Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-09
Mistsllaauus 8eadins.
HURRICANE IN THE SOUTH SEA.
Islands Submerged and Much Property
DESTROYED.

Islands Submerged and Much Property
Destroyed.
A message from Papeete, Island OF
Tahiti, In the Southern Pacific ocean,
brings information of terrible hurri-
cane and tidal wave that wrought de-
struction in the Society and Tuamolu
islands on February and 8. The city
Of Papeete was inundated and about
seventy-five houses were destroyed,
including the American consulate and
the French government building. 1t
is feared that there has been tremend-
Gus loss of life along the lagoons Of
the Tuamolu islands but the death Of
the keeper Of the quarantine station at
Papeete is the only fatality actually
reported.
The schooner Papeete was submerg-
ed for an hour near Anaa, Tuamolu.
Her captain, Philip Michaelli. estimat-
ed that the waves were sixty-five feet
high. 1t was impossible to see twenty
feet away. At o'clock In the day time
the sailors had to be lashed to the ves-
sell NJ. Marcadi, French resident at
Faharan, Tuamolu 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 cocoanut trees and others put
out to sea in small boats. The schooD-
Ira cd In "a
lagoon at Makemo, successfully rode
out the storm. Bridges and roads
were badly damaged on the island Of
Tahiti. Bread fruit, cocoanut, banana
and plaintain trees were blown down
in great numbers, which will result In
hardships to the natives and mate
rally affect commerce during the next
two or three years. The French gum
boat Zelee has gone to the Tuamolu
Islands with supplies of food and fresh
water. The British consul has appeal
ed to his government for aid for 500
British subjects. Some Americans
have sustained heavy losses, and prob
ably there will be a few instances Of
hopeful of securing help from the
United States. Money and food are re-
quired. The cyclone, or hurricane,
reached the velocity Of 120 miles an
hour. 1t struck the islands about mid
night on Feb. Z, and continued until
about o'clock on the next morning.
The Island Of Anaa, Tuamolu is be-
Iieved to have been the center Of the
storm. At Papeete about o'clock on
the evening Of Feb. T. the sea began to
break heavily over the reef, the waves
in the harbor washing over the quay.
There was no perceptible wind. To-
ward 10 o'clock people dwelling In the
vicinity Of the water front were COM
PEELED to abandon their homes, saving
as rule only small portion Of their
belongings. The merchants and clerks
went to the stores and warehouses,
only to discover that 1t was quite i'm
possible to save goods on the lower
floors. An hour later high seas broke,
completely. demolishing the govern
ment ships and buildings, besides caus-
ing great damage to the coal sheds.
The guardian Of the arsenal, Teffer
Adams, an expert swimmer, was in the
water for many hours and assisted in
warning and rescuing others. The vii
lage of Tarona near the arsenal, was
completely swept away. 1t consisted
Of the mission buildings and homes Of
native converts of the Reorganized
Latter Day Saints mission, formerly
under the direction of Captain Joseph
Burton, Of California The mission
house and great many houses were
carried off to distence of many hum
dreds of yards and demolished. or the
church edifice not vestige remains
A settlement about an eighth Of mile
distant, comprised of dwellings Of sew
eral hundred Cook Islanders british
subjects) was completely destroyed.
One American named Seefeldt, living
near that community, had to take to an
adjacent swamp, which became inun-
dated and he was compelled to battle
with the waves for many hours. Fur
ther east on the Deacn ROAD all tne
houses were swept away for about half
mile. About 8 o'clock in the morning
the American consulate, the oldest
structure in Papeete, having been built
about 1886, collapsed. In the absence
Of the American consul, his mother,
Mrs. Doty, supervised the removal Of
the archives, aided by several mission
aries. Mrs. Doty was in serious jeop-'
ardy several times. The records were
temporarily stored at the Latter Day
Saints mission house Mr.. Doty's fam
lily also accepted their hospitality.
Beyond the American consulate sever
al government buildings, including the
treasury and store houses sustained
great damage.