The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-05
Between 10 and II
Persons Killed
by Tidal Waves
Damage at HiIo Estimated al
$780, 0,0O0-Several Days Re-
quired to Ascertain Full
Effects of Disaster.

Honolulu, T. H.. Feb. ..-tBy A. p
between 10 and 12 persons were
killed by the tidal waves In Hilo bay
after Saturdays earthquake. which
was reported to be between 1000 and
5000 miles away. it was estimated
here today.
The known dead include a child
swept from a sampan and three Japa-
nese fisherman who were trapped In
the engine room of sampan which
together with a scow, were wrecked
against the railroad bridge across the
Waiiuku river. One of the fishermen
was beheaded.
The damage at Hilo. according to a
conservative estimate, was 800, 900
Several days will be required to ascer-
tain the number Of lives lost and the
correct amount OF damage. The Mat.
son Navigation company's liner Mat
sonia touched the mud bottom once
while in the grip of the tidal wave,
but floated off with the next wave.
Tanker Escapes Damage.
The escape of the Standard Oil
company's tanker Doane was char
acterized by shipping men as remark
able. The ship was carried reefward
from anchorage by an inrushing wave.
then carried back to safety by the re.
cession.
Residents Of lower IIilo trudged to-
ward the highlands with their DOS
sessions all Saturday afternoon and
stevedores and others deserted their
work at the docks to 20 to the aid
Of their families.
Firemen were drafted by the police
department to maintain order. All
possible precautions were taken for
night alarms in event of a recurrence
or tidal waves. Hilo bay remained
turbulent throughout the night.
Shocks Recorded.
The volcano observatory at Kilauea
recorded earthquake shocks Saturday
morning. which the seismographer
said We're from 1000 to 1000 miles
away. the direction being unknown.
THESE shocks were stated TO be the
heaviest ever recorded on the seismo-
graph here.
The crater at kilauea remained un-
dist urbed.
Tutnila, the lrages island in Ameri-
can Samoa. reported that no disturb.
nnce took place there. No replies
have been received from Guam. Local
navy men stated they are sure that
Guam 1as not affected.
Waves Travel Six Hours.
The tidal waves that swept Hawaii
Saturday apparently Travelled for ap.
proximattely six and onehalf hours
from their point Of origin at the CEN
ter of the irembloraffectesf area. 10
the wlndward beaches Of the islands.
The seismographs throughout .he
United States recorded the first shocks
at approximately II eastern standard
time. or $50 Hawaiian time. The tidal
waves began TO pound the shores Of
the island shortly after noon. Hawai-.
ian time. or between SIX and seven
hours later.
" FiH1RHih AAhNdit tE tile Stl1ftS
nearest to the mainland Of the United
States. was most affected. the lee
ward seaboard OF the group being
practically undissurbed. The apparent.
IL obvious inference would be that
the tremblors which caused the tidal
waves. occurred in the ocean some
where in the Pacific east of Hawaii
and west OF the Pacific coast.
Hiio, tho city on the island Of
Hawaii. where the bulk Of the dam.
age VAS done. has a population Of
approximately 10000 people.
Hilo has felt tidal waves in tho
past. the most recent being that of
November 10. which accompanied the
'remllois that devastated Chile. II
also has had experiences with earth
quakes. one OF which in the latter
years Of last century. lett a great
rift across the island. without. how
ever. doing any marked damage 10
the city itself. Volcanic cruptions. Of
course. are ever present. hut with
10 miles separating the city from
kilauea. these lava streams have on.
- on rare occasions approached the
municipal borders.