The L'Anse sentinel., 1906-04-14
MANY LIVES lost.
On Great Lakes During Last Season.
Annual Report Of Weather
Bureau Published.

In the annual summary OF meteor
illogical conditions on the great
lakes for the season of 1905, recently
issued by Alfred J. Henry and Nor
man B. 0onger, OF the United States
weather bureau, the total apd par
tial losses sustained by shipping in-
terests during 1905 is given as
"a 055, $50, and the total pumber Of
vessels wrecked on the great lakes
and connecting waters placed at
248. OF this number Lake Superior
is credited with seventy-six wrecks,
the vessel loss being placed at 81 ,48b,
$50, more than 100 per cent greater
than the loss on all other lakes CON-
bined. The month of November was
the most disasterous 10 the year,
the damage to shipping being placed
at s2, l83, 900 within the month.
There were 44A lives lost on the
lakes during the year. Of which l73
were traceable to wrecks, and 27l to
various other causes. One hundred
and thirteen of the total number
we're credited to Lake Superior.
while 128 were recorded on Lake
Michigan. ''''"-
WANT PERFECT SYSTEM.
Prof. E. B. Garriott, chief OF the
forecast division, treats the storm
record for the year as follows:
Shipping losses OF previous years
have been almost wholly confined TO
sailing vessels and old fashioned
steamers, andthe escape from disas-
ter during the last few years of low
power steamers of modern type
have not been subjected to gales Of
the violence that marked the Lake
Superior storm of November 18th,
1905. 1t Is apparent also that q
more perfect system of storm warn.
ings and advices would lessen the
liability OF disaster, and It is equally
appaSent- that q heartE ADD sin&aliir
geuS oS0petstioHs With the weather.
bureau by ship nsstsrs iss ssssntial
TO the eniaryement and mores perA
feet operation'of this services
In the case of vessels that are IN
port when storm warnings are dis
played, the service now wondered by
the government is Unsatisfactory as
present knowledge OF storms and
facilities for disseminating advices
regarding them will permit, pro-
vided, OF course, shipmasters seek
and are guided by the detailed in
formation that the advices convey.
Vessels that are leaving port and
those that may be able to sight
warnings displayedo on shore possess
no means OF knowing the character,
as regards intensity of an approach
ing storm, and vessels beyond the
sight of land are unable to obtain a
knowledge either OF storm warning
displays or OF the qualifying or EN-
phasizing advices that form a part
OF hosting orders.
Assuming that the skill of the gov
erment forecaster is limited to an is
sue OF warnings twelve to twenty
four hours before the full force Of
the gale is experienced aud that con-
scientious and active interest on the
part OF the shipmaster impels him
to secure all possible information
from one or more Of the numerous
storm warning stations that circle
the great lakes, it is. obvious that
an extention OF the service to ves-
sells in the open water can be accom-
plished only by new and improved
methods OF communication.
FAILURE TO HEED WARNINGS.
The loss last year in three lake
storms OF more than 100 hu man lives
and millions OF dollars worth OF
property. which it is assumed, may
in part be attributed either to failure
to receive or failure to heed the
warnings, renders imperative the
adoption Of measures and methods
calculated to increase the effective
operation Of the warning service.
"A measure that is now in practice
with careful commanders would re-
,qpire vessel masters before leaving
q port to consult and record the
latest forecasts and advices is
sued by the weather bureau. A
second, that would permit them to