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SMITH'S ISLAND
October 21, 1854: "The following items of appropriations relating to Washington Territory, from the civil and diplomatic bill passed at the late session of Congress:
For a lighthouse on Blunt's or Smith's island, in the Straits of Fuca, twenty-five thousand dollars." (Pioneer and Democrat)
June 4, 1858: "The Northern Indians.---These troublesome and unwelcomed neighbors have again made their appearance in the Sound. Mr. J. W. Smith, constructor of the light-house on Smith's or Blunt's Island, with a party, a few days since went to Lopez Island for water, and, whilst he and one of his party were on shore, those in the boat were visited by a large canoe with a number of Northern Indians in it. Their actions and conduct were such that, when they went away the boat hastened back to Smith's Island, where the men armed themselves and returned, having left Mr. Smith on Lopez Island twenty-four hours without blankets or provisions. On the morning of the 13th inst., when Mr. Smith was leaving Lopez Island, he saw the same party of Indians leaving Smith's Island. There were about twenty-five Indians in the canoe, and , when last seen, were within four or five miles of Whidby's Island, making for the shore.---It becomes the inhabitants to be on their guard.---Puget Sound Herald." (Pioneer and Democrat)
January 28, 1959: "A New Light.---The Washington (D.C.) Star says that the Light-house Board has ordered a new revolving white light of the fourth order of Fresnel, showing a flash every half minute, to be located in the light-house lately erected on Blunt's or Smith's Island, in the Straits of Fuca, Washington Territory. The elevation is to be 90 feet above the mean sea level, and the light will be visible at the distance of seventeen statute miles." (Puget Sound Herald)
April 21, 1859: "The Indians have been trying to burn the lighthouse at Smith's Island, on the Sound." (Weekly Oregon Statesman)
June 10, 1859: "Since the menace of the Indians upon the Blunt's or Smith's Island light-house mentioned last week, we have conversed with a gentleman, direct from Port Townsend, from whom we have obtained the following further particulars relative to the affair. It turns out to have been a more serious matter than we gave it credit of being last week.
It appears that on the 2nd inst, Maj. Van Bokkelin received a dispatch from Mr. J. K. Applegate, assistant keeper of the light-house referred to, informing him that two days previous, two shots were fired at him by a party of five or six northern Indians, as he was passing one of the windows in the tower; that he returned their fire with two shots---wounding one of the party, as he was afterwards traced by blood to the beach; that they then made off; that Capt. Vail, the keeper, and his wife had returned; that two large canoes were then in sight, and urging Maj. Van Bokkelin to hurry up reinforcements.
On receipt of this intelligence, Maj. Haller, U. S. A., with his usual promptness, chartered the bark Mary F. Slade, which had just arrived from San Francisco the day previous, and started a party of twenty soldiers for the Island. The Maj. intended to visit the Island, in person, and station a file of soldiers there to protect the light. He also intended to leave some men on Whidby's Island.
The following is Capt. Jones' version of the matter, upon which our statement of last week was predicated. That on the 29th uit., whilst between Victoria and Smith's Island, on board the schooner Carolina, he met three large canoes filled with Northern Indians; that as they passed the schooner, he inquired of them where they were going? to which they replied. 'to Smith's Island, to hunt ducks;' that a halfbreed Indian, on the schooner, informed Capt. J., that they were going on an errand of mischief; that upon receiving this information, he put the schooner about for the light-house, where he arrived just in time to get the keeper, Mr. Vail, and his wife on board, as the Indians were landing---the assistant, Mr. Applegate, preferring the risk of taking care of the light; Capt. Jones then proceeded to Port Townsend, where a party of 15 volunteered for the relief of Mr. Applegate, and arrived at the Island next morning, where they found three canoe loads of Indians, who, as soon as they discovered the schooner, made off in their canoes. Capt. Jones afterwards encountered them, by sailing round the Island, when they informed the party on the schooner, that if they wanted to fight they were ready. They had annoyed Mr. Applegate all night, wanting to get him out by pretending that they wanted water, which he refused." (Pioneer and Democrat)
