1894 Keeper Logs

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

May

29: Light S. East to variable winds and calm these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours cloudy but dry weather. Last part of 24 hours light fog showers. Sea quite smooth. Keepers whitewashing the inside of tower. Keeper & 1st asst went fishing. Keepers also watering garden.

30: Light variable winds and calm and little damp first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate & fresh breeze to gale N. to N.W., rain showers. Sea little rough. Keepers painting stairs and landings in tower. Also painting window sashes & casings. Keepers went fishing.

31: Fresh to strong breeze N.W. these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light fog showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea a little rough. Keeper painting chimney box, step ladders, front and side steps of Keeper's dwelling lead color today. 1st asst drawing sashes over doors in oil room & office & whitewashing spots in tower. Keeper also weeding out the garden. 2nd asst went to Newport to take & get the mail.

June

1: Fresh & moderate breeze these 24 hours N.W. with fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst packing wood up from the beach. Had 5 visitors. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport. 1st asst polishing oil carriers, lantern filler, cocks on oil Butts.

2: Moderate breeze N. West to light wind & moderate breeze South these 24 hours with thick fog most of 24 hours with thunder showers. Sea smooth. Keepers painting stairs and landings in tower, cleaning lamp & reflectors. 1st asst cleaning up the yard. Keeper & 2nd asst painting back steps of Keeper's dwelling.

3: Moderate breeze South these 24 hours with light rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keepers packing up wood from the beach for stove wood.

4: Light S. East to E. & N. East wind with light rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind, fair weather. Sea smooth. Keeper painted the drumm inside of tower black this morning. 2nd asst painted chimney places??? in office and Oil room. Steamer Homer arrived from San Francisco at 6 P.M. Keeper went to Newport to vote today.

5: Light variable winds and calm first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N.West wind with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. Keepers cleaning Lenses and window glass in the tower and Oil room & Office. 1st asst whitewashing in his Quarters. 2nd asst went to Newport after the mail today.

6: Light N.W. wind to light variable winds and calm these 24 hours with fair, warm weather and slight rain showers. Sea smooth. General duties for day. Keeper painted Office Table, went clamming & fishing. 2nd asst went clamming. 1st asst painting inside of his Quarters and went fishing.

7: Light variable winds with frequent rain showers during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper setting out turnip plants in garden. 1st asst cleaning and painting in his Quarters & went to Newport after mail. Steamer Homer sailed for San Francisco.

8: Light S. East wind with little damp first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze to gale South with rain. Sea rough. 1st asst painting in his Quarters & working in garden. Keeper & 2nd asst went clamming & working in garden Had two visitors today.

9: Moderate breeze S.W. and West these 24 hours with frequent rain showers during 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. 1st asst cleaning windows in his dwelling. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies.

10: Light variable winds with rain & hail showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze S. West, fair weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Had six visitors today.

11: Light S.West wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with rain showers during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 1st asst cutting the grass on the cape. 2nd asst painting the inside of his Quarters today.

12: Light variable winds and calm these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and warm weather. Sea smooth. 1st asst cutting grass & went fishing. Keeper knocking rust off and painting Lightning rods. 2nd asst painting in his quarters and went to Newport. Keeper also knocking [rust off of?] window fastening off of Oil House. Had 5 visitors.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

June

[special note: appearing in the page column for "Month" between dates 21 and 22: notation/signature "[unintelligible, S?] B.Blish, Lt. USN., ass't Inspr, 21 June 94"]

13: Light variable winds and calm these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours cloudy and very little damp. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. Keeper & 1st asst went fishing. 2nd asst painting in his Quarters. Had 2 visitors.

14: Light East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds and calm with fair & warm weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for day. 1st asst making hay & went fishing. 2nd asst painting in his Quarters. Steamer Homerarrived from San Francisco today.

15: Light variable winds and calm these 24 hours with fair and warm weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to newport after mail and to take mail. Had one visitor today.

