The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-02-12
SWEPT BY A WAVE
Eighty Islands Swept By a Terrible
Hurricane
1000 LIVES ARE REPORED AS LOST
Death md Devastation Sweep Over
the Islands of the Pacific, and Ter
rible Consequences Ensue.

fearful loss OF life in Il disastrous storm
which swept over the South Sea ISL
ahuS last month, reached here Sunday
Dy TN" steamer MaripoSa. direct from
Iahita. The loss of life Is estimated az
l,ooo persons. On January l3 last. "A
huge tidal wave, accompanied by a ter
flnc hurricane, attacked the Society
Islands and the puamotu group with
fearful force causing death and dcyas-
tation never before rqualcd in a land
OF great storms. The storm ragged scv-
cral days. From the news received M
to the time OF the sailing OF thr stcum-
ef, IT Is estimated that 900 OF the ISL
andcrS lost their lives 1t is feared that
later adviccS will increase this number.
The first news of the disaster reached
Papcctc, Tahiti, January 26. by the
schooner EimeO. The captain OF the
schooned placed the fatalities at 900.
The steamer Excelsior arrived at Pa
peete the following day with AGO dcSti-
tutc survivors. The captain of the EX-
celSor estimated the total loss Of life
to be 500. These figures rOmpSiscd only
the deaths on the three islands of IIao.
ftlkucra and Makokaa. whose ordinary
population is l.S0O. On Hikurra Island
where 900 inhabitants were engaged
i'll pearl diving. nearly Onc-half were
drowned. On an adja 'cnt island. 1000
more were washed out to sea. MakOkan
and HaO are depopulatcd. Conservative
estimates ut Tahita place the number
Of islands visited Ey the tidal wave and
hurricane at 80. An Of them are under
the control of the French governor at
Tahita. The surviving inhabitants are
left destitute" Of food. shelter and cloth
ing. all having been swept away by The
storm.
The French government. on receipt
Of news Of the disaster, took prompt
measures to relieve the distressed dis
tricts and dispatched two warships
with fresh water and provisions. AS the
supply of fresh water and provisions
was totally exhausted by the storm. il
is feared that many lives will be lost
before the relief ships can arrive. AS
fas as is known eight white people
were among the drowned. Included in
these were Alexander Brandcr. n. p.
Plunkett, Of Oakland: II. ID. DonncIly.
formerly fireman ON the steamship
Australia. and the local agent Of G..
Coppenrath. a merchant of Papcctc.
Added to this number was an unknown
woman who committed suicide from
fright.
AS the islands were barely 20 feet
above sea level and were not sur
rounded by coral reefs, it was neces-
sary for all inhabitants to take to the
cOcOanut trees when the tidal wave be
gan 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 with pitiloss force about
and over them. The natives in the tall
CT trees were safe until the cOcoanut
roots gave way and then they. too,
were swept out into the sea. The 400
survivors brought by the Excelsior to
Papcete gained the :ihi p'S side by swim
ming three and four miles from thctorS
OF the cocOanut trees. The EcmO,
though badly damaged by the storm,
was also brought off as many persons
as could swim to her side. she. like the
Excelsior, being unable TO run close to
the shores because OF the violence Of
the ocean swell. which continued to
run abnormally i.i2h for a week after
the tidal disturbances. Another
schooner. the GaulOiS. from tho Mar
pucsan Islands. COO miles away. en-
countcred the hurl :canc while on the
way to the latter place and only the
timely action OF the captain in having
the cargo, consisting Of 30 head OF cat
tlc 35 pigs and 30 tons Of cotton. jet
tisoncd saved the little craft from de-
struction. Even with this prccaution,
the life Of ono man was lost by waves
sweeping the decks.