The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-09
ONE THOUSAND PERSONS
SWEPT into THE SEA
Fearful Loss of Life Caused by Huge
Tidal Wave That Struck the
Society Islands.
Terrific Hurricane Ragged Several Days, Leaving
Death and Devastation in Its Wake.

San Francisco. Feb. s.-News of a
fearful loss of life, in a destructive
storm, which swept over the South Sea
Islands last month, reached here to-
day by the steamer Mariposa, direct
from Tahiti. The loss of life is esti-
mated at 1000 persons.
On Jan. 10, last, a huge tidal wave.
ACCOMPANIED by a terrific hurricane,
attacked the Society Islands, and the
Tuamotu group, with fearful force,
causing death and devastation never
before equalled in a land of dreaded
storms.
The storm ragged several days, reach
ing it's maximum strength between
Ian. IA and Jan. 16. From the meager
news received at Tahiti. up to the time
Of the sailing of the Mariposa, it is es-
timated that 1000 of the islanders lost
their lives. 1t is feared that later adj
vices will increase this number.
The first news of the disaster reach
ed Papeiti, Tahiti, Jan. 26, by the
schooner Eimeo. The captain of the
schooner placed the fatalities at 5OO'
The steamer Excelsior arrived at Pa
neiti the following day with 400 desti-
tute survivors. The captain of the Ex-
celsior estimated the total loss of life
to be 800.
These figures comprised only the
deaths on the three islands of Hao, HI
kuera and Makokan, whose ordinary
population is 1900. On Hfkuera Island
where 1000 inhabitants were engaged
in pearl diving, nearly one-half were
drowned. On an adjacent island 100
more were washed out to sea.
Makakan and Hao are depopulated'
Conservative estimates at Tahiti place
the number of islands visited by tldal
waves and hurricane at eighty. All Oh
them are under control of the French
Governor at Tahiti.
The surviving inhabitants are le1t
aos+i+u+a of food. shelter and clothing,
all having been swept away by the
storm.
americans Were Drowned.
rho urench government, upon re-
caint of news of the disaster, took
,ro,,nt measures to relieve the dis
+ressed districts, and dispatched TWO
warships with fresh water and pro-
visions The Italian man-of-war Gala
bria accompanied the 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 can
arrive. AS far as is known eight White
people were among the drowned.
Included in these were Alexander
Brander, N. P. Plunkett of Oakland'
r. n. Donnelly, formerly firemen on
the steamship Australia, and the local
agent Of c. Coppenrath, merchant
of Papeiti. Added to this number was
an unknown woman who committed
suicide from fright.
As the islands were barely twenty
feet above the sea level and were not
surrounded by coral reefs, 1t was
necessary for all 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 altitude of 100 feet
All of the lower trees were covered
by the raging seas, which swept with
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 out into the
sea.
Survivors Swan Miles.
The 400 survivors brought by the Ex-
celsior to Papeiti 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, 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 VIC
lence of the ocean swells. which con-
tinued to run abnormally high for a
week after the tidal disturbances.
Another schooner, the Gaulois, from
the Marquesas Islands. 900 miles from
Tahiti, encountered the hurricane
while on the way to the latter place
and only the timely action Of the cap