January 15, 1899 Tsunami: East Coast, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea

In 1899 on the eastern coast of New Ireland, there was an earthquake and a destructive tsunami which destroyed many huts on the coast. Waves were also observed in Albatros Strait between New Ireland and Bandissin Island. [It is possible that these data relate to the earthquake of Oct. 19, 1899 at 0916 UTC, which was registered by seismic stations in the region of New Britain.] (ref #414)

In 1899 an earthquake on the East Coast of New Ireland generated a tsunami that was observed on the East coast of New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, several houses were wrecked. (ref #79)

The steamer Archer, from the Islands, flying the flag of the Circular Saw Line, yesterday came alongside the wharf at Barbary's... Her cruise extended to New Britain, New Ireland, and many islands to the east of New Ireland... The Archer reports that a tidal wave visited the Marshall Islands on January 15 last, doing a great deal of damage to several islands. In the Caroline one small island was completely washed away. The same wave reached as far as New Ireland, but did not do much damage. (ref #5865)

The captain reports that a tidal wave swept over several of the islands, causing a considerable amount of damage. The tidal wave was also felt at the Gilbert and Ellice groups, New Ireland, and Fead Island. At Nukufatan the tidal wave was very destructive, and at Fead Island it devastated the native settlements. While the Archer was a Jaluit, in the Marshall Islands, a German trading schooner came into port from the Carolines, and reported that the tidal wave had extended there, causing great loss of life. Captain Hitchfield, of the German schooner, informed Captain Henry, of the Archer, that one of the Caroline group had been entirely swept away by the wave, and that several hundred lives must have been lost. Captain Hitchfield was in the vicinity at the time, and succeeded in rescuing some of the natives. The same wave reached as far as New Ireland, but did not do much damage there. (ref #6146)

The Archer brings some sensational island news. From the Marshall Islands the captain reports that a tidal wave had swept over several of the islands, causing a considerable amount of damage. The tidal wave was also felt at the Gilbert and Ellice Groups, New Ireland, and Fead Island. At Nukufatau considerable damage was done, and also at Fead Island the wave played havoc with the native settlements there. While at Jaluit, in the Marshall Islands, the German trading schooner Queen of the Isles came into port from the Carolines, and reported that the tidal wave had extended there, and caused great loss of life. Captain Hitchfield of the German schooner, told Captain Henry, of the Archer, that one of the islands of the Caroline group had been entirely swept by the wave, and that there must have at least several hundred lives lost. Captain Hitchfield was in the vicinity at the time, and succeeded in rescuing some of the natives. The island, he stated, had been completely washed away. The same wave reached as far as New Ireland, but did not do much damage there. (ref #7438)

Ref #12836 states 200 lives saved not lost, and these lives were in Gilbert Islands not Caroline Islands

Great damage was done at the Marshall Islands by a tidal wave in January last; and in the Carolines one small island was completely washed away. (ref #7437)

The officers report that a tidal wave visited a number of the islands, and caused frightful damage to property and suffering to people. (ref #7436)

A tidal wave at Siota, the headquarters of the Melanesian Mission in the Solomon Islands, completely destroyed the native village, it is feared with loss of life. (ref #7439)