The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-12
BY THE WINDS KNIFE.
Clallam County's Great Forests
Moved Like Grass.
THE LOSS WILL REACH MILLIONS.
Many Settlers in the Dense Woods
Probably KilIed-A Church 1t
South Bend Blown Down.

PoRT ANGELES, Dec. 7-tspecial Correspon.
dence. Having this morning passed through
one OF the grandest and most terrific storms IL
has been my lot to witness, and not knowing
whether 1t was general throughout the Sound
country, viii send you a description of it.
There were seven In our party camped on the
Elwha river, at the foot of the Olympic mount.
aims. in Ciallam county, and after gentle rain
during the night our cook arose at 4:30 and pre-
pared breakfast and summoned US to the same
az 6 o'clock
While passing in the darkness from our tent
to the dining tent loud and cracking sound
was heard like distant thunder and broken tim
Der. Our first thought was that large jam OF
logs and trees in the canyon above had broken
loose and was sweeping everything In the bot
toms on which we were camped before ii, and
during the few minutes OF anxiety there was no
thought of breakfast After listening few
moments, undecided what to do, the roaring
and cracking seemed to get nearer, and soon
its cause became apparent although the dark.
ness was SO intense that nothing could be seen.
Large trees, giants Of the forest, from three to
five feet through, commenced to fall around US
without apparent cause at first, but soon the
storm in all its fury and grandeur burst upon
Us. The wind was terrific, accompanied by a
binding rain, and trees fell by thousands on
the hills and surrounding country, and sounded
like continuous roar of artillery.
ness, not daring to move, not knowing what
moment giant of the woods might fall, where
tops could be seen dimly against the sky, sway
ing to and fro, trying with Hurculean
strength to withstand the fury OF the blast, and
finally, like their fellows, having to give in to
superior strength, 1t was indeed a trying
time. We were camped in deep valley
behind a point of mountain, which broke
the wind Tor q short distance around US,
but the trees from the hills would almost reach
ouz camp, and the air was full of flying limbs,
ard we could hear them striking the ground
around us, but not being abls to see them, we
could not try to avoid them, and had to stand
and take our chances; not daring to take to the
river, not knowing what moment the jam,
which was dangerous one and had been in
creased by the newly-fallen trees, might start
and sweep everything before it, as had once be-
fore occurred in this same place, not leaving q
standing tree from the canyon to the mouth OF
the river. We were equally afraid to look to the
hills, as life was not safe there for moment.
Thus we passed long hour waiting for light,
now hearing fearful crash, and uselessly dodg-
Ing and running IN the small space occupied by
our camp.
Finally daylight broke and to our anxious
minds the dawn was never more welcome. But
what scene it presented. Nothing more grand
could be imagined The storm could be seen
sweeping over the mountains, carrying trees by
the thousands before it. Accompanied by the
rain and terrible roar, 1t lasted until about a.
m. Taken altogether it was sight never to be
forgotten. and the damage to timber in this Sec
ton will be immense, but as we nave not been
able to communicate with the surrounding
country We are unable to give any definite ac-
count of the damage, but should not be sur
prised to hear OF deaths or accidents, as many of
the settlers ehacks sit in the woods without any
clearing around them.
LATER-Since writing the above the writer has
been able to get definite information, and the
effects of the storm are so much worse than de-
scribed above that no words of the writer can
convey any idea OF the damage done. On the
new county road just completed by the county
at a cost of 100000, the wreck Is complete.
Thousands OF trees of every are laying across
the road in every conceivable shape SO that II Is
impossible to travel even on foot, and every
fence and barn and most OF the houses OF the
ranchers are total wrecks.
The damage to timber will run into millions
OF dollars. The woods are one complete tangled
mass of wreckage. It will take months to clear
the roads and will cost more money than has
been expended building the road. At Mr.. Burl-
ingames camps, one on the Elwha and one at
Lake Sutherland the teams are without food
and Lake Sutherland is without supplies and no
way to get any. In ali probability the work will
have to be abandoned for the present. Scattered
through the country are many men on claims,
living alone, and no doubt, when all are heard
from, We viii hear of many deaths. Will