Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
LAKE MICHIGAN'S FREAK.
Huge Wave Sweeps the Shores and
Then Recedes.

Then Recedes.
From the Chicago Record
A big wave swept Lake Michigan Tues
day, causing the water to recede 100 feet
from some parts of the Illinois shore The
Chicago river level fell about four feet
While the tide was going out the current
flowed wit great velocity toward the lake
and wheI the lakes waters rushed back to
the shore the river almost became a torrent
and the current flowed in the opposite di-
rection.
The wave was especially noticeable in
Chicago, where hundreds standing on the
beach were amazed al the phenomenon In
some instances lives were imperiled Bath
ers were compelled to race before the big
wall of water when the tide came in to
avoid being submerged.
The water went out between and
o'clock, leaving the shore bare for about
five minutes, and then returned again with
mighty rush. rolling high upon the beach
People standing near the waters edge were
splashed by the spray before they could
get beyond Its reach Fishes and shells
were left on the sand when the water went
out, and many were washed ashore by the
return OF the wave and picked up by the
children on the beach. Boats anchored in
shallow water were left on the sand while
the wave out.
five feet, returning after a few minutes
with force sufficient to wash away tim
berS that never before had been touched
by the waves. Persons on the beach said
the phenomenon occurred about 5 o'clock
Some said the water remained out not long
er than three minutes while others claim
1t was as long as ten minutes. Cabel Row
ley resident of the North Side was
among those the Lincoln Park beach at
the time. He said that the wave went out
just before the storm. the water receding
eighty-five feet, and returned in about five
minutes. According to Mr. Rowley it &C.
Cured at 5:15 o'clock.
Residents of Windsor Park claim that
the peculiar action of the lake was noticed
there at about 400 o'clock. At Nichols
and Manhattan Beach several children who
were in bathing narrowly escaped drown
Ing. 1t Is said that the water receded
twice at both these places, remaining out
longer the second time than the first The
last time the shore was left bare beyond
the pier. Hundreds of bathers who had
been splashing about In the water at Mich
OILS were amazed when they found them
selves standing on the sand. The water re-
turned in great volume, washing several
of the bathers ashore. The water then
went out and returned again.
Similar conditions existed at Jackson Park
and other points along the shore. Some
declare that there were two distinct waves,
while others say there was only one
Sailors said 1T was probable that the re-
cession and return of the water were due
to the disturbed condition of the lake yes
terday afternoon. Inere were intermittent
thunderstorms and squalls in various parts
of the lake and along the shore, and severe
storms are reported from neighboring quar-
tiers. The captains of incoming boats last
night said the lake acted in a peculiar man
ner all day, although the rise and fall OF
the water could not be noticed in midlake.
AT st. Joseph" said Captain Stewart of
eighteen inches several times. At $3.50 pm.
the tide began and swept the shore several
times, receding more than 100 feet"
G. M. Fish. first officer of the steamer
City Of Grand Rapids. said the wave
noticed at Muskegon at $50 o'clock. He
said that when the water went out his
steamer sank three feet and that at points
along the shore the tide went out 80 feet.
Only one wave was noticed at Muskegon.
but it seemed to be more distinct than at
Chicago.
Weather Forecaster Cox said: 1.-The ac-
ton of the water was, indeed, peculiar,
but 1T was undoubtedly due to squalls on
the lakes. There were severe storms at
waters. The rise and fall of the water
was caused not only by the high wind We
locity. but also by the change of air pres
sure. The barometer was changeable dur
Ing the day, falling and rising as the
storms came and went.
Captain William H. Andres of the life
saving station at Jackson Park said:
The phenomenon, while 1t had every ap-
pearance Of tidal wave the ocean,
could not have been occasioned by the at
traction of the sun and moon acting UNI
equally on the water, the cause usually
attributed to real tidal waves. Neither is
1t probable that it resulted from subter-
ranean eruptions, for such probably would
have produced an earthquake that would
have been felt on land. Storms probably
piled up the water in the center of the lake
so as to cause the recession from the shore.
The out-and-in flow of the water was no.
ticed by many persons here at the park,
and several who were standing were
drenched by the returning wave when 1t
burst on the shore
Captain Henry H. Sinnigen OF the Chicago
life-saving station said:
."Only one rise and fall of the water was
noticed here. The wave undoubtedly was
caused by storms the lake. Many of
them seemed to blow from shore, probably
causing the water to pile up in the center
of the lake and then flow back again. 1t
was a peculiar sight when the tide went
out down here at the pier. The river sank
about four feet as the current rushed into
the lake. and then returned like a torrent,
raising the current far above its level"