1894 Keeper Logs

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

October

24: Fresh breeze to gale S. to S.W. and West with hard rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 [hours] light S.West wind, fair weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for day. 1st asst went fishing. Had two visitors today. The Whistling buoy that drifted from Yaquina bar [drifted] farther North in the gale today. It is now about 2 miles north of this light.

25: Moderate to fresh breeze S.E. to South with rain these 24 hours. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. 1st asst went to Newport. Steamer Homer from San Francisco laying off the light waiting for the sea to smooth down to enter Yaquina bay.

26: Light variable winds to moderate & fresh breeze S.W. these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours rain showers. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. The Yaquina Whistling buoy has disappeared, drifted out of sight.

27: Light variable winds with rain & hail showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate to fresh breeze South with rain showers. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. Steamer Homer still laying off the Yaquina bar, still too rough to enter. 1st asst went up north beach today and found the Yaquina Whistling buoy on the beach about two or three miles from this light. The Whistle and gards are gone from the buoy, otherwise the Buoy is in good condition.

28: Fresh to strong and moderate breeze S. to S.W. with frequent light rain & fog showers. Sea moderate smooth. General duties for the day. 2nd asst hunting Geese. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper went to Newport to take the mail. Steamer Homer arrived from San Francisco to Yaquina at 11. A.M. The Capt picked up 7 men in a boat off Cape Blanco Light. The men were from the Brigg L.W. Lucas that they abandoned, she being water-logged. She sailed from the sound for San Francisco.

29: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp fog. Last part of 24 hours light rain. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport. Steamer South Coast sailed from Yaquina for San Francisco.

30: Light variable winds these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain & fog showers. Last part of 24 hours thick fog. Sea moderately smooth. 1st asst went fishing and to Newport after mail. Keepers cleaning out Chicken house today.

31: Moderate & fresh breeze to a gale South to S.West with rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze S.W. to West with light rain showers. Sea a little rough. General duties for day. 2nd asst went Geese hunting. 1st asst went to Newport.

November

1: Light South wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 ours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. 2nd asst went to Newport to work on his lots. Keeper went to Newport to get offers of different people what they would [charge to] haul the Whistling buoy to Newport for.

2: Light N.West wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fog showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. Keepers went up north beach and plugged the openings in the Whistling Buoy.

3: Light wind to moderate breeze N.West these 24 hours with clear, fine and cool weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies. The barometer 30.20 today.

4: Light variable winds these 24 hours with clear, fine and warm weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Had five visitors. The barometer is 30 today.

5: Light variable winds with fair weather these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing today. 2nd asst went to Newport to work on his lots. Had three visitors today.

6: Light variable winds these 24 hours. First part of 24hours fair weather. Lat part of 24 hours little damp. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for day. 1st asst went fishing and to Newport 2nd asst working in the shop.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

November

7: Light variable winds; thick, damp fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind; clear, fine and warm weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. The Steam[er] Greg Robarts while towing a Schooner into Alsea??? the 4th. The Capt and two men were washed overboard, the Capt & one man were drowned the other man was saved. 2nd asst went to Newport to work on his lots. Keeper went to Newport on important business. Left the station at 9 A.M.

8: Light variable winds these 24 hours with clear, fine and very warm [weather]. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper returned to the station at 2.40 P.M. Light House Tender Manzanita arrived off the Yaquina bar at 3 P.M. from the south and passed the station at 3.30 going north for Columbia River. The barometer is 29.96 today.

9: Light East wind with clear, fine and warm weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light S. East wot South wind, thick, damp fog. Sea smooth. GEneral duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing today.

10: Light variable winds with thick, damp fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light East wind; clear, fine and warm weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport. Steamer Homer arrived from San Francisco. Steamer S. Coast sailed for San Francisco.

11: Light East to No. East wind with clear, fine weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours N. West and thick, damp fog. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Steamer Homer sailed for San Francisco.

12: Light East to North and N. West [wind] these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours some fog. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport on business. 1st asst went fishing. Schooner Kate & Anne sailed from Newport north of this light to hunt for Sea Otter.

13: Light East wind, fair weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with clear, fine and warm weather during 24 ours. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. 1st and 2nd assts went fishing today.

14: Light East wind, fair weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate and fresh breeze N.West with frequent light rain showers. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. U.S. Light-House Steamer Manzanita laying off the bar this morning, putting buoys at the entrance of Yaquina, and crossed into Newport at 11 A.M. 1st asst Edward Rice went to Newport at 3.30 after the mail.

15: Fresh to moderate breeze North to N.West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport to get some one to haul the Cement and etc., that the Light House Engineer sent by Steamer Manzanita and landed the same at the Government Wharf at Newport. Mr Whitten is hauling the freight to the station for $1.90 cts per ton. Lieut Blish, asst Inspector arrived at the station at 3 P.M. Inspected station and left at 4 P.M. for the North beach to Inspect the Whistling Buoy that went ashore from Yaquina bar.

