The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-21
THE TATOOSH LIGHT.
Rocky Island Whence Warm
ings of Danger Come.
PASSING SHIPS TO BE REPORTED.
Description of the Sound Sentry station
Particulars and Reasons OF the
Charges Against the idaho

| at Tatoosh island, regusstea lnat snip
masters be informed through the news
papers that the observer at Tatoosh island
is ready to report at all times the names OF
passing vessels, if they are flying their sig
nal numbers. A great many vessels DO
not fly their signals when passing Iatoosh
island. If they pass within two miles OF
the island their names can be read. other
wise they have to be reported by their rig.
| These reports sent from Tatoosh and pub
lished in all the papers would be more val
liable if ell vessels passing would display
their signals. Signals can be read the
| width of the straits. Mr.. Beaham kindly
| incloses an interesting description of Ia
toosh island, the lighthouse and signal sta
ton, and says:
! I suppose nearly everybody has read some
thing about our lighthouses History informs
| US that the first lighthouses were very simple
! affairs, called eight heading towers" One OF
| the Seven Wonders Of the World, the famous
! Phsros OF Alexandria, built about 2S5 B. C., is
/ the light of undoubted record. The lighthouse
| Of corunna, Spain, is believed to be the oldest
existing light tower. This was built in the
reign of Trsisn, and in 1854 it reconstructed.
/ The oldest tower in England is in Dover castle,
| and is called Caesars Altar" On these old
fashioned towers were fires of wood. man
would sit up all night and keep the fire
GE u4IeIeuL ere the IEEtS OF lolGt,
with their refiectors and powerful diopt:ic
lenses. Tatoosh light is welcome sight to
travellers coming from the south or west as it
is the first light sighted by ocean vessels bound
for Puget sound. The light is fixed white of
500 candle-power. with red ray bearing on
Duncan rock, and is visible at nineteen
nautical miles. II Ia enclosed in a black Ian
tern, supported by white conical tower rising
above gray sandstone dwelling, and is l62 feet
above the level OF the ses.
Nothing can be more beautiful than an entire
apparatus for fixed light Of the first order of
the present day. Il consists OF central belt OF
reiraeto-s, forming hollow cylinder six feet
in diameter and thirty inches high. Below it
are six triangular rings Of glass ranged in cyl
indrical toEn, and above, crown OF thirteen
rings OF glass. forming by their union a hollow
cage composed of polished glass ten feet high
and six feet in diameter. In the focu. of this
belt or dram OF glass the lamp is placed. As
the passage between the island and the cape is
rarely used, on account OF the recks, that por-
ton OF the light is economical by the use of
spherical mirrors placed on that side. These
are OF silyered copper, curved to radius equal
10 that Of the focal lenses to which they are ap-
piled, having the fame as center.
The mineral oil float lamp has five circular
Wicks, and during the long winter nights con-
sumes over eight gallons OF oil. Il is lighted ct
sunset and burns with full intensity until sun
rise.
In connection with the light there is also
fog signal, consisting OF q tyzelye-ineh steam
whistle, which, during foggy weather, gives
blasts OF eight seconds with interval of fifty
two seconds There are four men on duty here
all the time. The night is divided into four
watches, as the lamp requires constant atten-
ton. In addition to the duties attendant on
the light and fog signals. the keepers are re-
quired TO make the necessary minor repairs
about the machinery and premises, TO keep the
hTfft of1ra rubf had and to
and TO cultivate the little land IN connection
with the station.
In 1888 the government constructed tele-
graph line from Port Angeles, Wash, to the
cape, along the south shore OF the straits, and
connecting the island by submarine cable A
| building was erected on the northeast portion
| OF the island, and a weather bureau station of
| the second order opened. At this station an OBJ
seryation OF the barometer, hygrometer, max
| imum and minimum Thermometers, state of
weather and direction and velocity OF the wind
| is taken and telegrsphed to the chief officer at
| Washington City and to San Francisco, CAL at
| 5a. IN and . D. m. daily. In addition TO the
| above regular reports OF the bureau, report of
| the state OF weather, direction aud velocity of
| the wind, names of passing vessels, together
| with such information as may be signaled from
the vessels, Is telegraphed free of charge TO the
observer at Port Angeles ct $50 g. n, noon and
| p N. daily. These reports are by him turned
| over TO the Postal Telegraph Company at Port
Townsend, where they ere bulleiined and
| distributed TO all ports on the Sound and to
| Portland, Or, and San Frsnciscy, Cal Oh
/ server F. r. Besham, of the weather bureau is
at present in charge of the station.
| The island is irregular in outline and with n
! rolling surface covers area Of about seventeen
acres. Each side is perpendicular precipice of
from seveaty-hve TO 100 feet. and only in one
| place, on the northwest side, where steps have
been cut on the side of 8 iatting rock. can the
ascent or descent 20 or from the island be made
A. the base of this passage is sort of beach
! formed by the continued action Of the tides of
| ages, disconnecting portion of the original
| island, which the ravages of time have not vet
I reduced 10 the level of the ocean bed The ex-
| tent of the beach when the tide is low is about
go feet long by 100 feet wide but at high tide it
/ is very much less. In winter the tides wash
across II very frequently. This is the only Mace
| where landing can DE made OF any kind and
I then IL can only be done with canoe or small
/ boat. There are a number of small rocks on the
! north and west side which project above the
/ surface OF the water from twenty TO fifty feet:
There are also number OF still smaller rocks in
/ the entrance 70 the beach which makes 4 land.
I ing rather dangerous.
The high rolling waves strike some of the
| larger rocks, dsshing the spray 100 feet or more
! higa, and in wintersis is a common occurrence
/ Tor high winds 70 carry the spray and foam
clear across the island. 1t is only the Indians
"
I - understand these wild freaks Of nature. who
can land or depart during the rougher months
i OF the ye9r. II frequently happens thgt even
! these cannot get here with the mail for two
weeks and sometimes three weeks ana once
/ before the cable was laid il was as much as five
I weeks before the lighthouse men could obtain
! communication with the outside world.
There are several large caves in the island.
some OF them are thirty TO fifty feet above the
/ surface Of the water In fact the portion where
/ the weather bureau station is located is only
/ connected by a comparative crust. there being a
cave running Gisgoaslly through il About
I hsli the house rests on this crust ana the other
half on the solid portion. About thirty-fye feet
/ ron the west entrance to the weather bureau
Office is IN oval-shaped hole about thirtr-iye
feet In diameter where the crust caved in AT
some time. The depth to the surface OF the
water Is ssvenIy-ilve feet The average thunder
or the passage OF a tornado through lesfiess
/ forest, does not compare with the rush and roar
I o. the winds and waves through this cave dur
| iuS The prev lence of 8 storm. The island il
( Between three-iourths of a mile aud mile from
| the msinlsnd, the lstter mountainous wilder
| ness rising abruptly from the waters edgs 70
aoout 90 feet The shore is precipitoUs 10 Neah
I Day, distant seven miles. The southern shp-s
/ O. Vancouver island, or north shore OF ths
straits, Is also mountainous range, distant
about twelve miles.
/ Captain Alex simpson, the present keerer in
charge, received his appointment III 1906, and
/ WIN The exception Of q short tour of dutv ST
/ blngeness light, has been resident Of the
I island ever since Although having celebrated
MS 'oIa birthday, he bids fair take his night
/ 1! "s'eA N the tower for q number OF year. 10
| come c. W, sheldon, O. '. Brown and E NJ
tsf rha in,