Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-24
THE MAN IN THE LIGHTHOUSE.


There was just one man amid all that
wild scene OF death and devastation
who was uot overwhelmed in the COM
mon ruin. He escaped, while forty
thousand persisted. He was light
house keeper who lived alone on an iso-
lated rock in the strait. 1t was broad
daylight when Kr q katau burst asunder
but in few moments the heavens were
so depsely shrouded by dust, mud and
smoke that the darkness Of midnight
covered all the channel. The guardian
of the lighthouse was In the lantern 100
feet above the sea level. Here he re-
NAMED safe and sound In the midst OF
the terrible commotion.
He felt the trembling OF his light
house, but II was so dark that he could
not see the threatened danger. He did
not know that tremendous wave had
almost overwhelmed the lighthouse, and
that its crest had nearly touched the
base of the lantern. He did not hear IL
because he was deafened by the awful
defamation of Krakatau.
AN AVALANCHE OF WATERS.
In few moments, however. the wave,
over a hundred feet In height, had
swept along a total coast line OF nearly
a hundred miles on both sides OF the
channel.
Scores OF populous villages were
buried deep between the avalanche OF
water. Great groves Of cocanut palms
were leveled TO the ground. Promon-
tories were carried away. New bays
were dug out of the yielding littoral.
Every work OF human hands, except the
lighthouse, was. destroyed. and 10000
persons persisted In the deluge that
mounted from the sea or beneath the
rain of mud that filled the heavens.
THE BATAVIA STEAMER.
This is a picture of little side wheel
steamboat that was borne on the top OF
that wave through forests and jungle,
over two miles into the country, and
was left as the ways recede in the posi-
ton here shown. 1t will be remembered
that for weeks before the final cataclysm
at Krakatsu, the volcano was In a state
of eruption. Pleasure parties were
made up at Batavia TO visit the volcano.
Not few people landed on the island,
little dreaming that In the twinkling Of
an eye two-thirds OF IL was TO be blown
into the air as though shot from q gun.
They wished to get as near as they
thought they might safely venture TO
the growing, steaming crater. This
little steam boat, on the day before the
explosion, carried one these parties to
the island. There were only twenty on
board besides the crew. They spent a
~ hn Gel
then steamed up the deep and narrow
bay OF Lampong, and II is supposed they
anchored for the night in front Of the
big town of Telokh-Betone. which was
one Of the largest settlements on the
south coast OF Sumatra.
OVER AND OVER.
The ill-fated pleasure party was
never heard of again. 1t is supposed
that the boat was turned over and over
like an egg shell In the surf. II had
every appearance OF such rough usage
when IL was found some months later.
The machinery and furniture were badly
broken and were strewn about In the
greatest confusion. But the vessel held
together and was finally set down In
good shape erect on her keel, as she is
seen in the picture which was made
from drawing by Mr.. Korthals, q men,
Der OF the Dutch scientific party that
was sent out to study the effect OF the
hrakatau eruption.
Only two bodies were found In the
vessel. They were, OF course, below
deck. AS IL was morning when she was
picked up by the wave, 1t is supposed
that nearly everybody was on shore.
Not . vestage remains OF the villages
that lined the water edge. But the hulk
of this little boat still stands, battered
and broken. though as erect as when
she plowed the channel, and she IL the
most curious and interesting relic OF the
oreatest yoicanic eruption Of modern