Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04
DESTRUCTIVE CYCLONE
Society and Tuamotu Islands
Swept by Storm.
LOSSES OVER A MILLION
Hurricane Struck Isles at Midnight
February z.
VELOCITY OF 100 MILES AN HOUR
Heavy Loss of Life Feared-City of
Papeete Inundated Waves
Sixty-Five Feet High.
LOSSES OVER A MILLION
VELOCITY OF 100 MILES AN HOUR


cyclone ever experienced in the Society
and Tuamoju Islands occurred on February
and 5. The damage in Tahiti is estimated
at $1.OJ0.tOo and presumably a similar
amount Of property was destroyed on the
TuamCtu Islands. The city of Papeete was
inundated and about seventy-fve buildings
destroyed including the American
sulate and the French government building.
The shipping in the harbor of Pepeete es-
capped injury owing TO the direction of the
wind, but fears are entertained for vessels
which were cruising near the Tuamotu
Islands.
IL is feared that there has been heavy
loss of life in the lagoons of Tuamotu Is
lands. though the death of the guardian of
the quarantine station in Papeete is the
only fatality yet reported.
The schooner Papeete was submerged for
an hour near Anaa. Tuamotr. Her cap
tain. Philip Miehaelli, estimated that the
waves We're sixty-five feet high. 1t was
impossible 10 see twenty feet away. AT
3 O'Clock in the day time the sailors had
to be dashed to the vessel NJ Marcadi,
French resident at Faharan, Tuamotu Is
lands. abandoned the place in a small cutter
after all the government buildings ana
dwelling houses and the Catholic Church
were swept away. Many of the natives
climbed cocoanut trees and other put out TO
sea in small boats. The schooner Ina,
which was anchored in the lagoon at Ma
keno, successfully rode out the storm.
A Heavy Blow to Commerce.
Bridges and roads were badly damaged
on the Island of Tahiti Breldfruit
cocoanut banana and plantain trees Were
blown down in great numbers, which Will
result In hardships to the natives and ma
terially affect commerce during the next
two or three years. The French gunboat
Zelee has gone to the Tuamotu Islands
Of nd fresh water. Inc
British consul has appealed to his govern
ment for aid for 800 British subjects. Some
Americans have sustained heavy losses,
and probably there will be a few instances
of utter restitution. The Americans are
hopeful OF securing help from the thttea
States Money and food are required.
The cyclone, or hurricane, reached the
velocity of l2O miles an hoU. 1t struck
The islands about midnight on fepruaf!
and continued until about / CLOCK the
next afternoon. The Island of Anaa, Tuam-
otu group. is believed 10 have been the cen
ter of the storm.
AT Papeete. about o'clock on the
evening of February T. the sea began 10
break heavily over the reef, the waves III
the harbor washing over the quay mere
was no perceptible wind toward ~
o'clock people dwelling In the Vlcinlty, .,
The water front were compelled to abandon
their homes saving, as a rule, onfy s!nall
portion of their belongings.
The merchants and clerks went TO the
and warehouses only ~ NtSSONNi S+'''>
IL was quite impossible to save goods on
the lower floors. -r
Deadly Effect of High Seas.
An hour later high seas broke, completely
denolishing the government slip and build
ings besides causing great damage TO the
coal sheds. The guardian of the arsenal,
Tofrer Adams, an expert swimmer, was IN
the water for many hours and assisted in
warning and rescuing others.
The village of Tarona. near the arsenal
was completely swept away. 1t consisted
OF the mission buildings and homes of ma
tive converts of the reorganized Latter Day
Saints mission. formerly under the dlrec-
ton OF Capt. Joseph Burton of California.
The mission house and great many other
houses were carried off to a distance OF
many hundreds of yards and demolished.
OF the church edifice not a vestige re-
mains \ settlement about an eighth OF
a mile distance, comprised Of dwellings OF
several hundred Cook Islanders british
subjects). was completely destroyed.
one American named Seefeldt. living near
that community. had 10 take TO an adJa-
cent swamp, which became inundated, and
he was compelled TO battle with the waves
for many hours. Further east on the beach
road all the houses were swept away for
about half a mile.
A Thrilling Experience.
At Taunoa the family of Herman Mcneil
had a thrilling experience. their fine resi-
dence probably worth $4,000, being badly
damaged by strong waves which compelled
the family To flee for their lives to a native
house.
Frequently the water up to their
necks. and they were Obliged To cling to
Trees for safety and support. Where before
the storm there was a frontage of 1G0 yards
to the sea the waves cut off the lawn, so
hat 10 IL within wards of
the veranda. Other fine homes were badly
damaged. Matters were worse in the city
OF Papeete than in the suburbs To the
west OF the arsenal along the water front
dwelling houses and commercial establish
ments were invaded by the water, which
broke at the quay about ten feet high, but
rushed through the narrow streets many
feet higher. The shipDuiiding yards of
Captain Peterson, Brown and Benchman
were destroyed. Mrs. Gooding, aged
American, narrowly escaped death. being
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 battering rams
against warehouses and dwellings. The fine
establishment OF V. L. Raoux, stone
structure, suffered much damage. Copra
and other products and merchandise were
badly jumbled together. The loss may
reach $4,000. Donald & Edenburg sus-
tanned an equal loss. while the Society
Commercial Del Oceania, the largest mer-
camille establishment In French Oceanica
loses about 10000. The Oceanic Steam
ship Companys wharf was badly wrecked
The custom house, the bonded warehouse
and sheds, the post Office the house of the
captain OF the port club house and the
police headquarters were wrecked.
American Consulate Collapsed.
About o'clock in the morning the Ameri-
can consulate. the oldest structure in Pa
peete having been built about 1896 col
lapsed- In the absence OF the American
eonsUl his mother. Mrs. Doty. supervised
the removal OF the archives aided by sew
eral missionaries. Mrs. Doty was in serious
jeopardy several times. The records were
temporarily stored at the Latter Day
Saints mission house. Mr.. Doty's family
also accepted their hospitality. Beyond the
American consulate several government
buildings. including the treasury and store
houses, sustained great damage.
The British consulate was slightly dam
aged Captain Bernali had TO abandon his
home with his family, on account of the
rush of waters.
The substitute guardian at the quarantine
station at Motauta Island. Papeete harbor
was waving q lantern for many hours dur
t.n.r . -