Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-02-12
THE WORST STORM KNOWN
FURY IUNE0UALED WHERE HURRICANES
ARE FREQUENT.
PROPERTY LOSS is GREAT
Entire Population of Many Communities IA
Swept TO Sea and Passing Boats Pick
Up Hundreds

San Francisco. Feb. 9.-News OF
fearful loss of life in destructive
storm that swept over the South Sea
Islands last month, reached here to-
day on the steamer Mariposa direct
from Tahiti. The loss of life is esti-
mated at one Thousand souls. On
January %, last, huge tidal wave
accompanied 10y terrific hurricane,
attacked the Society islands and the
PuamOtO group with fearful force
causing death and devastation never
befure equalled in that land OF dread
ed storms.
The storm Teigncd several days,
reaching its maximum strength be-
tween January II and January l6.
From the meager news received at
'Gihiti up to the time Of the sailing
of the Mariposa it is estimated that
one thousand of the islanders lost
their lives. 1t is feared that. later
advices Will add to the list.
The first news Of the disaster ar
rived at Papeete, Tahiti, January 26,
on the schooner Elmo. The captain
of the schooner placed the fatalities
at five hundred. The steamer Ex-
celsior arrived at Papcete the follow
ing Gay with 400 destitute survivors.
The captain Of the Excelsior esti-
mated the total loss Of life to he 500.
These figures comprised only the
deaths on the three islands of Hao,
Hikuera and MakOkan whose ordi.
nary population is 1900. on Hiliucr-
ka island, where LOO inhabitants
were engaged in pearl diving early
one-hali were drowned On an ada
cent islandsl0O more were washed out
to sea. Makokan and lIao are depup-
ulaJed. Conservative estimates at
TIhit 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 inhabitants are left
destitute of food, shelter and cloth
ing, all having been swept away 10y
the storm.
Ihe French government upon re-
ceipt Of news of the disaster took
prompt measures to relieve the dis
tressed district and dispatched two
warships, the Durauee and Ielee, with
fresh water and provisions. The
Italian man Of war Caldbria accom-
panied the two French vessels on
their errand of mercy As the supply
of fresh water and provisions was
totally exhausted by the storm it is
feared 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 RrandeI, n.
p. Plunkett of Oakland. T. d. Don
nelly, formerly fireman on the
steamship Austrial aud the local
agent Of @. COpuenrath, merchant
of Papeete. Added to this number
was an unknown woman. who com
mltted suicide from fright.
AS the islands were barely twenty
feet above sea level and not sur
rounded by coral reefs, it was neces-
sary for all the inhabitants to take
to the cocoa nut tree 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 raging seas which
swept 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.
The four hundred survivors brought
by the Excelsior to Papeete gained
the ships side by swimming three
and four miles from the tops of the
cocOanut trees. The Elmo, though
badly damaged by the storm, also
brought OFF as many persons as could
swim to her sides She, like the Ex-
GELS ioT, being unable to run close to
the shores because OF the fearful vic
Iencce Of the ocean swells, which CON
tinued to run abnormally high for
week after the tidal disturbances.
Another schooner, the Gauois. from
the Maquesan island, GOO miles from
TAHITI, encountered the hurricane
while en- route to the latter place
and only timely action Of the caplainI
in having the cargo JpttiS7ned, SavGdI
The little craft from destruction.