The herald., 1894-12-14
BUFFETED BY B|LL0WS,
Tillamook Lighthouse Badly
Battered.
Terrible Force of Sundays
Hurricane.
Huge Boulders Tossed About by the
Angry Waves.
Billows . Hundred Feet High-The
Light Tsnders' Awful Experience.
Ths Ship India's Perilous
Voyage.
By the Associated PreEs.

By the Associated Press.
ASTORIA, Or, Dec 13. .-TH4 lighthouse
tender Columb bine returned at 6 o'clock
this evening from Tillamoek rock, hav'
ing left for that place at daylight this
morning to investigate the reported
damage to the light from Sundays hur.
ricane. The sea was too rough to get
within speaking distance of the rock,
and it was found impossible to land any.
one by means of the derrick and basket.
The Columbine went around the rock
several times and could easily see that
considerable damage had been done.
The sharp top ef the smaller rock at the
south OF the main rock ON which the
lighthouse stands is gone, and various
other places show huge boulders have
been torn off by the force OF the storm.
Chief Keeper Pessonen signalled that
they were all we'll, and that be would
eend his report off in bottle attached
to buoy. This he did, and it was soon
picked up by the waiting steamer.
An Associated Press reporter was
shown the statement by Lieutenant
Blish this evening, upon the arrival OF
the Columbine. and from it contents is
learned the full horror OF the awful
storm on the isolated rock and the
danger the men were subjected to.
Between IL q. m. and p m. on Sun.
day last the worst hurricane ever expe-
rienced on the coast ragged around the
lighthouse. Great mountains of water
rolled in from the southwest and, break
ing against the base of the rock, would
run up it's steep side and spend their force
on the building. which trem bled and
rocked as is If ready to tumble into the
raging sea. BY noon the storm was on
in all its fury, and the seas rolled high
or and higher. A great crash OF glass
shortly after noon told OF the damage
caused by the waves. and fragm OF
roeka that had been torn loose from the
main rock were hurled sgainst the outer
glass that protects the cpetly lenses,
An examination showed that the
panes were all broken, the lenses
ruined and the clock machinery that re-
wolves the light 80 badly damaged as to
render it ueeless. The force of the wind
and waves can be judged when it is
known that the lights broken are 1856
feet above high water. A monster rock,
weighing perhaps ton. was hurled up
wards by the waves nearly a hundred
feet, and coming down crashed through
the roof Of the hall and kitchen. The
range was ruined, and every movable
article in the kitchen was washed away.
At one time there was elk feet of
water in the siren room and four feet in
the living rooms. These rooms are SO
feet above high water. Nearly every
th;po in tha wav of edihlas axcent tho
canned goods. was ruined. The cistern
pump was rendered useles, 80 much
salt water entered the tanks that the
fresh water was made brackish, tho ugh
not unfit for use.
The report states that the men are all
we'll and have plenty of canned goods to
last another week. Ordinary lanterns
are hung in the tower and will be used
until the damage can be repaired. The
Columbine will 90 down again tomorrow
and make an effort to reach the men
with supplies. There are four men on
the rock.