Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-03-04
TEN THOUSAND PERISH TOWNS WIPED OUT IN AWFUL CYCLONE
WHICH JRLS WAVES OF ANGRY PACIFIC OVER SOCIETY ISLANDS

At Papeete about Z o'clock on the
evening of February z, the sea began
to break heavily over the reef: the
waves in the harbor washed over the
quay. There was no perceptible wind.
Toward 10 o'clock people dwelling in
the vicinity of the water front were
compelled to abandon their homes, se-
curing as a rule only small portion
Of their belongings. The merchants
and clerks went to the stores and
warehouses only to discover that it was
quite impossible to save goods on the
lower floors. An hour later high seas
broke over them completely de-
molishing the government slip
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 many
persons
The village of Tarona, near the ar
senal was completely swept away. 1t
consisted of the mission buildings and
homes of native converts of the reor-
ganized Latter Day Saints mission,
formerly under the direction of Cap
tain Joseph Burton, of California
The mission house and a great many
houses We're carried off to a distance
Of many hundreds of yards and de-
molished
OF the church edifice not a vestige
remains A settlement about an
eighth of q mile distant comprised Of
the dwellings of several hundred Cook
islanders british subjects), was also
completely destroyed.
An American named Seefelt, living
1,at 10 foIr IN
an adjacent swamp, which became
inundated and he was compelled to
battle against the waves during many
hours.
Further east on the beach road all
houses were swept away for about half
a mile
AT Taunoa, the family of Herman
Mcneil had a thrilling experience.
their fine residence, probably worth
$4,000, was badly damaged by strong
waves which compelled the family to
flee for their lives to native house.
Frequently the water was up to their
necks and they were obliged to cling
to trees for safety and support, While
before the storm there was q frontage
Of so yards to the sea, the waves cut
off the lawn, SO that the water now is
within ten yards of the verandas. The
/ domage to the house amounts to about
$4,000. Other fine homes were badly
damaged.
Matters We're worse in the city of
/ Papeete than in the suburbs. To the
west of the arsenal along the water
/ front dwelling houses and commercial
establishments were invaded by the
| water, which broke at the quay about
/ ten feet high, but rushed through the
narrow streets many feet higher.
Shipyards Destroyed.
| The ship building yards of Captain
/ Peterson, Brown and Benchapman
were destroyed. Mrs. Gooding an aged
! American. narrowly escaped death, be-
ling caught by debris in her home when
! il collapsed. The lumber sheds of l..
Martin were destroyed, the lumber
, floating far and wide, acting like bat
tering rams against warehouses and
I dwellings. The fine establishment of
V. l.. RaoueX, stone structure. suf-
fered much damage. Copra and. 9th
or produce and merchandise were bad 20
ly jumbled together The loss may
reach 100000. Donald and Edenburg
sustained equal loss, while the Societi
Commercials Del Oceania, the largest
merchautile establishment in French
Oceanica, loses about 100000. Their
frame store and warehouse were
greatly injured, and valuable goods
swept away. Smaller commercial es-
Adjustments including three or four
Chinese firms, lost heavily. while the
telephone station was even washed out
but with less serious results The Oc-
eanic Steamship company's wharf was
j badly wrecked. The customs house.
bonded warehouse and sheds, postof-
+ flee, house of the captain of the port.
club house. police headquarters. res
4 taurant and barber shop were wreck
/ ed
The offices of the Oceanic Steam
ship company were flooded, and a
large iron buoy went crashing through
/ the establishment back and forth for
several hours
American Consulate COllapses.
! About s o'clock i'm the morning the
/ American consulate. the oldest struc
ture 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 mis-
sionaries. Mrs. Doty was in serious
jeopardy several times i'm the waves
The records We're temporarily store
at the Latter Day Saints mission
house. Mr.. Dotys family also ac.
cepted their hospitality. Beyond the
American consulate several govern
ment buildings, including the treasury
ana storehouses. sustained great dam.
age
The deputy mayor of Papeete. NJ
Longamayino. lost not only his own
house but six others. NJ Poroe lost
many Of his buildings All the dwell
ing houses near the Protestant church
were wrecked The British consuat,
was slightly damaged Captain Re
mali had TO abandon his home with
his family. on account OF the rush q
waters. Another American, Edward
Fritch was washed out
Refuge in Trcc-Tops.
The substitute guardian at quaran
tine station at Motauta Island. Papeet,
harbor. was waving q lantern 70,
many hours during the night. as h,
and his wife clung TO the tops of co
coanut trees IN the midst of waves
that dashed thirty feet high over tn,
island. on shore NJ. Andre, chief ri
lot. called out to Commander Hurbii
Of the gunboat Zelee to let him hav,
a boat and crew for the rescue o
the man and woman at quarantine
station. Commander Hurbin ex
plained that he deemed It his duty (,
decline to send his men In what ap
poared a forlorn hope expedition, bu
promised to let M. Andre have a boa
without crew. Pilot Andre requis
+ itioned four prisoners at the local jai
and with them proceeded to the Zelee
AS Commander Hurbln did not wisI
TO risk the lives Of his crew. even l.
send a boat ashore. the four nativ
prisoners who were splendid swimmer
went to the rescue. AT Fakarara tn
: natives had to climb into cocoanu