16: Light variable winds, light rain showers during these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst putting down carpet in Keepers kitchen and working in garden. Had 8 visitors. 1st asst went fishing. Steamer Homer sailed today.

17: Light variable winds first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze S.W. to South with the rain during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 2nd asst setting out Cabbage plants in garden.

18: Light variable winds first part of 24 hours. Last part of twenty-four 24 hours light N.West wind with a damp weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport. 1st asst went fishing.

19: Light to moderate breeze N.West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light fog showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite smooth. Keeper went to Newport to take mail. 1st asst went fhishing and raking up the hay around Keeper's dwelling.

20: Moderate to fresh breeze N.West these 24 hours with fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day.Capt. Winant of the steamer Bandorville landing two men at this station at 6.30 A.M. having picked them up off Columbia bar at 4 P.M. the 19th, clinging to their sunken boat nearly exhausted - could not have survived much longer. They were capsized at 8 A.M. the 19th near the bar. This was the nearest point he could have landed them as he had the steamer Eva in tow, bound for Gardenier. The names of the men are Mr Fred Jackson and Mr Elias Michelson of Astoria. Keeper gave them breakfast and took them to Newport and put them in charge of Mr Bensell the Customer House Officer. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport to take the two men that were landed at cape. U.S. Light-House Tender Manzanita crossed Yaquina bar to Newport at 1 P.M. and landed 2,200 Gallons of Oil for this station.

21: Fresh breeze N.West these 24 hours with clear fine weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. 1st asst went fishing. Had four visitors. The asst Inspector Lieut. Blish arrived at the station at 8 A.M., inspected station and left at 8:45 for Newport. U.S. Steamer Manzanita sailed for the south to visit and leave oil & etc to the stations. Mr Stimpson hauling oil from Newport to the station. 2nd asst went to Newport on important business.

22: Fresh to moderate breeze N. West with clear fine weather during these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Mr Stimpson hauling oil from Newport to the station. Keeper packing wood from the beach today.

23: Moderate breeze to light N.West wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours clear fine weather. Last part of 24 hours high dry fog. Sea very smooth. Mr Stimpson hauled the last of the oil today from Newport. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies. Had two visitors. Light House Tender Manzanita came up from the South, crossed Yaquina bar to Newport at 7. P.M.

24: Light variable winds with light fog showers during these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st asst went fishing. Had fourteen visitors. U.S. Steamer Manzanita crossed out over Yaquina bar & passed this light for Astoria at 5. A.M.

25: Light variable winds first part of 24 hours with fog showers. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine and warm weather. [continued on next page]

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

June

25 [continued from preceding page] Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport. 1st asst went fishing today.

26: Light variable winds & calm with light fog showers during 24 hours. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing and to Newport after mail & supplies. Keeper working on the Annual Quarterly returns today.

27: Light variable winds and calm these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light fog showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. 1st asst went fishing. Keeper working on the returns. Mr Fitzpatrick hauling wood for 2nd asst. 2nd asst went over on the beach after wood.

28: Light wind to moderate breeze S. West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp; last part of 24 hours light rain showers. Sea smooth. General duties for day. Had 8 visitors. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport.

29: Light South to S.W. & West wind with frequent light rain showers during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. 2nd asst sawing wood. Mr. Fitzpatrick hauled a load of wood for 2nd asst. Keeper working on returns. Had four visitors.

30: Light variable winds, cloudy but mostly fair weather first part of 24 hours Last part of 24 hours moderate fresh and strong breeze N. West, clear fine weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport. 1st asst turning over the hay.

July

1: Moderate breeze to light wind N> West first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate and fresh breeze N.West with clear fine weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. Had 7 visitors. Keeper went to Newport today.

2: Moderate fresh and strong breeze these 24 hours with some thick fog. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st asst packing wood up from the beach. Steamer Homer arrived from San Francisco for Yaquina today. 2nd asst went to Newport. Had 15 visitors.

