The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-17
Recent Rainfall One of the Heavi-
est in Many Years.
GALE SWEEPS PUGET SOUND.
shipping Seriously Interfercd With
and Damage to Mosquito Fleet
May Yet Be Reported-SmaIl
Steamers Forced to Seek shelter
Telegraph and Telephone Wires
Down-AIaska Liners Overdue.

severe gale swept Puget sound yes
terday. Shipping was greatly interfered
with, several steamers being compelled
to seek shelter and abandon their runs,
although as far as known no great dam
age was done. On land the gale raised
havoc with telegraph and telephone wires.
The force of the wind became so great
during the early hours of the morning that
several windows were broken In by the
pressure in the business district Of Sc
attic
The rainfall at Seattle was one of the
heaviest in the history of the local wealth
er bureau. 1t is seldom that one days
rainfall is over IS of an inch, but the
weather bureau reported last night that
during the preceding twenty-four hours
1t had reached the unusual total Of LOS
inches This heavy fail was not in
steady downpour. but was accumulated
by succession OF drenching showers. Sat
urday night there were several breaks In
the downpour, but with the approach OF
morning the rain came down in torrents.
During the morning hours the sun and
the clouds struggled for supremacy Sew
era times the sun got the upper hand and
came out as bright and clear as on
spring morning, but the clouds banked up
black and thick and returned to the at
tack with a furry of fierce rain. Rein
forcements gathered to the clouds from
fore noon the sun had been completely
routed A steady drizzle was maintained
for the remainder of the day.
The wind followed the pace set by the
rain, and in rapid succession came periods
of calm alternated with fierce gusts that
threatened to throw light buildings from
their foundations. At times a velocity of
almost forty miles an hour was attained.
and telephone. telegraph and electric light
poles were torn from the ground and the
various services interfered with. Most
of the damage was done during the early
hours of the morning, and by noon the
wind had fallen to moderate breeze,
that continued for the balance OF the day.
The thermometer refrained from adding
to the unpleasantness Of the day. The
wind and rain ragged. but the mercury
was little agitated. even during the stormy
hours of the night. The lowest point
touched was As degrees above zero. and
the average was about ten degrees higher.
The gale swept the Sound with great
fury, and few boats ventured out during
the day No serious damage to local ship
ping has yet been reported, but If any
of the smaller craft were caught by the
storm. as is feared. later reports will tell
of number of narrow escapes, If nothing
more serious.
The collier Occidental and the United
States revenue cutter Bear had narrow
harbor yesterday morning. The Occi-
dental was at anchor in the lower part
OF the bay, but the wind. caught her and
she began to drag her anchors. For sew
eral hundred yards she drifted slowly at
the mercy of the gale, bearing down upon
the Bear. which lay anchored to a buoy
off Yesler dock. For rev minutes a
collision seemed Inevitable, but the Oc-
cidental was gotten under control when
but few yards from the Bear, and was
lowed back to her former anchorage.
Several vessels of the mosquito fleet
were delayed in their arrival from down
Sound ports, and two or three did not get
in at all, finding II necessary TO take
refuge from the storm In friendly har-
bors. The Utopia left Victoria for Seattle
Saturday, but had to put oack. Steamer
Evangel remained in Bellingham bay.
and the North Pacific also sought shelter
while on the return trip from Vancouver.
The gale is believed to be part of the
series OF storms that have been sweep
ing the Pacific coast for several days.
The Oregon and California coasts had
several days of rain and high winds. and
It Is thought that storms have been rag
ing in the north. as all the Lynn canal
boats are overdue. The Dirigo and City
of Topeka were due the first OF last week,
but they have not yet been reported.