The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-06-12
LIFE ON DssrHucrloN ISLAND.
Unusual Things seen by North rscinc
Lighthousc- Keeper.

Iighhouse- Keeper.
From the Seattle Post-Intelhgencer.
The keeper Of the government light
house, which was established few
years ago on Destruction island. doubt
less leads a lonely life. but ne has some
experiences which lover Of the roman
tic and the adventurous might well
covet The island itself is not with
out a certain weird fascination. Thirty
five miles south Of Cape Flattery It
arises abruptly from the face OF the
ocean. Il has a picturesque, though
wild and rugged beauty, and as IT
stands facing the northern blasts that
have sent more than one stout ship to
the bottom il calls up the name OF Isla
de Dolores. which the. early Spanish
navigator, Quadra. gave il to commem-
crate his misfortunes, and the latter
name Of Destruction island. given to It
In 1857 by Captain Berkley on account
OF the sad fate OF several of his crew
who were murdered on its savage coast
On wild and stormy nights. when the
wind is whirling the sea into foam
against the beetiing edges Of the island,
the scene passes the merely beautiful
and becomes majestic and sublime.
On such nights the keeper has visit
tors that do not come to the door OF
the ordinary landlubber. Flocks OF
wild fowl, attracted by the bright light,
dy blindly toward it, and with the
force Of the wind added to that OF their
own stout wings, they are driven
against the lens with a momentum
that sometimes skaters the thick glass,
but oftener results In instant death to
the birds. Sometimes there is a posi-
tive volley OF birds against the face OF
the light, and as many as a dozen have
teen known to strike IT simultaneously
After a stormy night 1t Is not uncom-
mon for the keeper to pick up at the
base OF the tower as many as twenty
five dead birds Many of these are OF
the choicest kinds. and the keepers
table seldom lacks a supply such as an
epicure might crave.
During the day the keeper is FIRE
Quently greeted by the thrilling sight
of whale hunt by Indians in the neigh
boring waters, a chase as hazardous
and exciting as any on mountain or
plain. Each canoe goes out with a crew
Of six oarsmen, one sportsman IN tho
stern. To the end OF the spear an air
tight sealskin, inflated like a bladder.
is attached by line fifty feet long. A
dozen of these boats go out together
when a whale is sighted. Stealthily
a single boat moves out from the little
fleet and approaches the big game, the
oarsmen stoical and calm the spears
man erect, rigid and statuesque II is
a moment Of grave peril.
A splashing oar, sudden move,
wavering hand or hot heat at the helm,
and boat and crew would go down be-
meath a single stroke from the great
monster now so near. At precisely the
right instant the sportsman hurls his
spear with unerring aim, and the bat
tie begins. And then one standing on
the island cliff sees the little boat dart
away and the whale fiercely churning
the water.
The other boats come up rapidly.
Weakened by loss OF blood. retarded by
the air-tight skins that float on the
water, and worn out by turning hitheF
and thither In whimsical pursuit Of his
many foes, the whale slowly gives over
the unequal contest and is towed at
last, like great hulk of merchant
man, to Neah bay, where the Indians
gather for = great feast