The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-03-09
ISLANDS SWEPT
BY A TIDAL WAVE
HURRICANE AIDS IN DEVASTA-
TON OF TWO GROUPS IN THE
PACIFIC OCEAN.
City Of Papeete Under Water-Only
One Life Reported Lost-VlIlage
Swept Away-Loss to Property Es-
timated at 100000

washington, March 6.-Offcial con-
firmation Of the destruction wrought
by the cyclone among the South Sea
islands came to the state department
Monday in the shape of the following
message from w. F. Doty, the Amer
lean consul at Tahiti, the capital of
the Society islands, dated February II,
and sent by way of San Francisco:
Cyclone destroyed the consulate
February s. Records saved, but dam
aged Library, stationery and con-
sular forms lost. Governor solicits
subscriptions. Estimated loss in French
oceanica, $4,000. 600"
Papeete Under Water.
Papeete, Tahiti, Feb. Is, via San
Francisco, March 1.-THE most destruc-
tive cyclone ever experienced in the
Society and Tuamotu islands occurred
on February and 8. The damage In
Tahiti is estimated at $1,0OO,000, and
presumably similar amount of prop
erty was destroyed on the Tuamotu
islands. The city of Papeete was in
undated and over 300 buildings were
destroyed, including the American con-
sulate and the French government
building. The shipping in the harbor
escaped injury owing to the direction
of the wind, but fears are entertained
for vessels which were cruising near
by. Only one life was lost.
Waves 65 Feet High.
The schooner Papeete was sub
merged for an hour near Anaa, Tua-
matu. Her captain, Philip Michaelli,
estimated that the waves were IS feet
high. 1t was impossible to see 20
feet away. The sailors had to be
dashed to the vessel.
Bridges and roads were badly dam
aged on the island of Tahiti. Bread
fruit, cocoanut, banana and plantain
trees were blown down in great num-
bers, which will result in hardships to
the natives and materially affect COM
merce during the next two or three
years.
Village Swept Away.
The village of Taunoa, near the
arsenal was completely swept away. It
consisted of the mission buildings and
homes of native converts Of the reor-
ganized Latter Day Saints mission,
formerly under the direction of Capt
Joseph Burton of California. The mis-
sion house and great many houses
were carried off to a distance of many
hundreds of yards and demolished. OF
the church edif1ce not a vestige re-
mains. A settlement about an eighth
of mile distant, composed of dwell
ings of several hundred Cook islanders
british subjects), was destroyed
Scene of the Disaster.
The Society and Tuamotu islands are
volcanic groups in the Pacific ocean
east of and not far from the Hawaiian
islands. The Society islands were an
nexed by France in 1880. They have an
area Of 700 square miles, of which 600
square miles are in Tahiti. Their pop
ulation is about $4,000, of which Tahiti
has 10000. Papeete is the capital Of
Tahiti and has population of 1000.
1t has fine harbor, palace, cathedral.
courthouse and schools, and is the
commercial center of southeastern
Polynesia, exporting mother-of-pearl,
cotton, cocoanuts, copra and vanilla.
The Tuamatu islands comprise many
minor groups, most of which are under
French protection. Their population is
about 1000 and the seat of administra-
ton is at Rokoaya, on the island o.