Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-03-09
THOUSANDS PERISH
ON TAHITE And ADJACENT Is
LANDS DURING STORM.
Several Have Disappeared-Damages
Are Placed at $4,000, oo0-Hurrican
Reached 120 Miles-British Consul
Appeals for Help to United States
Government for Aid-Many Suffer.

The San Francisco Evening Post
states that 10000 persons persisted
during the storm on Tahiti and ad-
jacent islands, several of which, its
account says, have disappeared. 1t
places the damage at $5,0O0,000. These
reports have not been confirmed by
the officers of the steamer Mariposa,
which brought the news of the disaster
from Papeete.
The most destructive cyclone ever
experienced in the Society and Tua-
motu islands occurred on February 8.
The damage in Tahiti is estimated at
$1,000,000, and presumably a similar
amount of property was destroyed on
the Tuamotu islands. The city of
Papeete was inundated and about rs
houses destroyed, including the Amer
lean consulate and the French govern
ment building. The shipping in the
harbor of Papeete escaped injury, ow-
ing to the direction of the wind, but
fears are entertained for vessels which
were cruising near the Tuamotu ISL
ands.
The schooner Papeete was sub
merged for an hour near Anaa, Tua-
motu. Her captain, Philip Michaelli,
estimated that the waves were 65
feet high. 1t was impossible to see
20 feet away at 8 o'clock in the day.
and the sailors had to be dashed to the
vessel.
Many of the natives climbed cocoa
nut trees; others put out to sea in
small boats. Bridges and roads were
badly damaged on the island of Tah..i.
Breadfruit, cocoanut, banana and plan
tain trees were blown down in great
numbers, which will result in hardship
TO the natives and materially affect
commerce during the next two or three
years. The French gunboat Zelee has
gone to the Tuamoto islands with sup
plies of food and fresh water The
British consul has appealed to the
united States government officials for
aid for 500 British subjects. Some
Americans have sustained heavy
osses, and probably there will be a
ew instances of utter restitution. The
Americans are hopeful of securing
lelp from the United States. Money
md not food is required.
The HURRICANE reached the velocity
Il l2O miles an hour. 1t struck the
Stands about midnight on February
, and continued until about O'Clock
n the next day. The island of Anaa.
uamotu group, is believed to have
cen the center of the storm. At Pa
eete, about o'clock on the evening
February Z, the sea began to break
cavity over the reef; the waves in
ne harbor washed over the quay.
mere was no wind. Toward 10 O'Clock
eople dwelling in the vicinity of the
'ater front were compelled to aban-
On thelr homes, securing, as a rule
My small part of their BELONGINGS
ne merchants and clerks went to the
ores and warehouses, only to dis
'Ver that 1t was quite impossible to
ave goods on the lower floors. An
our later high seas broke. COMPLETE
demolishing the government slim
ID buildings, besides causing great
image to the coal sheds. The guar
an Oh the arsenal, Teffer Adams. an
'pert swimmer, was in the water for
any hours, and assisted in warning
ID rescuing many persons.
village of Tarona Vanishes.
Inc village of Tarona, near the
senal, was completely swept awav
consisted of the mission buildings
Id homes of native converts of the
'organized Latter Day Saints mis-
'n' formerly under the direction of
lptain Joseph Burton of California
matters were worse in Papeete than
the suburbs. To the west of the
Senal along the water front dwell
houses and commercial establish
7nts were invaded by the water
licn broke at the quay about 10 feet
en- but rushed through the narrow
,eets many feet higher. The shin
liding yards of Captains Petersen
own and Ben Chapman were de.
owed WIZ uS