The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-14

Acu ~ pattle against the waves dur
ing many hours Farther east on the
beach road all the houses were sweep
away for about half mile. AT Tau
noa the family of Herman Mcneil had
thrilling experience, their fine resi-
dence, probably worth $4,000. being
badly damaged by strong waves.
which compelled the family to flee for
their lives 10 native house FIRE.
qUentIy the water was up to their
necks, and they We're obliged 10 cling
&c trees for safety and support. While
before the storm there was a frontage
OF LOO yards 20 the sea the waves cut
on the lawn so that the water now Is
within ten YARDS o. The veranda. The
damage TO the house amounts TO about
sooVc Other fine houses We're badly
damaged NJ. A Cape. the wealthiesr
resident in Papeete, took refuge in one
OF ms outbuildings until he was able
TO secure a less dangerous retreat.
Matters Were worse in the city of
Papeete than in the SUBURBS. u u
west of the arsenal along the water
front dwelling houses and commercial
establishments We're invaded by the
water. The offices of the Oceanic
steamship Company were flooded and
a large iron buoy went crashing
through the establishment back ami
forth for several hours
Deputy Mayor of Papeete NJ. Long
amayino lost not only his house, but
six others. NJ. Poroe lost many of
his buildings. All the dwelling mouse :
near the Protestant church were
svrecked. The British consulate was
slightly damaged. Captain Bemau
had to abandon his home with his
family on account of the rush of
water. Another American, Edward
frltch, was washed out.
COMMANDER REFUSED AID.
The substitute guardian at the quar-
antine station at Motauta island, Pa
peeCe harbor, was waving a lantern
for many hours during the night, as
he and his wife chung to the tops OF
cocoanut trees in the midst of waves
that dashed thirty feet high over the
island. On shore NJ. Andre, the CHIEF
pilot, called out to Commander Hur-
bin of the gunboat Zelee to let him
have boat and crew for the rescue
Of the man and woman at the quar-
antine station. Commander Hurbin ex-
planned that he deemed it his duty
to decline to send his men into what
appeared a forlorn hope expedition,
but promised TO let NJ. Andre have
boat without a crew. Pilot Andre
requisitioned four prisoners at the
local JAIL and with them proceeded
to the Zelee. AS Commander Hurbin
did not wish to risk the lives of his
crew, even to send a boat ashore, the
four native prisoners, who were splen-
did swimmers, succeeded IN saving
the man and woman after a heroic
attempt.
At Fakarara the natives had to climb
into the cocoanut trees. although
few of them preferred to put to sea
in cutter boats and anchor their boats
as securely as possible in the lagoons.
NJ. Marcadi the French resident. put
TO sea in a ten-ton cutter, and after
three days reached Tahiti, reporting
that the Government buildings, the
Roman Catholic church and all the
dwellings, had been swept away. He
knew of no loss of life
The shipbuilding yards of Captains
Peter son, Brown and Ben Chapman
were Destroyed. Mrs. t;oUuing IN
aged American narrowly escaped
death, being caught by debris in her
home when it collapsed. The lumber
sheds of L. Martin were destroyed, the
lumber floating far and wide, acting
like Dattering rams against ware
houses and dwellings. The fine es-
Establishment of V. L. Raouex, a stone
structure, suffered much ! damage,
copra and other produce and mer-
chandise being badly jun1bled to-
Gcther. The loss may reach S300vU.
Donald and f'denvurgh sustained an
equal loss, while the Societi CONNER
Ciale de POceania, the largest mer-
camille establishment III French
Ocean;ca loses about $4,000. Their
frame store and warehouses were
greatly injured. and valuable goods
swept away. Smaller commercial es-
adjustments, including three or four
Chinese frrns, lost heavily. while the
telephone Station was even washed
out, but with no less serious results.
The Oceanic Steamship Company's
wharf was badly wrecked. The Gus
toms House, the bonded warehouse
and sheds. the Postoffice. the house
of the captain of the port, a. club
house, the police headquarters, a res
taurant and a barber shop were
wrecked.
FIVE HUNDRED LOST ON SOCI-
ETY. ISLANDS.
The Society Islands were devastated
by very severe storm on January 15,
1903, the official list of victims num-
bering SIS, of whom 1913 were killed at
Hikueru, ninety-fiVe at MaTokau,
and the remainder on half a
dozen small islands. over 800 canoes
and nearly 100 cutters were lost or
wrecked.
Hikueru is a 1ow-1ying atoll twelve
feet above sea level, and previous to
nuts. Usually a handful of natives
are found there, but it being the pearl
diving season. which occurs every
three years, hundreds of natives and
many Europeans were drawn there.
The storm commenced about 10 o'clock
in the morning of the 14th, and rap
idly increased in fury until at 3 p. m
big seas flooded the waterfront and
drove the people to the feeward part