by Utah Men,

Ine disaster on the IuamOtu group or
the Society islands, in which Elders
Sheffield and Allen Of the Mormon
Church had such a remarkable expert
lrye, and from which they barely eG-
capped with their lives, " thus described
by them in a letter to the Deseret News
received from Papeete, Tahiti, today.
The missionaries were labonng on the
island of Hikueru. which is a small, low
island about eight miles in length, ol
coral formation and having very little
aoil, AS to conditions there a the time
Of the tidal wave Elders Sheffield and
Allen say
STORY OF THE STORM.
'The city had been made to look very
beautiful having three government
buildings In it made of coral rock
many very fine frame houses. and sew
elal places OF business, arranged IN
such a manner as 10 present a good
appearance. with four church edihces,
cnr each belonging to the Catholics,
protestants, Josephites, and the Lat
fine trees were very numerous upon all
parts where there was soil and iu the
remote places an underbrush grew.
ION The morning of Wednesday Jan
IT, 1903, We We're comfortably located
H. cur neat four-roomed dwelling house
In Hikuem Little did We think thai
danger threatened rs when az 10 a. m
q northeastrriy wind began TO blow
cutie nyrcoy. bringing rain with It and
causing thy sea to rise 90 great
heights. The island being not more
than 90 feet above sea level afforded
but little protection to It's inhabitants.
Al ] p. m. the sea commenced to roll
over the land Coursing 10 the lagoon
inside In SINAI! riyulets. II increased
.iu volume as the hours passed on, when
at D. m several buildings We're car.
led away being broken into fragments
boy the mighty waves Houses nearest
the sea which were not carried away
were filed with water. making il im-
possible for the occupants TO remain in
them. They were deserted and the peo-
pie took refuge on the eeWard side
Of the island or lower part Of the city
Along about D. m. the sea and
storm Gained slightly, the sea only
feeding the land occasionally My
companion and cleaned the rubbish
away from our house thinking that we
might be able to save It. At 9 p. m
We retired and slept soundly while the
wind blew and the rain battered on the
roof
AWAKENED BY THE SEA,
At a. m. Thursday. Jan. Is, we
were awakened by the sea splashing
and dashing against our house. We
arose hastily and proceeded to clear
away the rubbish which had lodged
against IT, thereby making a pathway
for the waves TO pass under the house
which was built upon coral rock pill
lars Some Of the traders whose build.
ings had been damaged had their goods
removed TO the large stone building be.
longing 10 the government which an
thought would not be molested one
trader paid S. an hour TO natives to
remove his goods to a hut on the lee
ward side OF the island
DISTRESSING SCENE.
The storm increased in volume as the
hours passed along. the sea growing |
rCugher ana the waves higher carrying
away building after building and bring
ing sorrow 10 the hearts Of the people.
They could be seen shiyerng Wadmg
along with small bundles Of clothes UNI
der their arms mothers with their in
fants trying TO shelter them from the
wind. rain and raging sea. fathers with |
their children tugsing through the |
briny waves, as they rolled over the |
land. others with their sick wives, who |
but a few days before had given prema- /
ure birth 10 children on account Of the |
measles; others who were still covered |
with measles were compelled To arise /
from their beds Of affection and fee for |
life or run into death as the case might |
be. The wind was constantly on the I
change. blowing a gale an the while. I
II moved from the northeast around 10 I
the south and By j., m, was blowing |
terrlhcally II was this wind that in !
creased the horrors Of the people as & /
caused the lagoon 10 become almost |
as angry and rough as tAe great sea, |
which was still Increasing with rage, /
and was now flooding over the land at
the city five feet IN depth.
HOUSE STRUCK BY WAVE
At this juncture our house was
struck by q mountainous wave, throw.
ing It from It's foundation, and smash.
Ing It almost to pieces, We could do
no other than jump for our lives. The
moment we struck water we were turn.
ca head over heels. being carried along
az high rate of speed. ELDER shei-
field landed in a garden and climbed
w cocoanut tree In a hurry. During
the time Of my being carried along FL
der Allen had come In contact with a
tree, which he climbed. one may mag !