March 26, 1897 Tsunami: Tinakula, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands

1897 Mar 26 ± 5 days.

In contrast with the Tongoa experience, however, was that of about the only European settler in the Santa Cruz group, Mr. A. E. C. Forrest. Mr. Forrest was formerly a missionary belonging to the Melanesian Mission, and settled in the Santa Cruz islands. Some time ago he resigned from the mission, and took up commercial pursuits, island life having an attraction for him. As the group is comparatively seldom called at by passing vessels news rarely reaches Sydney from there; but the Ysabel pays Mr. Forrest's station a visit about four times a year. She was there nearly three months ago and will return on her next outward trip from Sydney about a week hence. Mr. Forrest has written to Mr. Mitchell, of Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co. an account of a phenomenal experience he had in the latter part of March. It was a sudden outbreak of a volcano, which was followed by an overwhelming tidal wave. Santa Cruz Islands, seven in number, are notable as being the scene of the disastrous loss of the two ships Boussole and Astrola, of La Perouse, in 1788, an event which was not ascertained with any certainty until May, 1826, or 38 years afterwards. Santa Cruz Island [Nendo Island], on which Mr. Forrest resides, is the principal of the group, and it was here that natives attacked the boats of H.M.S. Pearl, under Commodore Goodenough, in August, 1875, and with their poisoned arrows fatally wounded the much respected Commodore. Mr. Forrest describes how the volcano burst forth with smoke and flame, emitting ashes, and all but ruining his plantations. At night there was a fearful roar out to seaward, and soon after a huge sea broke on the coast, smashing his trading craft into splinters, washing away the copra-house and demolishing his store of copra and cocoanuts, completing in fact the work of destruction left unfinished by the seismic disturbance. At the time of writing Mr. Forrest was not informed of what loss of life inland amongst the natives as a result of the eruption had taken place or what the effect of the tidal wave had elsewhere been on the Santa Cruz coast, but he fears, as the island is thickly populated, some fatalities have happened. The group is a volcanic one, and before contained an active volcano upon an uninhabited island not far from Santa Cruz. (reference #11695)