The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-03-22


300 miles in each direction. The accom-
panying picture, reproduced from the on
ly photograph of tidal wave ever taken,
shows the immense wave as it appeared
from the deck of a small vessel which
was beating out to sea off Cape Elizabeth,
at the mouth of Cook inlet, nearly 300
miles from the broken glacier, where the
wave started The photograph was taken
with a camera by NJ. D. Balsar. manager
of the Navistoke Hydraulic Gold Mining
company, which is operating rich placer
mines on Cook inlet. Mr.. Balsar, with
35 other passengers, was returning to Ia
coma from the Cook inlet mines on the
little hundred ton schooner General Sig
lin. The story of their escape from the
laws of death. opened by this monster
wave, is thrilling.
The day was beautiful, says CORE
spondent of the New York Press. The
sun shone brilliantly over an unrutt1ed
sea. The schooner was becalmed and
moved only because the ebb tide from
Cook inlet was carrying her seward.
The passengers. including five women.
had gathered on the deck. There they
lounged about, telling hunting and min
ing stories, some reading and some smok-
ing, and having altogether jolly good
time And the hour was in the after
noon.
Mr. Balsar suddenly thought that the
time was opportune to fish for halibut.
The captain replied favorably, giving the
depth of water as 30 fathoms Balsar
| got 500 feet of fishing line and prepared
to fish. 1t was about half unreeled when
the attention of every one on deck was
arrested by the sight of 60 foot wall OF
water rushing toward them with the We
locity of a locomotive. Despite his y
pounds. Balsar moved almost as quickly
IN tying his fishing line to the taffrail anc
rushing below for his camera.
what is this comingY" was asked o
the captain with hreathless anxiety. Bal
sar returned to the deck. Captain John
son replied that he didn't know. Balsa
suggested that fearful windstorm mus
be raging outside the cape. The captain
said this was impossible. In less tim
than it takes to relate it Balsar rushed t.
the taffrail, camera in hand. shouting:
captain, I'm going to have that if it
t the last thing ever take on earth"
you'll have to get swift move on,
replied the captain as Balsar rested bot
arms on the taffral and took snapsho
at the wave. The next instant the shi
was struck on the port side at an angl
of about 40 degrees. The picture does no
show the full height of the wave, for tn
swell which preceded the onrushing mas
: of water raised the ship just before Bal
sar snapped his camera. The swell ais
5 threw the vessel around, so that b
, caught the wave at an angle instead
squarely.
l The wave struck the ship like cy
G clone throwing her on her beam ends
The taffrail went under, and probabl
2 everybody on board but Captain Johnso
: thought that his end had come. In 6
' seconds the ship righted, but none o
those aboard her will ever forget tina
:. minute. Her timbers strained and tn
whole ship staggered and trembled. caus
ing the passengers who had rushed b'
a low to their cabins to believe that tn
wave had engulfed her.
+ The impact of the wave threw Balsa
headong on to the taffrail, and but fo
; his great strength he would have pitche
over it. AS it was both arms were ski
ned and bruised. By this time everybod
had scampered below excepting the cal
T tain, his wife, Balsar and the mate. A
/ quickly as possible Balsar ran below an
placed his camera under the blankets
u his berth.
He found his fellow passengers belo
engaged chiefly in praying. Several wei
looking at or kissing the pictures Of wiv'
e and sweethearts. An old man from Ma
shalltown. Ia. got ont the Bible his Wi
had given him for the first look since |
went north. He took what he believed
be the last gaze at her picture and decla
e ed if he was only back in MarshalltoW
he would be satisfied to stay there Il
life