[within Month column beside entry for November 15: J.B. Blish, U.S.N., Asst Insp 15 Nov 1894]

16: Light North wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with fair & cool weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. Keeper stowing away Cement and Killing a hog for 2nd asst. Mr. Whitten hauling Cement. 1st asst Edward Rice and 2nd asst went fishing. Keepers putting 200 Gall Mineral Oil in Oil-room.

17: Light wind to moderate breeze South with light rain during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper went to Newport to take Mrs. Plummer to take the steamer for San Francisco. 2nd asst went to Newport.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

November

18: Light South wind with thick fog showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable wind, some thick fog but mostly fair weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Steamer South Coast arrived from San Francisco.

19: Light South wind, thick fog showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind, fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. 2nd asst packing Port today. Keeper went to Newport to see Mrs Plummer off for San Francisco. Left the station at 9.30 A.M. L[ight] House Tender Manzanita left Newport at 1.30 P.M. for Coos Bay to set a buoy. Steamer Homer sailed at 4 P.M. for San Francisco.

20: Light East wind these 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine and cool weather. Last part of 24 hours cloudy but dry. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Messers Whitten and Stempson hauling Cement. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper returned to the station at 9.30 A.M. Steamer Manzanita arrived from Coos Bay and crossed Yaquima into Newport at 4.30 P.M.

21: Moderate breeze S. to N. West with frequent rain showers. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds; clear, fine weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. 1st asst Edward Rice went fishing today. U.S. Light House Steamer Manzanita crossed out of Yaquina at 4.30 P.M. and passed this light at 4 P.M. going North.

22: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze East to S. East and South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours light rain showers. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Messers Stimpson and Whitten each hauled a load of Cement from Newport to the station. 1st and 2nd asst went to Newport. 1st asst digging out the gutters in the road to run the water off. Mr. John McCullen and party went up north beach to prepare to haul the Whistling Buoy that went ashore to Newport.

23: Fresh and strong breeze to light Gale South to S. West with rain during these 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. The barometer down to 29.80. Keeper writing in the Office today.

24: Fresh breeze to a gale S. East to South these 24 hours with hard rain most of 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport. Mr McCullen working on the Buoy getting ready to haul it to Newport.

25: Gale to fresh breeze S. to S. West with rain first part of 24 hours. Lat part of 24 hours light variable winds, cloudy but dry weather. Sea a little rough. General duties for the day. The barometer 29.85 at 4 P.M.

26: Fresh breeze East these 24 hours with light rain showers during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 2nd asst went up to Toledo Lincoln Co. to see about a lot. Left the station at 4. A.M. 1st asst went fishing. Steamer Homer arrived from San Francisco at 7. A.M.

27: Moderate breeze to light S. East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate and fresh breeze S. East to South with frequent rain showers during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper writing in Office. 1st asst went fishing. Steamer Homer sailed for San Francisco at 11 A.M. Steamer Schooner South Coast arrived and crossed Yaquina bar from San Francisco. 2nd asst Isaac L. Smith arrived at the station at 11 A.M. from Toledo where he has been on important business.

28: Gale to fresh breeze South to S. West with rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light S. West wind, rain showers. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for day. 1st asst went fishing. The barometer 29.45 at 1 A.M., went up to 29.94 at 3 P.M.

29: Light S.W. to South wind first part of 24 hours with rain & hail showers. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper went to Newport to take mail. Steam Schooner South Coast sailed for San Francisco at 1 P.M.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

November

30: Light N. to East wind, little damp first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine and cool weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. 2nd asst went to Newport on important business. 1st asst went fishing. Mr Whitten and Mr Stimpson hauled a load apiece of supplies for Engineer. Mr McCullen has hauled the Whistling buoy as far as road on north beach today.

December

1: Fresh breeze East these 24 hours with clear, fine but little cool [weather]. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 1st asst went to Newport Mr. Whitten completed hauling the Light House supplies consisting of Cement & etc. Mr Whiters arrived at the station at 10 A.M. to repair cement cellar walks, put window frame in Keeper's dwelling & etc.

2: Strong breeze East, fair weather these 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper left the station to get a Mason and Laborer to work on the repairs at the station. 2nd asst went to Newport after a laborer & supplies.

3: Strong breeze East first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light North wind with clear fine weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keepers changing wood and cleaning out the 2nd asst cellar to get it ready to cement the floor. 1st asst went fishing. Mr Whitten hauling sand for repairs. Mr Whiters and two laborers working on the Engineers repairs today.

4: Light East to S. East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with fair weather during 24 ours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Mr Whitten hauling sand from the beach to mix with the cement. Mr Withers cementing walks around dwelling, cementing top of lantern and laying some tiling??? today.

5: Fresh breeze to gale S. to S.W. and West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours hard rain. Sea quite rough. Mr Whitten hauling sand. Mr. Withers cementing cellar in 2nd asst's Quarters. The barometer 29.10 today.

