The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: ”Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

Please Note: December 20, 2012 – I am continuing this series with Lighthouse History #51 because the newspapers have now been indexed up to 1932. I quit posting at #50 as the extracts only went to 1926. They have now been extended from 1927 to 1932 so I will sift through the data for anything lighhouse!

 Died Sep 2, 1929 at Victoria, BC, Donald Bertram McPhee, late of Lennard Island lighthouse, where he had been keeper for some time. Born in NS. Pallbearers: G E Hartnell, A R Driver, A E, A P and R A Durmett, C Richardson. [Colonist, 1929-09-01*]

 

CGS Estevan returns from complete circuit of Vancouver Island, the purpose was to deliver Christmas boxes to the lightkeepers, supplies for the lighthouses and gas for unwatched lights… [Colonist, 1929-12-08, p. 35]

 

the isolated position of the Entrance Island lighthouse, Quatsino Sound, has caused the residents and business interests to petition government to establish radio telephone or cable telephone connection with the shore. Recently a small boat was wrecked there and the lightkeeper was stormbound for 2 days before he could get word to shore and start a search. [Colonist, 1930-02-02, p. 16]

 

Thomas Edward Hunt, assistant lighthouse keeper, William Hunt, at Scarlet Point light, Balaclava Island, accidentally drowned. He left the island in a rowboat to take to mail to people on adjacent islands. A heavy sea was running and the boat is believed to have capsized almost before he got started. No one saw the accident and he was not missed until the next day. Mar 1, 18 – was delivering medicine to Spackmans family… Body buried at Fort Rupert HBC cemetery… [Colonist, 1930-02-27, p. 10]

 

1; 4; 5 – Plea voiced for link to Long Beach… Sproat Lake to Tofino…; Mar 9, 16 – Hilmer Wingen, proprietor of Tofino Machine Shops, experienced a painful accident when the gasoline blow torch he was doing some welding with exploded. By great good luck the blaze missed his eyes, but the right side of his face was severely although not dangerously scorched. Mar 9, 16 – a meeting to promote interest in the BC Fishermen’s Co-operative Assn was held in Ucluelet, with 65 fishermen present…; Loyal No 2 arrived in Ucluelet on her maiden trip, marks a definite step in the advancement of the west coast fishing industry. Built in Vancouver, owned and operated by West Coast Fishing company. Boat is 70′ long, 175 hp engine, and one of the best equipped boats on the coast. Mar 9, 16 – Captain Harold Arnet, seine boat Yankee Boy, slipped on leaving the Tofino Community Hall, resulting in the dislocation of the right ankle. A grand dance was given to the officers and crew of HMS Givenchy, in the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. Mar 9, 40 – report from Long Beach that a boat, which looked to be about the size of a fish-carrier, had been noticed to be drifting for some hours off Portland Point. Owing to the set of the tide she was travelling slowly to westward and closer to the reefs that lie off the point. With darkness coming on and a thick mist blowing in the Tofino lifeboat immediately set out. After searching for several hours the lifeboat returned, having seen nothing of a disabled boat..; Mar 12, 8 – Major and Mrs Nicholson and son have returned to Clayoquot. T Onami, of Clayoquot was a guest in Ucluelet recently. Mar 12, 18 – CGS Estevan, after spending several days in Tofino, left on Mar 5 to continue her trip around the Island. Owing to the rough weather it was very difficult to land the supplies at Lennard Island lighthouse. It is a 1st class light and has been in charge of James McPhee for several years until his death 6 months ago. Since that time, D Blackmore has had charge temporarily. This trip Estevan has left T McNab in charge, and Blackmore has gone to Victoria. McNab has been stationed at Carmanah Light for some time. Mar 16, 8 – married Mar 15 at Duncan, BC, Elizabeth Eileen, youngest daughter of J R A Jones, of Caron, SK, to Robert, eldest son of R F L Guppy, of Tofino and Duncan. [Colonist, 1930-03-08]