The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-04-02
AN ACCURATE TIDE GUAGE.
Interesting Renaissance OF Marine
Disaster.

The dreadful news from Samoa ol
the destruction by a hurricane oi
the German and American feet II
the "harbor" OF Apia, is sort of in
timation on the part of the Almighty
to "breaksway." One breath OF His,
and the proudest vessels and their
hapless crews are whelmed meath
the waves.
OF all the vessels there, but one,
the English man-of-war CGtttope
was either dashed on the beach, or
sunk. The CGlliope escaped by 60
ing to sea. Vice consul Cherry says
the CalEiope is about 2,770 tons
burthen: she has over 1000 horse
power: she is virtually dispatch
boat, unarmored; plated with wood,
and copper over that.
Mr.. Louis Wilson yesterday
showed an Historian reporter data
that he has kept for many years.
It is generally known he daily
secures an exact chart Of the oscilla-
ton on the bar, which are Of recog-
nized value; but it is not so generally
known that the slightest seismic OF
marine disturbance in any part OF
the Pacific pulsates at our gates and
is indicated by the rise and fall OF
condition of the bar.
The Samoan hurricane which des-
troyed the German and American
vessels, and drowned over $50 sail
ors and seamen, passed over those
islands March 18th. Though 1000
miles away the storm was registered
on Mr.. Wilson's guage Of the con-
dition of the Columbia river bar.
Examination of the charts Of the
18th, 18th and 10Th of March show
that the swells increased on the bar
in length, heightl and violence from
36 hours to seventy-two hours Rfter
the terrible disaster in the far of
ocean that surrounds the Navigator
Islands.
As clearly as q pen could trace
words on white paper with the black
est ink, the self registering tide
guage showed Mr.. Wilson on these
three days that an unusual storm
was raging somewhere on the broad
bosom of the Pacific, and quicker
than any vehicle Of news could CON-
municate it, the waves of the ocean
told their own story.
'Do you remember" asked Mr.. Will
son OF the writer yesterday morning,
when the great earthquake occurred
on the west South American coast?"
"Yes," was the reply; sit was il
August, 1868; at africa: the U. s.
steamer OSSipee was carried two miles
inland by the great returning wave
and the town wrecked"
Mr.. Wilson nodded and going to
his farthest desk took out a roll oi
papers, yellow with age. One he
handed the reporter, which, when un.
rolled, showed the oscillations on the
Columbia bar on August 10Th, 1868
eighteen hours after the earthquake
on the South American coast. The
day before, the bar had been smooth;
that morning was only slightly agi
tated but eighteen hours after the
great earthquake and submarine con.
vulsion in South America, the wave
had reached the mouth of the Colum-
bia river, and meeting the resistance
OF the mighty food of waters flowing
out to sea, had registered the con-
hict.
Though taken nearly 81 years ago
the gusge showed clear and distinct
a mute memento of memorable &C.
currence.
The condition of the bar on that
day will be remembered by many old
residents OF Astoria. Two vessels
started to sea that morning; one got
safely out; the other, though drawing
less water, happened on the swells as
they were rising and falling in obedi.
ence to the impulse furnished by the
mysterious force generated in far of
Chile: she struck and was lost; her
name was the NimbuS: probably as
singular cause of marine disaster as
ever occurred, that an earthquake
$500 miles away should cause the
sinking of vessel on a usually quiet
sea.