The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-02-13
LIFE ON DESTRUCTION ISLAND
Unusua' Things Seer by North IHe lie
Lighthousc-keeper.

Unusua1 Things Seer by North Fac dc
Lighthousc-Keeper.
From the Seattle Post-Intel!igcnCer
The keeper of the government light
house, which was established a few
years ago on Destruction island, doubt
less leads lonely life, but he has some
experiences which a lover OF the roman
tic and the adventurous might well
coyet The island itself is not with
ont a certain weird fascination. Thirty
five miles south OF Cape Flattery it
arises abruptly from the face OF the
ocean. IL has picturesque, though
wild and rugged beauty, and as 1t
stands facing the northern blasts that
have sent more than one stout ship to
the bottom. it calls up the name OF lsla
a. Dolores, which the early Spanish
navigator, Quadra. ge.e it to cOnmem-
crate his misfc.t a.:, aAd the latter
EgIne OF Destru -. q. land, given to 1t
in 1877 By Cari..4 .,=r!.!cy Oh account
CT The sad fate (. "Yeral Of his crew
s, ~ E-cTe murr"rc' Oh it's savage coast.
q
Wind is whiting The sea into foam
asains. the hectllng edges of the island
TIC sveDc passes the merely beautiful
ara comes majestic and sublime.
- uch nights the keeper has visi-
d.. hat do not come 10 the door Of
IT, ordinary landlubber. F'locks of
Ii.i fowl extracted by the bright light,
g. hliudly toward it, and, with the
fsf.a al the wind added to that Of their
| j "a stout wings, they are driven
i. inst thu lens with a momentum
J,3.t sometimes skaters the thick glass,
b. uilcnel results III instant death to
IL, birds Sometimes there is a posi-
tie yOiley Of birds against the face OF
;-r iisht ana as many as q dozen have
J~o2: known to strike it simultaneously.
Aita. Il stormy night it is not uncom-
l3Cn Tor the keeper to pick up at the
b,sa Of the tower as many as twenty
4 - dead birds Many Of these are of
tuy choicest kinds. and the keeper 5
table seldom lacks q supply such as an
g.. .rc might crave.
airing the day the keeper is fire.
rutltly greeted by the thrilling sight
81 & whale hunt by Indians in the neigh
| ring waters. a chase as hazardous
III exciting as any on mountain or
| plain Each canoe goes out with crew
| a. aiX oarSmen, one sportsman in the
| g,aIn. To the end OF the spear an air
! tieht Sealskin, inflated like a bladder,
| is attached by a line fifty feet long. A
! dozen Of these boats go out together
When whale is sighted. Stealthily
! q single boat moves out from the little
| feet and approaches the big game, the
| oursmen stoical and calm. the spears
man erect, rigid and statuesqUe, 1t is
| a moment Of grave peril.
/ splashing oar. & sudden move, a
waycring hand or hot heat at tho helm
and boat and crew would 90 down be
| meath 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
| tho island cliff sees the little boat dart
away and the whale fercely churnine
| the water.
The other boats come up rap,J!y.
Weakened by loss of blood. /; -I by
the air tight skins that flo q
water, and worn out by turr
and thither in whimsical pun
many foes, the whale slowly
the unequal contest and is
last, like a great hulk of a IL 81.
man, to Neah bay, where the L.. j
gather for a great feast.