The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-05

damaged. Captain Bemali had to aban-
don his home with lis family on ac-
count of the rush Of waters. Another
American, Edward Fritchs was washed
out.
The substitute guardian at the quar-
antine station at MotaEta island, Pa
peete harbor, was waving a lantern for
many hours during the night. as he and
his wife clung to the tops Of coeoanut
trees in the midst Of waves that dashed
thirty feet high over the island.
At Fakarara the natives had to climb
into the cocoanut trees, although a few
Of them preferred to put to sea in cut
ter boats and anchor boats as securely
as possible in the lagoOns.
Many Left without Homes.
In addition to the property destroyed
at Papeete, about an equal amount is
believed to have been destroyed alto
gether along the beach road around
Tahiti. Scores of dwelling houses were
blown down There is much distress
among the homeless people. The To-
cal government extended the military
barracks as a temporary refuge and
provided food when needed. but the
funds of the treasury are practically
exhausted. Governor Julien will ap-
peal to France for aid.
The British consul Will also address
his government in behalf of some 500
British subject Cook islanders), who
have lost their homes.
tained heavy losses and are hopeful
that either the United States govern
ment will forward to Consul Doty an
amount equal to the emergency or that
American citizens In California and
elsewhere will furnish funds to him or
a committee of merchants. Beyond
doubt some Americans will be reduced
to poverty. Money to rebuild houses
will be needed more than food. It IS
feared that there has been great loss
of life in the Tuamotu Islands.
Losses at Tua1notu
The schooner Papeete was sub
merged for an hour near Anaa,
TuamOtu. It's captain, Philip Michaelli,
estimated that the waves were sixty
i've feet high. 1t was impossible to
see twenty feet away. At o'clock in
the daytime the sailors had to be lash
ed to the vessel.
NJ. Marcardi, a French resident at
Faharan Tuamotu islands, abandoned
the place in a small cutter after all the
government buildings and dwelling
houses and the Catholic church were
swept away
Many of the natives climbed cocoa
nut trees and others put out to sea in
small boats. The schooner Ina, which
was anchored in the lagoon at Make
mo, successfully rode out the storm.
Makemo was badly washed.
Bridges and roads We're badly dam
aged on the island of Tahiti. Bread
fruit, cOcoanut banana and plantain
trees were blown down in great num-
bers, which viii result in hardships to
the natives and materially affect com
meree during the next two or three
years.
other Islands of the Society group
Moorea, Huaheni, Raittta, and Tohaa-
are known to have sustained damages
to the extent Of about 100000
The steamer Mariposa waited beyond
its sailing time at the request Of Gov
ernor Julien, who hoped that the
gunboat Zelee would return from its re-
lief trip to Tuamotu Islands. The yes
sci had not been sighted when the Mari
posa departed.
Tahiti Prosperous Colony.
The island of Tahiti is one Of the most
prosperous French colonies in the Pa
ciflc ocean. It is the largest island of
the Society group and contains an era
of 800 square miles and population Of
10000. The capital and chief town IS
Papeete, with 4, 100 population, of whom
$500 are French. There are quite a num-
ber of Americans and Englishmen and q
few Germans and Chinese.
There are electric lights and tele-
phones. There are six schools, each with
a hundred pupils, besides four Catholic
and two Protestant missions.
Town of Commercial Importance.
Papeete is a town of no little COM
meTical Importance. It is on the Pa
cific highway from San Francisco to
New Zealand, and all the big Pacific
liners stop there on their way to Aus
tralia What, with steamers and sail
ing vessels, an average of a ship arrives
at Papeete nearly every day in the
year.
Although Tahiti is a French colony,
its principal trade is with the United
States Its exports consists principally
Of cocoanuts, bananas, vanilla, copra
(dried cocoanub, mother of pearl, and
vanilla.
The other islands of the Society group
are Moorea. 80 square miles and a pop
ulation of 500; Raiatea and Tahaa,
with $500 inhabitants; Huahine. 1900;
Bora Bora, 800.
The Tuamster islands have a popula-
tfon of about 5000.