The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1946-04-02
300Deod
Continued from Page ~

been evacuated to higher ground.
Jacobs said late observations ind1-
Gated that the initial force Of the
tidal wave had been spent.
But the Hawaiian Islands had
suffered their worst disaster since
the sneak Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor. Hundreds were injured and
property damage ran into the mil
lions of dollars.
Scouting planes from Kodiak and
bases In the Hawaiian chain ranged
for out at sea to check the progress
Of the new tidal wave which started
yesterday in the wake of a suhmar-
inc earthquake in the vicinity Of
Unimak Island.
Move Over 1000 Mile Arc
The tidal waves moved over 1000
mile arc, and caused death and de-
scruction in the Aleutians, the Ha-
waiianS and along the western coast
Of the United States.
The toll was extremely heavy on
the island Of Hawaii. An estimated
10000 persons were made homeless
as their beachfront dwellings were
smashed by the onrushing water.
Gov. Ingram Stainback invoked
the Hawaii Defense Act, giving the
police more authority to control the
islands to prevent looting.
The mayor Of Hilo capital Of the
island of Hawaii, reported in a
broadcast picked up by the Navy in
Honolulu that 800 persons were
killed or missing.
Communications Disrupted
Communications between Hilo and
Honolulu were disrupted, however,
and many Of the reports were frag-
mentary. The great naval base at
Pearl Harbor, protected by two arms
OF land, was not, damaged.
Navy dispatches received at Hon
olulu said the great waves hit Mid
way and the johnson Islands caus-
ing major damage to communica-
ton facilities" but there was no loss
OF life. The Navy said new equipment
was being sent to Midway and John
ston.
1t was feared that the death toll
would mount during the day as res
cue workers dug into the ruins Of the
wrecked homes on Hawaii. The num-
Der OF persons injured already totals
several hundreds.
AT least 140 persons were known
to be dead or missing in the three
areas swept yesterday by tidal waves
There were 10 known dead in the
Islands and upwards OF so missing
10 dead in the Aleutians and one
on the California coast which also
was battered by heavy seas.
Communications were disrupted
generally and Kodiak was entirely
cut off.
More May Came
Fears were felt that still more
tidal waves might hit the Hawai-
ians. In Honolulu, 1t. Comdr. Will
liam D. Patterson, head Of the Ha-
WaiianS Coast and Geodetic Survey,
said the tidal wave heading toward
Kodiak might be travelling as fast
as 300 knots and that new walls
OF water may also be racing toward
Hawaii.
Hawaii Island suffered the worst
blow. Dwellings and warehouses
along the north coast were smash
ed. Great quantities Of food were
destroyed. At Hilo, four-foot bould-
erS were rolled ashore in the swir-
ling wall Of water. The towns gas
works was put out of commission.
Damage also was widespread on
Oahu Island where other thousands
were made homeless.
The State Militia and U. s. Army
troops were on emergency duty and
squadronS Of Pei fighter planes
were sent out to search for new
tidal waves and flash back warning
signals.
The known dead or missing in
'cluded 70 at Hilo, 10 at Laupahoe-
hoe, 80 miles north of Hilo, on
Oahu: is at Kauai; 26 on Maui
Island; 10 on Unimak Island in the
Aleutians; and one at Santa Cruz,
Cal.
Shore Battered
High waves were reported along
most Of the West Coast of the
United States during yesterday aft
ernoon. WharveS, resort places, Ma
Wy installations and ship mooringS
were battered. An abandoned Coast
Guard barracks at Half Moon Bay.
CAL, 80 miles south of San Fran
cisco, were washed away. Hundreds
of small boats were torn loose from
their moorings.
With communications badly dis
ruptedS the fate Of hundreds OF
ships at sea was not yet deter
mined. One vessel, the Brigham
Victory out Of Puget Sound, Wash.
sent word that she was trapped
by the tidal wave between the
breakwater and the dock at Hilo.
The hugs waves were believed 10
have originated in the vicinity OF
Unimak Island In the Aleutlans
Reports said that the new waves
we're travelling north and east.
Reports on the progress Of the
wall Of water heading toward Ko-
alak were being sent from Anchor
age. The Navy also ordered Al
uapsonn an Middleton fsland. In the