The morning call., 1894-12-27
THE GOVERNMENT NOTIFIES.
Story of the Light Towers
Struggle With the Storm.
DISABLED BRIGANTINE IN PORT.
The Steamer Columbia Has Proceeded
up North-SeveraI Looked.
for Ships Sighted.

The Lighthouse Department gave it ont
officially yesterday that the 1illamoOk
Rock light station, which was totally dis
abled by hurricane on the 9th inst, has
been fully repaired. The repairs were
not easily performed, as the sea has been
so rough near the rock that the lighthouse
tender Columbine had difficulty in lying in
close enough to the station to make the
repairing material fast to the big swiDging
derrick by which provisions and other
things are hoisted to the lighthouse plat
form.
The individual reports of the three
keepers of the station are very interest
ing The documents have been forwarded
to Washington, but their substance is a
story OF how the gale started with mod
crate southeast blow. then shifted to the
southwest and finally developed iEto a
terrific blast, 80 severe that had human
being ventured into the gale from the pro-
tecting walls of the light tower he would
have been blown like a wisp into the sea
that leaped sh Oreward with such fury that
it tore great pieces of rock from the base
of the Tillamook ledge and flung them to a
height of 100 feet above the sea level.
The report to the Government also lays
great stress upon the tremendous height
of the waves that were agitated by the
storm. The seas off TillamOok have a
worldwide reputation for greatness, and
the new facts concerning how they de-
ported themselves during the hurricane
wi ii be read with interest. The top Of the
TillamoOk tower is 136 feet above low tide.
The waves were high enough to strike the
base of the tower and break with force
enough to send sheets Of spray and water
several yards above the tower top, flooding
the lentern-room and breaking the lenses.
The distance from the bottom OF the wal
legs" of the waves TO their tops must have
been about sixty or seventy feet. AT one
time the rack on which the lighthouse
stands was almost under water.
About halfway between Tillamook and
the mainland is pa:Ily covered rock.
When the breakers struck this obstruc-
ton they were thrown into the air like
great fan geysers. which distinctly marked
the spot for observation miles away.
The Colum bine put out from Astoria on
several trips with provisions, lumber,
lens-glasses and other material. After
repeated attempts she got her cargo in to
the lighthouse and landed several work
men.
The tug Fearless returned yesterday
from her search for the steamer Colum bia
that was reported off Point Reyes in dis
tyess Tuesday night. Captain Haskell said
probable that some trtiing accident hap
pened to the Columbia. necessitating her
coming TO an anchor for while. Captain
BoleS then put out 10 sea again and pro-
ceeded up the coast.
Two of the fleet reported to De overdue
have been sighted. The bark Sea King
was spoken Christmas night, ten miles of
the Faraloles, and ship supposed to be
| the J. 3. Brown was seen off Mendocino
on the same night. Neither vessel was in
distress.
The brigantine Courtney Ford towed into
port in disabled condition in the morn
ing. her fore-topgallant mast and lib
boom bad been carried away by blow,
and deckload of lumber SHIFTED to star
board. The Ford was out nineteen days
| from Port Blakeley for the Fiji Islands
with cargo Of lumber. On December 7.
when forty miles off Cape Flattery, II
| started to blow a hurricane. On the next
| day the damage was done to the Ford's
rigging, and she was forced to make for
| this port for repairs.
| On Christmas day the schooner John F.
Miller was sighted by the brigan tine, and
it is stated that the Miller's sails appeared
to be badly torn and disabled.
| The report was current on the front
| that the steamer sighted off Point Reeves
| Christmas night was not the Colum bia a,
all, but a smuggler trying TO land heI
cargo. The story appeared to be only q
| wild Surmise
| The crew of the steamship Arawa are of
| celebrating Christmas. New men had t.
| be hired to take their places yesterday
! Captain Stuart expected them all back on
| board by this morning.