Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-04
cyclone WRECKS
ISLAND HOMES
MOST DESTRUCTIVE STORM
EVER EXPERIENCED
Damage In Society and Tuamotu
Estimated Over a Million Dollars.
Consulate and Federal Build
ings Destroyed
BY Associated Press.

The damage in Tahiti is estimated at
$1,O00,O00 and presumably similar
amount of property was destroyed on
the Tuamotu islands.
The city of Papeete was inundated
and about seventy-five buildings de-
stroyed, including the American con-
sulate and the French government
building.
The shipping in the harbor of Pateete
escaped injury owing to the direction
of the wind, but fears are entertained
for vessels which were cruising near
the Tuamotu islands.
1t is feared that there may have been
heavy loss of life in the lagoons of
the Tuamotu islands, though the death
of the guardian of the quarantine sta
ton at Papeete is the only fatality yet
reported.
Schooner Submerged
for an hour near Anna, Tuamotu. Her
captain. Philip Michaelli. estimated
that the waves were sixty-five feet
high. 1t was impossible to see twenty
feet away at 3 o'clock in the daytime
and the sailors had to be lashed to the
vessel.
| NJ. Marcadi, a French resident at
Faharana, Tuamotu islands, aban-
doned that place in a small cutter af-
ter all the government buildings,
| dwelling houses and Catholic church
were swept away. Many of the natives
climbed cocoanut trees. while others
put out to sea in small boats.
The schooner Ina, which was
anchored in the lagoon at Makemo,
successfully rode out the storm. Make
mo was badly washed. Many narrow
escapes from drowning have been re-
ported. Bridges and roads were badly
damaged on the island of Tahiti. Bread
fruit, cocoanut. banana and plantain
trees were blown down in great num-
bers, which will result in hardship to
the natives and materially effect COM
merce during the next two years.
The French gunboat Zelee has gone
to the Tuamotu islands with supplies
of food and fresh water. The British
consul has appealed to his government
for aid for 500 British subjects.
Americans 0ustaIn Losses
Americans have sustained heavy
losses and probably there will be a few
instances of utter destitution. The
Americans are hopeful of securing help
from the United States. Money and
not food is required.
An American named Seefeldt, living
near that community. had to take to an
adjacent swamp which soon became
tnundate and he was compelled to
battle against the waves during many
hours. Further east on the beach
road houses were swept away for about
a half mile. At Teunoa the family of
Herman Mcneil had a thrilling ex-
perience. Their fine residence, probably
worth $4,000, was badly damaged by
strong waves, which compelled the
family to flee for their lives to a native
house.
Frequently the water was I'D to their
necks and they were obliged to cling to
trees for safety and support. While,
before the storm, there was frontage
of 160 yards to the sea, the waves cut
off the lawn so that the water now is
within ten yards of the veranda. The
damage to the house amounts to $50OO
Other fine homes were badly damaged
Velocity of 12o Miles an Hour
The cyclone reached the velocity of
120 miles an hour. 1t struck the islands
about midnight on February and con-
tinued until about o'clock on the next
afternoon. The island of Anaa, Tua-
motu group, is believed to have been
the center of the storm.
AT Pateete, about o'clock on the
evening of Feb. 7, the sea began to
break heavily over the reef; the waves
in the harbor washed 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, secur-
ing as a rule only small portion of
their belongings.
The merchants and clerks went to
the stores and warehouses only to dis
cover that it was quite impossible to
save goods in the lower floors. An hour
later high seas broke, completely de-
molishing the government slip and
buildings, besides causing great damage
to the coal sheds. The guardian of the
arsenal, Teffer Adams. an expert swim
mer, was in the water for many hours
and assisted in warning and rescuing
many persons.
Village Swept Away
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
Thomas F. Burton of California. The
mission house and many other houses
We're carried off to a distance of many
hundreds of yards and demolished. .
About O'Clock in 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 mission
aries.
Mrs. Doty was i'll serious jeopardy
several times in the waves. The rec
ords were temporarily stored at the
Latter Day Saints mission house. Mr..
Doty's family also accepted their hos
pitality. Beyond the American con-
sulate several government buildings,
including the treasury and store
houses, sustained great damage Dep
uty Mayor of Papeete M. Longamay-
ino lost not only his own house but
six others. M. Poroe lost many of his
buildings.
All the dwelling. houses near the pro-
testant church were wrecked The
British consulate was slightly dam
aged. Captain Bemali has also aban-
doned his home with his family on ac-
count of the rush of the water.
Apother American, Edward Fritch,
wis washed out.
The substitute guardian at the quar-
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