The sun., 1889-04-28
TALHOI,S RIDE TO DEATH.
Down - Raging Torrent and Into tho
stormy sea saw Log.
From TIE san Jose Mercur.

Rev. w. II. Baugh returned from Santa
Cruz Yesterday In an interview he said
The storm now raging at santa Cruz is a
the seas have been driven 10y the winds and
tides. and for the srea; quantity OF water which
has fallen in tue torrents Of rain. IT has been
walk on the beach. and day by day during that
time the storm had steadily grown fierGer
night the rain fell in great sheets, which
the wind blew with such violence that inc
drops ratified against the windows OF tho house
like huilStOnCs. The sea rose 10 the iloors OF
the NEPTUNE baths and encroached upon tho
land as far rs the sidewalk in front OF he Sea-
side Home: tho winds. lifting the white caps
them in n heavy spray to the verandaa o! tho
house while out at sea tn" waves and clouds
wero hudd.ed anu driven together cohluSeuly
"The fascination of the sight is felt by every
body never saw 80 many b.1Gr seoPEe IN santa
one of the wharves, not daring to venture upon
the other because It IS partly submerged be-
which dcscend- from the mountains to the sea
has aise risen TO u great height By reason Of tho
torrents OF, rain that have poured down into Il
for week. The river rose very suddenly
so suddenly. indeed. that it would seem II
rain cloud must hnye burst upon the western
slopes of the Santa Cruz mountains and let all
its waters descend with rush 10 tn" hills; At
the confluence Of the river and the ocean here
is an angry whirl OF conflicting waves and eur.
rents formed by tho strength OF tho sea and
tho rush of the r yer contendlng for the mas:
terry. The tumultuous billows. broken and
chopped to fragments in ths contest. and
tossed and driven BY the loud, roaring winds,
form an awful spectacle OF waste and ruin,
One could scarcely imagine ship striving
gers: aud il u stout boat had yentured into it
the people on the shore would have watched
very iercest OF this fury tho watchers OF tho
storm yesterday morning saw q man ride reck
lessly on no better. craft than a log.
The man was first noticed by the people
who were standing on tho bridge which l,aus
from Laurel street 10 Branceiorte; He was
then seen TO he coming down the swo !en
stream on log with n balance polo or paddle
in his hands. He was recognized as j. II. Tai
bot. who was known to be an experienced log
two years ago. Talbot had been accustomed
10 ride logs own the spring floods of Eastern
rivers, and il was evident from his action that
rushing dangers again. As he saw the crowds
on the bridge ho began to sing, and leapod
aboMt on the log. DANCING TO show his skill.
awaited him. shouted to HIM to make his way
to shore. But he answered only with a wave Of
few minutes the current bore him away from
the bridge. and the excited crowd ran down 10
every moment to make for the shore and aban-
Just above the lower bridge Talbot padded
his log up to, the bank and showed somo signs
OF landing. But the very moment when tho
log iouchei the bank he suddenly grew bold
again and pGshinG Gbn G started one. more
more and more troubled by reason Of the waves
that were coming up from the bay
g Not far below the bridge is a large rock,
and here again Talbot guided his craft in
safety and mi@;ht have stepped of and been
secure until boat could reach him. To tho
HIM to desist and save himself lc answered
again with defiant words. and let himself and
his craft be horne outward into The bay.
" Hero amid the tumult OF the waves he
seems to have seen for tho first time tho dan
gers into which his rashncss had brought him,
IIn soda la NJ md
fought for his life gamely: but he was us pow
erlehs to guide him elf as q straw driven about
by whirlwind, ilo called to the shore 10 tho
Watchers to bring him boat, but even rs he
called the forces around him had carried him
into such dangers a. no boat could survive.
all manner of eddying and buhbing waters
that. despite the way The lo. was rolled here
and there and pitched up and down in the
waves, he kept his perch.
There Is IL narrow neck OF land mt this pont
that, Jutting into the sea. separates the ocean
tunnel by which tn" wHters Dass and repass
from the inner to tho outer sea. at the calmrst
tide the rush through the tunnel Is strong and
the suction terrible. IN tho storm this tunnel
formed veritable whirlpool, around which
the waters gathered and tho waves struggled
pushed them buck and forth through the mar
Toward this spot the tumbline log VIVA
borne. with Talbot still bravc!y riding it and
keeping bis ieet Tho crowd who watched
him saw the log suddenly plunge, and log and
man vanished into tho tunnel
A large number OF people spent the hours
before left Santa Cruz in searching along the
beach for the body. but up to the time Of nv
departure itIhad not been seen"