Island Disastar.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue IX, 28 February 1903, Page 613

Island Disastar.

CYCLONE IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC. VILLAGES SWEPT AWAY. SIX HUNDRED LIVES LOST. Tiie cataclysm which devastated some of the islands of the Tuamotu Group, or Low Archipelago, and caused the death of six hundred persons, brings home to us in a painful manner what mere dots thousands of the islets which stud the Pacific are, when compared with the vast waters in which they lie. A few feet represents the difference between their highest points and the level of the sea — in fact, one might almost speak of them as being awash with the tide, and when we consider the storms that sweep the tropic seas, the marvel is that we do not hear more frequently of such terrible events. The group in question was formerly known as the “Paumotu.” This is a corruption of the original native name, and means “conquered islands.” The islanders protested against this appellation, and upon their representations the French authorities changed the name to “Tuamotu,” which means “the distant isles,” or “the isles at the back,” having reference, of course, to their situation In regard to Tahiti. The following vivid account of the disaster is from our correspondent at Papeete. PAPEETE, January 24. Terrible loss of life and damage was occasioned in the Tuamotu or Low Archipelago by a terrific cyclone, which struck the group on January 13, sweeping a number of the islands, and doing considerable damage on others. The islands swept are Hao or Bow Island, Hikueru or Melville Island, Raroia or Barclay Island, Makemo or Philip Makatea or Aurora Island, Takaravu, Amann of Moller Island, Marokau, Takume, and Tike'.iau. From the meagre details gathered at Papeete it also appears that the cyclone struck the Marquesas Group, and that a great deal of damage was caused, while on the island of Napo a severe shock of earthquake was felt. No estimate has yet been made of the loss sustained by the traders and inhabitants, but it will be very considerable, as they have lost everything, and are in fact completely ruined. The Government is taking measures to relieve the distress. Some of the islands, which lie very little above the level of the surrounding seas, were swept by the waves raised by the cyclone, many of the inhabitants being drowned, and others saving themselves by climbing cocoanut trees, on which they remained for six or eight hours in imminent fear that their frail refuges would break under the strain, and precipitate them into the raging water below. COMPLETE DEVASTATION. The Island of Hikuera was the one on which the most severe damage was occasioned, and here 400 lives, including eight Europeans, were lost. In October of last year the island was opened to pearl-

shell diving, and its population numbered 1,000 souls. The full force of the hurricane was experienced, and the islet on which the fishing village was established was swept clean, a chaotic mass of the debris of human habitation marking the site. The cocoanut palms were nearly all blown down by the force of the wind and waves, which were driven across_a large portion of the island, completing the destruction of property which the wind had commenced, and a large number of the inhabitants, no less than 377 persons having been killed by falling trees and houses, or drowned in the terrific seas. A VILLAGE DESTROYED. The destruction on Takume Island was also awful in its extent. On this island were two large villages, but after the cvclone had passed but one remained, the other having been razed to the ground by the terrific force of the gale. The sea did not sweep the island, however, and the loss of life was not extensive, a total of 15 natives perishing. TWO ISLANDS SWEPT. At Ravahere and Marokau the full force of the cyclone was met, and a fearful scene of desolation and death met the eye when the fury of the storm was spent". The bodies of 97 natives lay among the debris of their ruined habitations, death having been caused by falling huts and trees. Not a single habitation was left standing, and the survivors were absolutely shelterless until fresh huts could be put together. TWO VILLAGES DESTROYED. At Hao or Bow Island, and Amanu Island, the latter of which is an islet a few miles to the north-east of Bow Island, the gale was felt in all its severity. One of the largest villages of the group was established at Bow, and there was another large village at Amanu. Both of these were entirely destroyed, every house in the settlements being levelled. The loss of life was not serious, how ever, only five lives being lost at Bow, and the same number at the village of Amanu. DAMAGE AT RAROIA. During the height of the gale a huge sea swept clean over the island of Raroia. sweeping everything before it. Fifteen of the inhabitants were kill ed. and every house was blown down or swept away by the sea. THE LEAST SUFFERERS. The islands which appear to have suffered least are Matatea, Makemo, Tikehau and Takarava. These islands were partly swept by the sea, and some of the houses and stores were washed out, a number of the cocoanut palms were torn up or twisted and broken by the force of the cyclone, and the soil and sand was washed off the reefs. EIGHTY PEARLERS WRECKED. At Hikuera 80 pearling cutters were driven ashore, and with the exception of two or three, smashed to matchwood. The boats were anchored within the lagoon, but so heavy was the. sea here that the anchors would not stand the strain put on them, and dragged along the bottom until the boats smashed on the shore.

THE WORK OF RESCUE. News of the disaster was brought to Papeete on January 24 by the small trading steamer Excelsior, and the authorities immediately dispatched the warships Durance and Zeile to the devastated islands, the Governor proceeding by the former vessel. Food and water for the survivors were conveyed by the warships; the Italian cruiser Calabria, which was at Papeete, also went to render whatever assistance was possible. The warships Durance and Zeile returned from the Tuamotu Islands on the night of February 6th, having brought down a number of survivors from the islands visited by the cyclone. THE SAFETY OF SCHOONERS. The fate of several schooners, which were in the group at the time of the cyclone, is unknown, and grave fears are entertained as to their safety. Up to February 7th no news of them had been received in Papeete. FURTHER LOSS FEARED. The officers of the Ovalau state that from the island of Napuka, which is one of the most north-easterly islands of the Low Archipelago, no report has been received. The population of the island is about 100, chiefly natives, and as its elevation is not more than from four to five feet above sea level grave fears are expressed in Tahiti for the safety of the inhabitants. Cyclonic weather, such as is reported, would drive the seas up over the land. AT HIKUERA. FOUR HUNDRED LIVES LOST. STORY OF A SURVIVOR. PATHETIC SCENES. At Hikuera, or Melville Island, as already stated, the damage was most severe. Mr C. E. Palmer, the one European who escaped, and whose wife was

drowned, tells a pathetic story. They belonged to one of the several “motus," or small islet villages, on the island of Hikuera. When the cylone overtook their little village the inhabitants for the most part took to the cocoanut trees. Mr Palmer with the aid of ropes climbed up one of these trees, but his wife, her father and mother, whose name was Brander, remained below hanging on to the ropes. Palmer called out to them to come up the tree if they could, but they replied that they were all right where they were. Scarcely hud the words been uttered when a huge sea, driven by the force of the wind, washed up against the tree and carried Mrs Palmer and Mr and Mrs Brander away. It is presumed they were drowned. as they were never seen again. The same gentleman also gives another pathetic account of a young native girl who successively climbed three cocoanut trees which were all blown or washed down one after the other. The last tree was uprooted and it fell on top of her, killing her instantly. THE EUROPEAN DEATH ROLL. The names of the white people killed or drowned in the disaster arc as follow : — Alex. Brand. Janson N. Plunkett P. Guitton Mrs C. Palmer I’. Donnelly Volma Snridt William Denham. On the 20th a native schooner called, and from her a little water and provisions were obtained.