Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-05

the government buildings and dwelling
houses and Catholic church were swept
away. Many OF the natives climbed
cocoanut trees others put out To sea
In small boats.
The cyclone or hurricane reached the
velocity OF l20 miles an hour It struck
the island about midnight on Feb 7,
and continued until about o'clock on
the next afternoon The Island OF Anaa,
Tuamoutu group Is believed To have
been the center of the storm.
At Papeete about o'clock on the
evening of February the sea began to
break heavily over the reef the waves
In the harbor washed over the quay.
There was no wind. Toward 10 o'clock
people dwelling in the vicinity of the
water front were compelled to abandon
their homes, securing as rule only a
small part Of their belongings.
The merchants and clerks went to the
storehouses only TO discover that il was
quite impossible to save goods on the
lower floors. An hour later high seas
broke, completely demolshing the gov
eminent slip and buildings, besides
causing 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 rescung many persons.
The schooner Ina, which was an
chored In the lagoon at Makemo, sue
cesfully rode out the storm
Many narrow escapes from drowning
have been reported. Bridges and roads
We're badly damaged on the island Of
Tahiti, Breadfruit cocoanut, banana
and plantain trees were blown down In
great numbers, which will result in
hardships to the natives and materially
affect commerce during the next two or
three years.
The French gunboat Zelec has gone
to the Tuamotu Islands with supplies
OF food and fresh water. The British
consul has appealed TO the United
States government for aid for 500 Brit
ish 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 United States.
The village OF Tarona near the arsen-
al, was completely swept away. II con-
sisted Of the mission buildings and
homes of the native converts to the re-
organized Latter-day Saints mission,
formerly under the direction of Capt.
Joseph Burton Of California. The mis-
sion house and a great many houses
were carried off to a distance of many
hundreds of yards and demolished.
or the church ediflce not vestige re-
mains A settlement about an eighth
of a mile distant. comprised Of dwell
lings Of several hundred Cook island
ers, British subjects, was also complete
W destroyed.
An American named Seefeldt, living
near that community, had to take to
an adjacent swamp. which soon became
inundated and he was compelled to
battle against the waves during many
hours. Further east on the beach road
all the houses We're swept away for
about half a mile. At Taunoa the fam
ly Of Herman Kenell had a thrilling
experience. their fine residence, prob
ably 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 rose up to their
necks and they were obliged TO cling
to trees for safety and support.
While before the storm there was a
frontage of 100 yards to the sea. the
waves cut of the lawn so that the wa =
ter now is within 10 yards Of the veran-
da.
Matters were worse IN the city OF
Papette than I'm the suburbs. To the
west OF the arsenal, along the water
front, dwelling houses and commercial
establishments were invaded by the wa
ter