3: Strong to fresh and moderate breeze N.W. these 24 hours, first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had 19 visitors. 1st asst showing visitors in tower. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport.

4: Moderate to fresh breeze N.West these 24 hours, first part of 24 hours high dry fog. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 1st asst showing visitors in the tower. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport.

5: Moderate to fresh & strong breeze to gale N.West these 24 hours, some thick fog but mostly clear, fine weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st and 2nd assts showing 24 visitors in tower. Keeper cleaning out the barn. 1st asst went to Newport. Steamer Homer sailed for S. Frisco today.

6: Moderate breeze to light N. West wind with some fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate to fresh and strong breeze N.W., clear fine weather. Sea smooth. Keepers putting hay in barn. Had eleven visitors today.

7: Light N.W. to S.East wind first part of 24 hours and little damp. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing and showing visitors in tower. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport.

8: Light North wind to moderate breeze N.West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours cloudy and hazy. Last part of 24 hours clear, fine weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Had eleven visitors today. Keeper weeding in garden. There was a steamer laying off Yaquina bar at 4 A.M. looked like the Light House tender Columbia or Manzanita but sailed south.

9: Moderate to fresh breeze N.West with clear fine weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. Keepers cleaning out two Oil butts and filling them with 200 Gallons of Mineral oil. Also cleaning the weeds out of the walks around the dwelling house. Had 8 visitors today. Four visitors came to the station 11 minutes after the light was lit up; don't admit visitors after lighting up the light.

10: Fresh breeze N. West these 24 hours with clear, fine weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst showing nineteen visitors in the Tower. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies.

11: Moderate to fresh and strong breeze N.West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours clear & fine. Last part of 24 hours, fog. Sea quite smooth. Keeper cleaning Oil carriers and lantern. 1st asst went to Newport. Keeper also weeding out the garden. Had [blank space] visitors today.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

July

12: Moderate breeze N. West to light South wind with thick, damp fog most of 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Steam schooner crossed Yaquina bar into Newport at 11.30 A.M. A steamer crossed into Newport at 2 P.M. could not [identify] what she was, being too foggy. The steamer that crossed over Yaquina bar was the U.S. Tender Columbia and landed rest of Light House supplies.

13: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze N. West these 24 hours with thick damp fog during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Mr. Stimpson hauled the last of annual supplies. The Columbia having landed them at Newport. 1st asst went to Newport.

14: Light South wind and calm; thick, damp fog during these 24 hours. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Had 3 visitors today. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies. U.S. Steamer Columbia arrived from herata head??? at Newport at 10 A.M.

15: Light South wind and calm with thick damp fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N.West wind, fair weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went to Newport on important business. Keeper took a walk about one mile from station. Had 5 visitors. U.S. Steamer Columbia left Newport and passed north going to Astoria at 8.30 P.M.

16: Moderate to fresh and strong breeze N.West these 24 hours, fair weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had three visitors. Keeper went to Newport to take calf over and wait for mail. 1st asst went to Newport.

17: Moderate to fresh beeze N.West with fair weather these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went rock oystering. Had six visitors. 2nd asst went to Newport after mail & medicine.

18: Moderate breeze, fair weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze to light N.West wind, thick, damp fog. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport to take mail. Had nineteen visitors today.

19: Light South wind these 24 hours with thick, damp fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went over to big creek to see about hauling some wood. 1st asst went fishing and to Newport after the mail. Had 7 visitors. First asst Keeper of the New Dungeness Light Station visited this station today.

20: Light variable winds and clam with fair weather these 24 hours. Sea very smooth. 2nd asst went over on the beach to get a load of wood. 1st asst went up on north beach for pleasure - Had nine visitors today. U.S. Light-House Tender Columbia passed this light going south at 6.30 P.M.

21: Light variable winds and calm first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze N.West with fair weather during 24 hours. 1st asst went fishing and took 31 visitors in tower. Keeper & 2nd asst went to Newport. A steamer passed by the station going north at 8.15 P.M. and looked like the Columbia but too dark to tell [for] certain.

