Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-12-29
AN OCEAN TERROR.
Ten Thousand Gigantic Logs Toss
ing About on the Waves.
Ihey Formed an Immense Raft which
Had 20 Ee Abandoned by Tug In
storm-A Menace 20 the
Vessels OF Commerce.

Towing big RATS Of timber in tur-
bnlent sea is no easy task. SO Capt.
Thompson, of the tug Monarch, and
Fitot Wheeler told the other captains
and pilots along the water front the
other day, says the San Francisco Elk
aminer.
The Monarch started from Astoria
October ~ TO tow raft Of piles TO this
port. The Monarch arrived recently
but the raft is atioat In sections on the
Pacific ocean. II may be that every
one Of the ten thousand piles OF which
the raft was originally composed is
scattered driftwood on the high seas,
or perhaps few hundred Of these
great logs are still dashed, plunging
sidelong or headlong az the caprice of
every billow, and at every plunge
threatening collision with passing com
meree. Some unfortunate ship may
encounter one or more Of these rowing
timbers and few holes may be stove
into the sides Of unsuspecting vessels.
The raft was valued at fifty thousand
dollars, but II landed safely here would
have been worth four times as much.
BESIDES, there was eighteen Thousand
dollars insurance on the raft and its
loss will represent total loss 10 the
enterprising men who sought 70 have Il
tOwed into sun Francisco bay.
The trip Of the Monarch was rough
one from the start. Every precaution
had heen taken. The ioys were RATED
in cigar shape, previous experiences
with tosys u that kind having taught
Capt. Thompson many a lesson ia
methods ~ lashing, but the south
eastern gale, which has done 50 much
damage 10 the shipping Ia the north
was Too much for the logging expcdi
tlon and when they go, as far as the
Hecta Lighthouse, about 500 a. m. on
Tuesday, October 10, after having bat
lied with the elements four days and
four nights. they decided 20 abandon
what WAS left 81 their tow. Ii was not
much, for most of il had abandoned it.
self long before. The big raft com
mcnccd 70 lose piles and the heavy
/ chains which held them together had
long aimee heen nothing but drng an
chors.
The wind was 50 heavy that the
Monarch could not possibly make any
/ Roadway, and the FIRST night ont she
had 20 lie In the trough 81 the sea.
/ Heavy fras and gales continued ali the
7 time There was no possibility 20 con.
/ iinuc the voyage with the dragging Of
chains and logs rs handicap. and that
/ Is why the two captains decided 10
/ abandon their tow and cast the logs
/ adrift ON the pillows Of the turbulent
ocean. "a hang against ships wherever
( fhcy meet them; 60 drive big holes into
I their sides and. perhaps. 20 sink them.
Much Indignation was expressed
I among the men who go 90 sea and the
mea who have shipping interests.
/ They said that the attempt a. tow big
safia during stormy times is criminal
4 because every man acquainted with
I the cusst knows Il cnnnut he accom-
/ pllshcd. Many time Il has been tried
bu, never has anybody succeeded In
/ bringing q raft Of large dimensions
/ into this port fro,n the north except
when the winds were calm and the
scas were undisturbcd. II mny he dcnC
1t this season, said some 81 the old sea
dogs. II the open sca Is avoided aud the
trip Is made by dodginK along the
coast and by travelling through bays
and CULTS only. hut on the wide, open
ocean. during stormy seasons, no Ore
vun timlscrs will ever be made to float
! Int, thr waters Of San Francisco bay