6: Light East to S. East wind to moderate breeze S.W. these 24 hours with frequent rain, hail, and snow showers. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper changing wood in 2nd asst cellar so the Mason can cement the cellar. Mr Whitten hauling sand to mix cement. Mason cementing cellar today and working [on] drain. Barometer 29.22 today.

7: Moderate breeze S. East with rain, hail, and snow showers. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze to a Gale S. East with rain showers. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies today. Mr Whitten hauling sand for the Mason to mix with Cement. Mason cementing cellar floor in 2nd asst's part. The barometer 28.88 today.

8: Gale to fresh breeze S.E. to S.W. these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea very rough. Keepers changing wood in Keepers part of cellar. Mason cementing cellar & walks around dwelling. Mr. Whitten hauling sand today. Mr Cahill laying tiling??? around dwelling. The barometer down to 29.50 today.

9: Heavy gale S.E. to S. West with frequent rain showers during these 24 hours. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. The barometer went down to 29.90 Mason cementing cellar floors in Keepers Quarters today.

10: Fresh breeze West to light S.East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Moderate to fresh breeze S. East with light rain showers during 24 hours. Sea rough. Mason cementing walks around dwelling. Mr Withers putting window in 2nd asst's Quarters. Mr. Whitten hauled conductors & sand today. Keeper & 2nd asst went to a Wedden [wedding, surely?]

11: Gale to fresh breeze S. East to S.W. with light rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze N.West, fair weather. Sea quite rough. Steamer South Coast arrived off the Yaquina bar from the N.W. where she was blown during the late heavy galer. She is trying to enter. The Mason cementing Keeper's cellar and walks around dwelling. Mr Withers working on the [word missing] that he put in 2nd asst's Quarters. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

December

12: Light variable winds with fair weather these 24 hours. Sea very rough. Keepers putting 200 Gallons of Mineral Oil in Oil room. Mr Whitten hauling sand. Mr Withers putting new valleys in room of Barn. Mason and laborer cementing walks today. 1st asst went to Newport. Steam schooner South Coast laying off the Yaquina bar trying to enter since the 7th of Dec.

13: Light variable winds these 24 hours with fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies. Mr Withers finished repairing the barn. Mason Cementing in cellar and walks. Laborer laying tileing and digging in ground at base of tower getting ready to put strip for lightening rod. Mr Isaac L. Smith received orders from Commander O.W. Farenholt to proceed to Umpqua light to arrive there not later than Dec 29th.

14: Light wind S. East to fresh breeze N.W. these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. 2nd asst packing house-hold goods ready to move to Unpqua Light Station. Mr Withers putting pipe and coak??? for the new lightening rod on the tower. Also putting a new cover over Cistern. And putting conductor from Dwelling to Cistern. Mason cementing walks and cellar floor. Steamer Homer sailed for San Francisco.

15: Light N.W. to S. East wind these 24 hours first part of 24 hours little damp. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport. 2nd asst packing up his things preparing to leave the station tomorrow for Umpqua light station on Steam Schooner Bandorville from Newport. Mr Withers fixing cover to Cistern. Mason plastering window working on walks.

16: Gale to fresh breeze S. E. to S. West with frequent rain and hail squalls during 24 hours. Sea quite rough. Keeper & 1st asst helping 2nd asst pack his house-hold good. 2nd asst Isaac L. Smith left the station for Umpqua Light at 10 A.M. 1st sweeping and cleaning on 2nd asst Quarters he not having time to do it before going. Mr Withers completed cementing cellar floors and cementing the walks around the Keeper's Dwelling today.

17: Light S. East wind with light rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, little damp. Sea rough. Keeper & 1st asst helping Mr Withers put up new and take down old Lightening rod today. Mr Withers completing the new Window put in 2nd asst Quarters also conductors for Dwelling to cistern. 1st asst went to Newport after a piece of lightening rod.

18: Fresh breeze East to light variable winds these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours light rain or a little damp. Sea a little rough. Mr Withers completed the repairs with the exception of the strip stacked on the tower for lightening rod. It is 4 ft too short. Keeper will solder the piece on when it arrives from Light House Engineer. Mr Whitten came after Mr Withers at 9 A.M. Keeper and 1st asst cleaning the grounds, shop and etc today.

19: Light S. East wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Greg Robarts crossed in over Yaquina bar. The barometer 29.42 at 3 P.M. and still going down.

20: Light wind to fresh breeze S. E. to South first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze to light S. East wind with rain showers during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing and to Newport after the mail. Mr Jos. B. Hermann arrived at the station at 1 P.M. from Umpqua and went on duty as 2nd asst Keeper. I understand the Schooner Mary Gilbert of San Francisco was wrecked trying to enter Alsye harbor the 14th of December the wind dying out while entering. As near as I can find out there were no lives lost, but the vessel will be a total loss.

21: Moderate breeze to light wind S.E. to East with rain showers during these 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General [continued on next page]