THE PACIFIC CYCLONE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 42, 20 February 1903, Page 4

THE PACIFIC CYCLONE.

FURTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE DISASTER.

TERBIBLE EXPERIENCES.

Press Association. Electric Telegraph,

Oopyright. Auckland, February 19.

The following further account of the disaster on Hikewia, which was dealt with most severely by the hurricane, is given by a survivor:—

On Monday, January 12th, quite a heavy sea from the northwest was observed breaking on the reef. It increased in violence, and aext day washed out a few small huts situated on the beach. On the 13th it increased to such an extent that the store of the late Alex. Brand, the dwelling house, and the Mormon Church were washed bodily across the Motu (small islet) into the lagoon. Coppearath's store by this time was partly wrecked, and several of the dwelling houses were carried off their foundations. Some of the natives had now left the settlement for the Islet on the other side of the lagoon, and gave such a bad report of the damage done to the village that the people decided to remain where they were instead of carrying out their first intention of sailing to the village. This was a most unfortunate occurrence, as the whole loss of life, with one ex* ception, occurred o these " motus."

On the 15th the wind was blowing very hard from the east northeast and the sea was much heavier. During the afternoon the balance of the houses in the village were wrecked and after dark were completely washed away. Before dark oo the 15th the inhabitants of the village fled to the middle of the motu. Later they were forced once more to flee through the falling cocoanut palms, ploughing through the sea and wind and rain, to the extreme end pt the motu. At this place they were huddled together, cramped and miserable with exposure to the rain and wind, which by this time was blowing a hurricane from the south* ea»fc, expecting death any moment. There they remained till nearly noon, when the wind, which by this time was south wesb, abated.

Between midnight of the 15th and daylight of the 16th the wind caused such a heavy sea in the lagoon that every cutter and boat therein anchored (about 80) was thrown on shore, and with the exception of two or three, were completely smashed. The wreckage of the houses, boats and fallen trees at the middle of the motu, below the site of the settlement, was piled in many places twelve to fifteen feet high.

On the Motu's inside lagoon the sea did not do much damage till the night of the 15th and 16th. It then rushed across the land is torrents, and carried away all the houses. The inhabitants then took to ropes tied to cocoanut trees, but the sea was so high that very few succeeded in resisting its force. Of those that took to the cocoanut trees the majority were saved, among the mumber being Charles Palmer, the only European to escape out of nine. On the same side of the lagoon it was piteous in the extreme to hear above the roar of the wind and sea the cries of children as they were torn from the hold of their fathers and mothers. In some cases the parents would hold their children long after they were dead. Oud of about 500 people living on this side of the lagoon 377 were drowned or killed. Of the balance 20 or 30 were washed across the lagoon, and miraculously escaped death when thrown upon the beach at the settlement.

After the cyclone had abated people in the village on the motu pulled one of the boats which were in good condition into the lagoon, and sent her to visit all the mbtus and pick up the snrvivors. She returned in the evening with 45, about the same number having come in daring the day by walking along the reef.|

A great many natives acted very badly after the gale, their first action being to search among the wreckage for trmnkfl, which they burst open and robbed. In many cases the people of the island subsisted practically on wetflour made into doughboys and such tinned provisions as could be found among the wreckage or in the shallow water of the lagoon. The principal trouble was the shortage of water, all the water-holes being now spoiled.

Mr Gilbert, the American mission ary, with great trouble, and having very poor assistance from the natives,1 rigged up aoondenser from two tanks and a piece of tubing taken from the remains of an iron bedstead, and distilled enough water to keep things going.

Dr Brunati, administrator, issued many wise suggestions and orders, but they were acted on in such a halfhearted manner where not completely ignored that they were of little avail.

In the European death • roll the names of the white people killed or drowned in the disaster are:—Alex. Brand, Janson, N. Plunkett, P. Guit ton, Mrs C. Palmer, P. Donnelly, Volena Smidt, William Denham.

On the 20th a native schooner called, and from her a little water and proTisions were obtained. The writer left the island on January 24th by the steamer Excelsior, arriving at Papeete on the 27th.