January 13, 1875: "Improvements are being made at Smith's Island, repairs of a general character are being made." (Morning Oregonian)
January 28, 1875: "The work done at Smith's Island was the construction of a wood house and storeroom, the putting up of a picket fence around the keeper's house and other buildings, and the cleaning out and repairing of a cistern." (Morning Oregonian)
November 30, 1877: "We acknowledge a call this week, from Mr. C. P. Dyer, of Smith's Island lighthouse. He reports finding a good many pieces of some wrecked vessel, on the Island within the past ten days. He says they are primarily detached sections of mouldings and fancy work, evidently from the inner portion of a vessel's cabin, and that they have not been in the water long. We are waiting to hear of the wreck." (Puget Sound Weekly Argus)
April 9, 1896: "Mr. Frank Dennison, of Smith's Island, and Miss Fannie Lawson, of San Juan island, were united in marriage by the Rev. Theo. L. Dyer at the home of the brides parents, last Thursday, April 2nd, 1896. Mr. Dennison has been the keeper of Smith's Island lighthouse for several years past, he succeeding his father who was in the lighthouse service for many years and who died there several years ago. Mr. Dennison has a wide circle of warm friends and acquaintances and is well known by nearly every one in this county." (The Islander)
June 24, 1897: "Born, at Smith's Island lighthouse, Smith's Island, Island county, Wash., on June 10th, 1897, to Frank N. Dennison and his wife, a daughter." (The Islander)
December 1, 1898: "Frank Dennison, who for several years past has been the keeper of the Smith island lighthouse, has resigned his position and hereafter will reside on a farm on Shaw island." (The San Juan Islander)
October 10, 1901: "Mr. Brown, the lighthouse keeper on Smith's Island, has purchased a lot of sheep from Joseph Sweeney and has contracted to have them towed on a scow to the island by the steamer Arthur G." (The San Juan Islander)
April 23, 1904: "Frank Dennison is assistant lighthouse keeper at Smith's Island." (The San Juan Islander)
May 7, 1904: "Frank Dennison came over Monday from Smith's Island, where he is assistant lighthouse keeper, and remained until Saturday visiting his family and mother and sisters." (The San Juan Islander)
November 19, 1904: "Mr. and Mrs. Dennison, who were for many years at the lighthouse on Patos Island but are now stationed on Smith's Island, spend several days this week at the East Sound House." (The San Juan Islander)
June 3, 1905: "Frank Dennison is home, waiting for one of the lighthouse tenders to call and take him to his new station between Juneau and Sitka." (The San Juan Islander)
September 21, 1907: "Jos. Dunson, head keeper of the important lighthouse station on Smith's island, spent the early part of the week in town visiting friends, who are always glad to see him. He is enjoying his annual leave of absence of fifteen days. Frank Higgins went over to the island Tuesday to help the assistant keeper during Mr. Dunson's absence." (The San Juan Islander)
March 28, 1908: "Jolly 'Joe' Dunson, keeper of the Smith's Island lighthouse, was an unintentional visitor here on the 20th. He was a passenger on the Thompson on the trip across the strait but the weather was so rough that he could not land on the island." (The San Juan Islander)
January 2, 1909: "Joe Dunson, keeper of the Smith Island lighthouse, who has many friends in the county, was obliged to spend Christmas in Friday Harbor, much against his will. He was a passenger on the Rosalie from Seattle, expecting to land on the island and enjoy Christmas with his family, but one of the worst gales that has swept over the Sound for years lashed the straits into foam and made it impossible for him to get ashore at the lighthouse. It was still rough on the return trip Saturday, but the jolly keeper managed to get ashore in the lighthouse boat, skilfully handled by his son." (The San Juan Islander)
May 16, 1930: "Robert Bay, who has been first assistant at the Heceta Lighthouse for about 12 years has been appointed keeper of the Smith Island light near Seattle. This is a one man station. Mr. Bay left last Saturday to take charge. Mrs. Bay will leave in a few days, in company with Mike Waters, for Santa Paula, Calif., where her daughter, Martha is in high school. At the close of school they will join Mr. Bay at their new home." (Siuslaw Oar)
September 1936: "On July 24 Dwight Southmayd and Orval A. Risdon, assistant keepers of Smith Island Light Station, Wash., rescued for men whose boat has run aground during high seas in the vicinity of the station." (Lighthouse Service Bulletin)