The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-03-25
LIFE ON DESTRUCTION ISLAND.
Unusual Things seen By North PaeIae
LIghthouse-Keeper.

Unusual Things seen by y North PaeIne
LIghthouse-Keeper.
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
The keeper of the government light
house. which was established q few
years ago on Destruction island. doubt
less leads a lonely life, but he has some
experiences which lover OF the roman
tic and the adventurous might well
eovet The island itself is not with
out a certain weird fascination. Thirty
ave miles south Of Cape Flattery It
arises abruptly from the face OF the
ocean II has a picturesque, though
Wild and rugged beauty, and as It
stands facing the Rerthern blasts that
have sent more than one stout ship 70
the bottom, it calls up the name Of Isla
de Dolores, which the early Spanish
navigator, Quadra. gave it TO commem-
crate his misfortunes, and the latter
name OF Destruction island. given to II
IN 1887 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 vhirling the sea into foam
against the beetling edges OF the island.
the scene passes the merely beautiful
and becomes majestic and sublime.
On such nights the keeper has visi-
tors that do not come TO the door Of
the ordinary landlubber. Flocks of
wild fowl, attracted by the bright light.
ay blndly toward IL, and. with the
r.f fha "a I'D hae 81 haf
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
been known 70 strike it simultaneously.
After a stormy night h Ii 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 ire
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 the
stern. To the end OF the spear an air.
| tight sealskin, inflated like a bladder,
is attached by a line nifty 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
q moment OF grave peril.
A splashing oar. a sudden move. =
vavering hand OF hot heat at the helm.
and boat and crew would 90 down be-
meath a single stroke from the great
monster now SO near. Al precisely the
right instant the spearsman hurls his
spear with unsrring aim, and the bat
tie begins. And then one standing on
the island cliff sees the little boat dart
away and the whale hercely chwning
the water.
The other boats come up rapidly.
Weakened by loss OF blood. retarded by
the air-tight skins thai float on the
water, and worn out by turning hither
and thither In whimsical pursuit OF his
many foes. the whale siowly gives over
the unequal contest and is towed a
last. like . great enlk Of = merchant
man. y Nal oalA wssCs ssv rgeispf