The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-01-15
OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN GATE.
Graphic Description of the Power OF
Wind and Wave,

Wind and Wave.
Wind and waves presented a spectac.
ular performance outside the Colder
Gate on a recent morning that dwarfed
into significance all human efforts.
There vas wonderful grandeur in this
display, and at the same time such an
overwhelming mastery of the elements
that the spectator could but look with
awed amazement while the water ran
riot and took possession of all space.
F~oam-crested waves Numbered in
toward the land ill magnificent process
sion. and seemed to threaten the granite
cliffs that have stood the brunt of
storms since the beginning of time.
Far to the westward the giant rollers
could be seen, their white crowns toss
ing the spray high in the air, and this
in turn was caught by the wind and
thrown into a misty cloud which yelled
the scene until an air of mystery
seemed to hover over the earth, sea and
sky. Lashed into foam by the wind,
swollen to miniature mountains by the
loosened energy of the tidal forces and
churned into a mad caldron by the con-
fiicting currents, the breakers followed
in quick succession until the whole
ocean appeared as a vast, seething, surg
ing pit whose capacious NAV eagerly
opened to draw down to destruction all
living beings that would dare venture
within its domain.
Across the bar there was but a mass
of foam, scintillating and glittering I'M
der the sun like a vast field Of rubies,
emeralds and diamonds, now raised
high in the air, to break in prismatic
globules as the angry waters fretted at
the obstruction in their path, and then
eddying and whfrlirg in apparent but
deceptive calm, lying like an immense
bed of molten opals, shimmering in
the yellow glare.
Far to the north the long white lines
showed where the giant raves were
dashed against the rock-bound coast,
and, following down the line, became
larger and heavier until off the rocks in
front of the Cliff house they lowered
mountain high and appeared as if they
would engulf the peninsula itself.
laundering and crashing with terrific
force, they beat upon the rocks, dashed
against the buildings and tore away
portions of the cliff, scattered boards
and heavy timbers from below the bath
house like so much chaff before a gale.
Beginning seven miles off shore the
white caps could be seen rushing shore
ward, and by the time they reached the
sea rocks they had grown into over
whelming pillows that rose fully 30
feet above the largest rock and dashed
their spray in the windows of the sec
Ond balcony of the Cliff house. Enor-
nous breakers would wash over the
highest seal rock and submerge the
herd of seals that had climbed to the
topmost point for protection against
the heavy waves. Even the birds were
driven inland, finding no foothold on
the rocks, and being unable to rest upon
the water even inside the little channel
between the shore and the home of the
seals.
But while the elements seemed to
reign supreme mans God-given right of
dominion over earth, air and sea was
evidenced as the white sails of ships and
trailing smoke of steamers came out
of the misty distance and steadily
batt!ed toward the entrance of the har-
Dor. At first it was difficult to dis
tinguish between ~white-capped wave
and glistening sail, but rs the vessels
came with all canvas set they presented
such pictures as are never seen on
painters walls, for the lights and
shades, the colors and tones. the tints
and multicEromes were such as no hui
man mind could invent and no hand
POul6 fy-Cop Eropo;eoo roT