Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-07-06
TIDAL WAVE ON LAKE ERIE.
A Marine Phenomenon Apparently De.
vised for the Special Dedication Of
CleyelsnderS.

'ASoN AOT tWe OpeCl0l UcloctauO0 Ol
CleSelanders.
CLEVELAND, June %. - A tidal
wave two miles wide and IL feet high
swept the lake in front Of here this
morning. 1t came in the wake of q
dense and looking black and
gray cloud, which moved from the
northward over the city. There was
no wind or rain at the lake shore.
Some rain fell in the city and the wind
blew forcibly. South of the town
vessels parted their lines at the mouth
OF the river. Piers and docks were
submerged four feet in some places,
and hundreds of fishes were cast
ashore.
Large logs washed ashore and the
hfe-saving station was badly wrecked
and various other damage was done.
The wave lasted about minute.
Several parties fishing in skiffs report
a sudden rise Of water and violent
commotion like whirlpool. The
skiffis weathered the storm without
accident. The damage to property
on shore is estimated at 100000.
A fire was put out at the Lake
Erie rolling mills. A scow loaded
with sand was landed high on the
shore, and short stretch Of railway
near the union depot was ripped up.
Numerous small buildings were
overturned. A tramp sleeping near
the lake was drowned, and a man
standing on the bank washed against
the wall of the Union depot. An
other sitting on the switch house
was buried under a stove. Iron rails
% feet long were lifted up and scat
tered in confusion.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
CLEVELAND, o., July 3.-Onc Of
the most terrific tidal waves ever
witnessed along the lake front hap
pened this morning about 20 min
utes past o'clock. Without a mo-
ment's warning mighty wave, 10
feet high, travelling with wonderful
velocity, struck the south shore.
Vessels were torn from their moor.
ings, lighthouses were smashed,
railroad tracks washed out, and
a luckless fisherman sitting on
the bank near fuckers boathouse,
which was at least ten feet from the
surface of the water, was caught and
carried out to sea and drowned.
From all the data that can be gather
ed the present phenomenon is strange
to the memory of the oldest lake cap
tain at this point, and vessel men
pronounce it not only unprecedented,
but the most remarkable that they
have ever witnessed. From the most
reliable information the circumstan
ces connected with the appearance of
the wave are that at 6 O'Clock a
soft, balmy breeze was blowing over
the lake from the south, and SO mild
as to scarcely ruflle the surface of the
water. About fifteen minutes later
people along the shore heard a low
rumbling noise over the lake. At
the time not cloud was seen. The
wind quickly shifted to the north !;
suddenl y tremendous wave was seen
driving toward the shore. Those on
the beach Immediately sought place
of safety and watched with interest
the great mass of water strike the
shore. Immediately on it came
with constantly increasing momen-
tum, and with a great crash it struck
the shore, tearing everything to
pieces and covering the ground with
debris. The most damage was done
when the wave receded, for the un-
dertow washed out the banks and
carried stones weighing many tons
into the lake. After the wave re.
coded there was no further disturb
ance. The wind changed to the
south, and the surface of the lake
was again unruffied, but was coy-
cred with timbers, railroad ties,
boards and broken piles. The
freight-track of the Lake Shore Rail
way was carried away for nearly a
mile, and the bank was DESTROYED in
many places.
The Railroad Employees Gain Their
Point.