The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-09
SWEPT BY A STORM
Eighty Islands of Society Group Sub.
merged by Tidal Wave.
ONE THOUSAND LIVES LOST
Those Who Survive Are Left Desti-
tute and Starvation Threatens,
HUNDREDS WASHED OUT TO SEA
Those Who Escaped Had TO Climb the
TaIlest COcOaHut Trees.
| THE HEROlSM OF A MOTHER
Relief Ships Sent to Scene But Feared
That Many More VIII Perish Sc
fore They Arrive.
THE HEROlSa OF A MOTHER
Relief Ships Sent to Scene But Feared
That Many More VIII Perish Sc
fore They Arrive.

San Francisco, February S.--More than
1000 persons were killed and eighty islands
of the Society group, In the southern sea-
were devastated January Is by huge
tidal wavc that swept across the island
dotted sea. News Of the disaster was
brought today on the steamer Marlposa
direct from Tahiti
The storm ragged for several days, being
most severe from January u to 1s on
January 10 a tidal wSve. accompanied 10y
terrific hurricane. attacked the Society
Islands and the ruamctu group With fearful
force, carrying death and devastation for
miles before It's towering front
AS the news received at Tahiti up to tho
time OF the sailing OF the MarIposa was
meagcr it is thought that full returns may
swell the death list, It is possible that
hundreds Of bodies were washed out to
sea SO that they may never be accounted
for.
The islanders who survive arc destitute
n food shelter aud clothing Crops have
been destroyed and death threatens the
survivors
Papiet. Tahiti, on Janusry % by the
schooner Eimeo
The captain OF the schooner placed the
fatalities at 500. The steamer Excelsior
arrived Mt Papieti the following day with
400 destitute survivors The captain Of
the Excelsior estimated the total loss of
life at 500 persons. These figures com
prised only the deaths on the three Islands
Of Hao. Hikuera and Makokua, whose to-
! tai population is only 1900 On Hikuera
! Island 1000 inhabitants were engaged 10
pearl diving. Nearly one-half woro
drowned. On an adjacent island 100 more
we're washed out TO sea.
Askokua and Hso are depopulated Con
4seryative estimates at Tahiti place the
number Of islands visited by the tida
wave and hurricane at eighty. All Of then
are under the control of the French gov
crnor at Tahiti
The French governor. upon receipt OF
news Of the disaster, took prompt meas
ures TO relieve the starving survivors. Th
government dispatched two warshps, tb,
Durance and Zeeicc, with fresh water an,
provisions The Italian man OF war Cal
ibrla accompanied the two French vessel
on their errand Of mercy. As the suppl
Of fresh water aud provisions was exhaust
ed by the storm II is feared that man,
lives will be lost before the relief ship
arrive. As far as Is known, eight whit
people we're among tue droWned' lhciuu
ed 10 these were Alexander nrahaeF,
7. Plunkeit OF oaklanu' Nal' !. o. Do'
nelly. formerly a fireman on the steam
ship Australia and the local agent Of c
Coppeurath, a merchant Of Papicti. AIDE
TO this number was woman, who con
mitted suicide from fright.
As the ISLANDS were palcly t"entS -,
nbove sea level ana NOT surrounded ny corr
reefs, It was necessar! Tor an tue inuao
taniS TO take 10 the 'o'o'"ut p'G'S ""'
1 tho tida' wave pD-"n ~,
g These trees arc W. '''' n'-H' noH' WI
climbed tne Stnootu H"uhs " lu' ''''
- trees we're ahoNe the 'l's' u VIZ W.,
. hut all the shorter trees were covered
Z tho raging seas, "n''n swept WIN pln''
force about anu Over '"''" "'''S p"'
]. were lost when inc I"''H % '"' '''''
g trees Fav" way
Z. Tic 400 Survivors drought p9 ING "a
!. sior TO Pap'eh galn'u 'h' snip ''ue NV
J. the hurricane ny swimming three Hno f''
.. miles from the tops OF tue cocosnnt tree
a The Eimeo, although damaged ~ VI
y storm also brought on as many paseenge
Va as could swim to us sac ne r'n.p' I"
h the Excelsior was unable 10 run ciose
10 the shores, because Of inc vioienee OF
{, ocean swells, which continued 70 run
No normally high, deluging tho ISLANDS Tor
In week after the tidal disturbances,
,e other schooner the Gaulos, from Maques
II. Islands, coo miles from Tahiti. encounter
d. the hurricane while on route TO the latt