Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-03-10
THOUSANDS PERISH
ON .TARITE and ADJACENT Is.
LANDS DURING STORM.
Several Have Disappeared-Damaaes
Are Placed at $4,000, Oo0-Hurrcan
Reached 100 MiIes-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, it's
account says, have disappeared. 1t |
places the damage at s5,0O0,000. 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
100000, 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 3 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 TahId.
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 fol
aid for 500 British subjects. Some
Americans have sustained heavy
losses, and probably there will be
few instances of utter restitution. The
Americans are hopeful of securing
help from the United States. Money
and not food is required.
The hurricane reached the velocit,
of 120 miles an hour 1t struck the
islands about midnight on Februar,
7, and continued until about o'clocl
on the next day. The island of Anaa
Tuamotu group, is believed to hav'
been the center of the storm. Al ia
peete, about o'clock on the evening
of February 7, the sea began to breal
heavily over the reef; the waves Il
the harbor washed over the quay
There was no wind. Toward 10 o'cloc
people dwelling in the vicinity of tn
water front were compelled to abar
don their homes, securing, as rule
only a small part of their belongings
The merchants and clerks went to tn
stores and warehouses, only to dir
cover that it was quite impossible
save goods on the lower floors. A
hour later high seas broke, complete
ly demolishing the government Sill
and buildings, besides causing grea
damage to the coal sheds. The qua
dian of the arsenal, Teffer Adams, a
expert swimmer, was in the water &c
many hours, and assisted in warnln
and rescuing many persons.
Village of Tarona vanishes.
The village of Tarona, near u
arsenal, was completely swept ava
1t consisted of the mission building
and homes of native converts OF IL
Reorganized Latter Day Saints mi
sion, formerly under the direction
Captain Joseph Burton of Californl
Matters were worse in Papeete Una
in the suburbs. To the west OF u
arsenal along the water front owe
ing houses and commercial estaphs
ments were invaded by the wat
which broke at the quay about lo ie
high, but rushed through the mario
streets many feet higher. the sni
building yards of Captains Peterse
Brown and Ben Chapman were q
stroyed.