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TILLAMOOK ROCK
July 12, 1879: "The Astorian says: Tillamook Rock has been fully explored, and found to be admirably adapted to the purposes of a light-house and fog whistle. It stands out to sea prominently from the shore, and in view of the shore line north and south. Being beyond the line of breakers the blasts of a whistle would not be interrupted seaward." (The Coast Mail)
September 6, 1879: "The new lighthouse at Tillamook Head, it is supposed, will cost $100,000." (The Coast Mail)
September 19, 1879: "The revenue cutter Corwin returned from Tillamook Rock this evening, and reports that John Trewavis, employed by the Government to superintend the stone work in erecting a lighthouse on the rock, in landing, neglected to avail himself of a line fastened to a grapnel for that purpose, was washed off the rock and drowned in spite of strenuous attempts made to save him. All efforts to recover the body failed." (Sacramento Daily Union)
May 15, 1880: "A reporter of the Telegram called on Mr. Rallantyne, superintendent of the Tillamook light construction, and received an interesting account of the work on Tillamook light house from which we take the following extracts:
The rock itself is 125 feet in extent, from east to west, and from 70 to 80 feet around, north to south. This, however, will fail to give you an adequate idea of its extent, as it rises to a hight of 120 feet above the water, and is so steep and precipitous that it might be said to have no top at all. In laying the base of the lighthouse which will be but 48 feet square, it will be necessary for us to cut into the rock 25 feet and to level it from one end to the other. This job has been about com pleted and was a hazardous undertaking. In the first place the rock is exceedingly hard to get to. Mr. Trewavas on the 3d of last November took a number of men out when the sea was comaratively smooth, and attempted to gain a foot hold on the rock. He found it black with seals. The party approached as closely as possible to the dangerous mass, and, watching their opportunity, jumped with the waves to the incline. The first man to make the attempt was successful. He carried a rope with him, which was attached to Mr. Trewavas, who made the next attempt. When the waves raised the boat high up in the air Trewavas jumped. He reached the rock in safety, and had made his way so far up the incline that he evidently thought himself out of danger; he therefore released his hold on the rope. Just then, however, a sea crept round the edge of the rock, and, sweeping up the surface, washed him into the deep. The other man rushed down to help him and the next sea hurled him also from the rock, and before assistance could be given both men drowned. Their bodies were never recovered, and it is probable they were eaten up by the sea lions, which at that time were unusually plentiful about the rock.
The rock is 1 1/4 miles from the main lad, and very difficult to approach. The light is expected to be exhitbited first on the last night of Dec., 1880." (The Coast Mail)
June 19, 1880: "The sundry civil appropriation bill as reported from the Senate committee on appropriations, is amended by increasing the item for lighthouses and steam fog signals at Tillamook Rock, Oregon, from $50,000 to $75,000." (The Coast Mail)
December 18, 1880: "Hon. W.D. Hare, Collector of Customs at Astoria, has appointed Albert Rohr, of Astoria, head keeper, and Mr. Corwin, of this city, assistant keeper of the new light-house on Tillamook Rock." (The Coast Mail)
November 9, 1900: "The most famous lighthouse on the Pacific coast is that of Tillamook rock, 70 miles south of the Columbia river, Oregon. The rock is 92 feet above the sea, yet at the time Mr. Lord made one of the photographs a wave was breaking through a crevasse and hurling its spray higher than the summit. On this day it was to rough for the Columbine's boat to make a landing. Coal for the station had to be hoisted in net slings, and the keeper had to be lowered in a cage or basket and, suspended in midair over the sea, report on the condition of himself and his assistants, as they were short of provisions, most of the supply having been destroyed during a storm.
From the side of the rock a heavy sea at the height of this storm tore off two pieces averaging 63 pounds and hurled them upon the roof of the keeper's dwelling. With the weight of the water these fragments made a hole 26 feet in area in the roof, flooded the building to a depth of over five feet and washed out two walls, throwing three rooms into one, an 'improvement' for which the keepers were not especially grateful. Pieces of rock punctured the iron roof in 35 places. Although the focal plane of the lantern is 130 feet above the sea level, 11 panes of glass three feet long and three-eighths of an inch thick were knocked in by pieces of rock which went through the lantern, and the water put out the light. The building has now been raised six feet, and a thick concrete roof has been laid on heavy steel girders. -- Chautauquan." (Amador Ledger)
October 17, 1903: "Assistant Keeper Joe Leonard of the Tillamook Rock light, died suddenly in Astoria Thursday. Several weeks ago he was injured by falling from the top of the rock to the beach while some supplies were being delivered there by one of the lighthouse tenders. But at the time a broken leg and arm were believed to be all the injuries that he had received." (Weekly Coast Mail)
June 10, 1913: "Three men left Tillamook Rock lighthouse one day last week in a 16 foot dory to go to the mainland, and were wrecked on Bird rock. They were rescued after 24 hours by M. S. Warren, who made two trips through the surf with a small boat to take them off." (Coquille Herald)
November 23, 1934: "Boiling seas and a 65-mile-an-hour gale imprisoned nine men in Tillamook Rock lighthouse off the mouth of the Columbia river today.
For a week they have been marooned by high seas in the bleak towers, where five of the party was sent two weeks ago to repair the main light, smashed when a recent storm hurled rocks 100 feet in the air.
From the safety of the living quarters in the tower, 80 feet above the ocean, they watched the gale churn the seas and saw a huge waterspout move independent of the storm.
The perfectly-formed water spout was supposedly the only one ever reported off the Oregon coast. Lighthouse Keeper Henry Jenkins estimated it was 400 feet high.
The sturdy lighthouse is built on a rock only half an acre in area. No fear was expressed here for the safety of the men." (The Lodi Sentinel)
November 30, 1934: "With any break whatsoever in the violent storm at sea another attempt will be made to remove three ill occupants from the Tillamook Rock lighthouse.
The regular loading derrick on the rock was swept away by a recent storm and a breeches buoy must be run from the rock to the 127-foot lighthouse tender Rose which is ready to dash to the aid.
Yesterday, with a 65-mile an hour gale blowing, the seas were to rough for the craft even to venture out of its anchorage inside the Columbia river mouth.
Twice within the past six weeks the agitated seas have sent waves completely over the 133-foot high lighthouse on top of the rock, which is completely surrounded by open ocean.
A crew of five workmen was landed on the rock following the first storm, which swept away the loading derrick.
Soon another storm swept the rock and kept the workers and four attendants virtual prisoners. Two of the keepers and one of the workers have colds. Directions for their care were wirelessed to the lighthouse." (The Lodi Sentinel)