Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-23
LONG BEACH
Offics 1e Pine St.
Phone Home 81. sunNcs ASH.
HEAVY SEA PLAYING
HAVOC WITH WHARF
LONG BEACH VISITORS NOT
ALLOWED ON PIER
ened, but Experts Say There Is
No Danger of Structure
coIlapslng

Special to The Herald.
LONG BEACH, June 22.--For the
first time since the long pleasure pier
here was opened formally both decks
of the structure were closed today,
policemen standing guard to prevent
people going out upon them. The
heavy sea which has prevailed since
yesterday has loosened dozen of the
caissons under the pier and outer
wharf. A point about half way to the
outer end, where a caisson Is out, is
believed to be the most dangerous
place. While the pier is not expected to
collapse anywhere, the officials believed
it wise to keep every one off; otherwise
hundreds of people would have crowd
ed out upon the structure today.
A large number of planks has been
torn from the flooring of the lower deck
of the pier by the swells that swept
against them, and through the aper-
lures the spray dashed in torrents to-
day, beating against the floor of the
upper deck, thirty-five feet above the
ocean level. Contractor Mercereau, who
recently completed a contract to drive
a number of pilings under the outer
wharf, said today the pier was safe.
The spectacle as viewed from the
beach was a grand one, one swell after
another brushing along the bottom of
the lower deck of the pier and break
ing thunderingly against the caissons
Many of the waves crept UP on the
beach to the Pike in "sneak tides"
sending the hundreds gathered along
the strand scurrying back to safety.
Half dozen men and boys standing
on log which was surrounded by a
'sneak tide were precipitated into the
water by the logs rolling from under
them and were thoroughly drenched.
Two women who climbed upon box to
escape the wave were unable to get
down. big pool of water remaining
around the box A long ladder was
placed for them and they were helped
down over 1t.
c. c. Long. employed at Hotel Vir-
ginia, was almost overpowered by the
undertow while bathing near the hotel
and narrowly escaped drowning.
Boats Suffer Damage
Two rowboats moored near the outer
wharf broke loose from their ropes.
One, the property of Clarence Owen,
was dashed against caisson and
broken into fifty pieces. Another. the
skiff of the launch Pastime, was
| washed ashore. A sail and mast from
| Harry Pedlar's skiff were recovered
| with difficulty a dozen yards away
from the boat.
Landing at the pier was impossible,
and the owners of the launch Pastime,
the only boat which had not gone into
San Pedro harbor, had to come from
San Pedro on another boat to get to
their craft. They chartered the launch
Seabright for this purpose this after
noon, and as the two launches rose and
sank among the giant swells the people
on shore held their breath, fearful of
tragedy. The boats made the trip
back to the harbor in safety.
| Mayor Windham, the board of pub
| lie works and Contractor Mercereau
watched the pier nearly all day super
Intending the activities of the men en-
ployed to cut away the caissons from
| the eye beams as soon as they broke
| loose below. Many pieces of heavy
timbers were washed ashore. Repairs
will be begun as soon as possible.