The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-05
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
General Greely's Inspection
Trip to Tatoosh.
CHANGE IN NEAH BAY STATION.
The Life Saving Service There Poorly
Located-Notes OF shipping on
sound and Ocean.

Captain E. Biondi, signal service officer
at Port Townsend, was in the city yester-
day. and in conversation with Posi-
INTELLIGENCE reporter, relative to has
trip with General Greedy on his tour OF in-
spection on the Sound, he said:
I'VE returned yesterday. having been
down the Sound as far as Tatoqsh island.
The trip was made in the revenue cutter
Oliver Woicott, and through the courtesy
of Captain A. Buhner, of that boat, We
were made very comfortable on board.
Weighing anchor at o'clock Saturday.
steamed down the Straits of Fuca. The
day was all that could be expected or
wished for. The atmosphere was so clear
that the peaks of distant mountains could
be plainly seen. The straits, with their
abrupt shores rising upwards so high, had
the appearance of a wide river. 1t was
just before dark when we entered
the spacious harbor of Port Angeles with
its lighthouse at its right and deep
bay formed by low sand spit run
ming from high bluff in an casterly di-
rection about three miles. This is called
Ediz Hook. On the north side Of the har-
Dor is the town of Port Angeles. The
depth of water in the harbor is from fifteen
to seventeen fathoms. This is the first
good harbor north of San Francisco. 1t is
fifty miles from the sea and we'll protected
from all directions excepting from the
east, and the winds seldom blow with vio-
lence from this quarter. We landed and
were received by Mr.. +. T. Thomas, the
observer, with whora General Greedy con-
versed at length regarding the future needs
Of the service at this station.
hno hA Vol ho
steamed out of the harbor into the straits
bound to the westward, and arrived at
Neah bay next morning at o'clock. The
party landed upon the smooth beach, and
were met by Keeper Charles Cooper, who
escorted US to the United States lifestation,
when Captain Bushner, of the Wolcott,
made an official inspection. This station,
We were told, is soon to be abandoned by
order of Chief Sumner F. Kimball. of the
life saving service, who recognizes the
mistake he has made in causing this
building to BE erected where the
life boat can never be launched,
owing to reef of rocks making out from
the station. So after years of unnecessary
expense and disappointments, he has at
last condemned it, and after the equip
ments have been removed it will be sold
to the Indians. From the station We were
taken to the signal station. where we were
received by Mr.. Charles Eddy who. for a
number of years, held the position of OBJ
server and operator. Since the abandon
ment of the line from Port Angeles, Mr..
Eddy remained in charge of government
property. General Greedy made arrange
ments to engage his services, as soon as
the cable is laid to Tatoosh and the shore
line reconstructed to Port Angeles.
1--WE learned that the Indian school in
charge of Mr.. John P. McGlinn. the agent,
is in prosperous condition. and that fifty
or sixty children of the Indians are taught
by Mr.. McGovern, DR.. Reynolds, Miss
Balch Mr.. Rees and Mr.. Babcock. Re.
turning to the Wolcott we got breakfast,
and steamed out toward the ocean, OBJ
served Tatoosh island, Cape Flattery and
its surroundings, when the cutter was
headed up the Straits of Fuca, arriving at
Port Townsend at pm. Sunday"