The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-01-18
NUMBER 20.

Scows loaded with stone, and the great
mass OF the stone from the cribs of the
/ breakwater, timber and debris of every
description are sunk and strewn within the
space comprising the harbor behind the
treakwater. The railroad track along the
lake running to the elevator and warehouses
has been worked out of position, and set
/ tied down III the center SO that it canuot
be used. This track, you will remember,
Is of solid cribbing filed with stone, and
was supposed to be beyond the power Of
/ the elements. The elevator was somewhat
| damaged, (this is slight, however,) and the
/ foundation was showing signs of giving
away when the storm subsidized. If it had
continued twelve hours longer, nothing
could have saved it, and the railroad tracks,
w7areaelsseaa E.4a everything on the lake side
/ of Minnesota Point would have been swept
away. Behind the breakwater were moor
ed the St Paul, one Of the largest and
finest Of the Lake Superior steamers, two
very large schooners, one small schooner,
one powerful tug, and barges, scows and
small craft. The only thing saved was the
tug. The 'St. Paul is beached on Mime
sofa Point; and almost buried in sand and
/ gravel. Dredges are at work digging her
| out. She viii be saved, but damaged.
One Of the large schooners broke In two,
and is total wreck The otner is on the
beach, and very seriously damaged. The
tug, being powerful, was taken through the
canal and saved, Everything else was to-
tally destroyed, or as given above. The
piers at the canal suffered. Five hundred
feet was taken out clean and clear, and the
remainder somewhat iniured y
The Duluth Herald Of November 18th, a
paper not likely to exaggerate, in speaking
OF the storm says:
=" Although the wind went down to a
great extent yesterday, very heavy seas
continue to roll in from the lake. The great
storm OF the previous day and night, how
ever, had evidently done its worst. and some
of the results OF its mad fury were discern
able. Around the elevator and railroad
freight house, i'll the dock, along the beach
and at the canal q sad scene was present
ed, and the hearts of those who gazed upon
1t were grieyed beyond expression. x <
The wild fury OF the storm monarch ap-
pcased, we have an opportunity to some
what examine his terrible work; but it is
as yet utterly impossible to form even an
approximate estimate of the extent of the
injury we have sustained. It can hardly,
however, fall short of one hundred thou
sand dollars. The breakwater appears to
have suffered most seriously, for a good
portion OF quite number OF the cribs has
oeen torn away; whilst others Of them are
! Iii ted from their original positions. 1t is a
marvel to all tslat e ven lifragmei4t Of .la~'
structure remains. for the force OF the
breakers beating against it was of such
character rs to warrant the assertion that
| nIDCr of nctr1atipn acc of
extraordinary resisting power could with
stand the shock. 10 give those of our read
ers who had not the opportunity Of witness
ing the terrific spectacle, some idea of the
great power OF the roaring pillows that
every moment dashed against the breakwa-
ter, it is but necessary to say that the heavy
iron bolts used in the cribs were twisted off
and curled up with as much ease as if they
had been bucket-Wlre, whilst portions of
huge cribs ard massive timbers were tossed
about by the angry surge like wicker bas-
! ketS and straws"
! VIM Ii. Newton, Esq, the engineer be-
fore named, writing to me under date of
| the 10th ult., says: ''On the 9th inst. | ex-
amined the site of the destroyed breakwa-
ter at Duluth, and notwithstanding the pub
lished accounts, was not prepared to find
the destruction so complete. My familarl-
ty with it up to October enables me to ap-
preciate the demolishment that has befallen
| this work by a comparatively moderate
storm. The signal officers published re-
ports for October, noting the maximum ve
locity of the wind at % miles per hour, and
that of the 18th of November as SO miles
per hour, while reports of observers Of the
Lake Survey at that point show storms from
the same general direction frequently to
have been So to 60 miles per hour; there
/ fore this destruction should not be deemed
I as an exceptional case, but rather as an ev
idence of It's likelihood to occur again.
Such is the place where it is proposed
that the Government shall expend it's money
to create harbor, though perfectly safe
and land-locked natural harbor, and one of
the best in the world already exists, and
through which, if the dixie was removed,
] vessels could pass with small expenditure
! in dredging, to the docks Of Duluth and Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad. When
money is thus wantonly squandered, is it
strange that we hear cries of corruption
and extravaganza?
| | have thus dwelt at great and perhaps
tedious length upon this question, because
| it is one that has excited deep feeling in
the State, and the sentiment is universal
that q great wrong has been perpetrated.
jealousy, and this State would be glad to
see the Government SO improving Superior
harbor that vessels of the largest class
could reach the docks at Duluth.