22: Moderate breeze to light N.West wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze N.West with clear, fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. 1st asst went fishing and to Newport after mail. 2nd asst showing visitors in tower and in bathing over on the north beach. Had 22 visitors.

23: Calm to light South wind these 24 hours with fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had 18 visitors today. 1st asst went fishing. 1st and 2nd assts showing visitors in tower. Steamer Robarts arrived in to Newport at 8 P.M. Keeper went to Newport after supplies Left the station at 10. A.M.

24: Light wind to moderate breeze South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours thick, damp fog. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. 1st & 2nd assts showing visitors in tower. Had nine visitors. Keeper returned to station at 3 P.M.

25: Light South wind these 24 hours with light rain showers most of the time. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had thirty-two visitors. 2nd asst went to Newport. 1st asst went to Newport after the mail.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

July

26: Calm and light variable winds first part of 24 hours cloudy but dry. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate & fresh breeze N. West clear fine & warm weather. Sea smooth. Keepers showing 41 visitors in tower. 1st asst went fishing.

27: Moderate breeze to light N. West wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate and fresh breeze N.W. with clear fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had thirty visitors. Keepers showing visitors in the tower. 1st asst went over to Newport after mail. 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies. Left the station at 2. P.M.

28: Light N. West wind with clear fine and warm weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport. 1st asst showing 15 visitors in Tower. Steamer Homer sailed for San Francisco. 2nd asst returned to station at 4.30 P.M.

29: Light South wind and calm with thick damp fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. The barometer is 29.90 today. Had five visitors today.

30: Light variable winds & calm first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze N. West with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. Keeper and 1st stacking lime. Keepers showing thirty eight visitors in tower. 2nd asst making a hammock.

31: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze N. West with clear fine and warm weather these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 1st asst showing 13 visitors in the tower & went fishing. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport. John Fitzpatrick hauling wood for Keeper.

August

1: Moderate to fresh and strong breeze N.W. these 24 hours first part of 24 hours clear fine weather. Last part of 24 hours some fog. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport. 1st asst showing visitors in the Tower. Had twenty-four visitors. 2nd asst went to Newport on important business. Left the station at 8.30 A.M. [addendum above: no name] Hauling wood for the Keeper.

2: Fresh to strong breeze N. West with thick damp fog during these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst showing visitors in the Tower. Had twelve visitors today. 2nd asst Isaac L. Smith returned to station at 5. P.M.

3: Strong and fresh breeze N. West with thick damp fog these 24 hours. Sea a little rough. General duties for the day. Hauling wood for the Keepers. Had fifteen visitors today. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies.

4: Fresh breeze N.W. these 24 hours with fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had seventeen visitors today. 1st getting wood from the beach. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport on business.

5: Light N. West wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds and calm with fair & warm weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st asst showing visitors in the Tower. Had seven visitors. 2nd asst Isaac L. Smith went up to the Siletze Indian Agency trout fishing to be gone three days. Left the station at 10. A.M.

6: Light South wind these 24 hours first part of 24 hours cloudy and little damp. Last part of 24 hours clear fine and warm weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Had forty five visitors. Keeper and 1st asst showing visitors in tower.

7: Light South wind and calm these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and warm weather. Sea smooth. Steam Schooner Homer sailed for San Francisco today. 1st asst went to Newport. Hauling wood to the station today.

8: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze N. West these 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours some fog. Last part of 24 hours clear fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had thirty six visitors today. 1st asst went fishing and showing visitors in the Tower. Keeper went to Newport to take the mail. 2nd asst returned to the station at 7. P.M. from trout fishing.

9: Moderate breeze to light N.West wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate to fresh breeze N.W. with clear fine and warm. Sea smooth. 1st asst showing visitors in the Tower & went fishing. Had 22 visitors. Keeper went berrying one mile from the station.