The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-04
Islands Swept Clean Of
Human Life and Ali
Vegetation.
Papeete Buildings Destroyed
and Shipping Probably
Wrecked.
Americans Among Losers
from Catastrophe in the
South Seas.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
- AN FRANCISCO, March News
reached this city today of dis
- aster in the Society and Tuamotu
islands, which is said to have resulted
in the death of ten thousand persons.
On Feb. 2 hurricane of gigantic
proportions broke over the islands and
lagoons and it did not expend its force
until the next day.
Mammoth waves swept over the land,
tossing ships about like eggshells and
driving the populace into the tall CO.
coanut trees. Property damage esti-
mated at $5,000,000 was wrought.
Among the victims were many Amer
lean and British residents, and urgent
appeals for aid have been sent to Lon
don and Washington in behalf of the
survivors. ...-
Many Of the islands Of the two groups
are said to have disappeared COM
pletely beneath the surface of the ocean,
and others have been swept SO clean
by the wind and wave that not yes
tige of life appears upon them.
News Of Disaster.
The only detailed account Of the
catastrophe that has emanated from
any of the islands comes from the city
Of Papeete, on the island of Tahiti,
which evidently escaped more fortu-
nately than it's neighbors. This account
was brought by the officers Of the
steamship Mariposa, who, however, were
unable to furnish facts from other
places than Papeete and its Immediate
vicinity.
The city Of Papeete was inundated
and about seventy-fve buildings de-
stroyed, including the American con-
sulate and the French government
building. The shipping in the harbor Of
Papeete escaped injury owing to the di-
rection of the wind. but it is feared
that many vessels which were cruising
near the Tuamotu islands were lost.
1t is believed that there was heavy
loss of life in the lagoons Of Tuamstu
islands, tho the death of the guardpA
Of the quarantine station in Papeete
was the only fatality reported up to
the time the Mariposa sailed.
Waves Sixty-fv Feet High.
The schooner Papeete was submerged
for an hour near Anaa, Tuamotu. Her
captain, Philip Michaelli, estimated
that the waves were sixty-five feet
high. 1t was impossible to see twenty
feet away. At 8 O'Clock in the day
time the sailors had to be dashed to ths
vessel.
NJ Mcardi, a French resident at
Faharan, Tuamotu islands, abandoned
the place in small cutter after sse
government buildings and dwelling
houses and the Catholic church were
swept away. Many of the natives
climbed cocoanut trees, and others put
out to sea in small boats.
The schooner Ina, which was an
chored in the lagoon at Makemo. sue
cessfully rode out the storm. Maketno
was badly washed.
Many narrow escapes from drowning
have been reported.
Bridges and roads were badly dam
aged ON the island of Tahiti. Bread
fruit, cocoanut, banana and plantation
bers, which will result in hardshlps
to the natives, and materially affect
commerce during the next two or three
years.
The French gunboat Zeiee 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 sub
Cnntinued ON 4fh PAGE Cd Gnlnmn.