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.

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Tug William Jolliffe, of British Columbia Salvage Co, returned from West Coast lighthouses loaded cement for a new lighthouse at Estevan Point and will probably sail again today for the West Coast. 
Tees, Captain Townsend, sailed last night for the West Coast with a good cargo and a fair complement of passengers. She took lumber, coal, barrels and stores and several large shipments of provisions. Passengers included F W Vincent, of the Canadian Pacific Railway coast service staff, who is making his annual trip of inspection; H Simpson, R J Flaherty, S Dickson, A W Neill, Mr/Mrs J Durham, J W McCreary, J H McGregor, D Wyer, D Duncans, W T Buttar and Messrs Bruce, W McCurdy, Godrich, Todd and Gregg. [Colonist, 1908-09-22]

 

Carnegie hero fund comm, acting on the report of Danvers Osborne of Banfield cable stn, who was commissioned to investigate and report, has refused to grant a medal to Mrs Minnie A Paterson, Wife of the former lightkeeper at Cape Beale, who was the heroine of the Coloma wreck and of the Valencia disaster. 
Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes: Extreme disappointment will be caused in Pacific coast shipping circles by the decision of Carnegie Hero Fund in refusing a medal to Mrs Minnie A Patterson, whose brave act saved the lives of the crew of bark Coloma, which was wrecked off Vancouver Island in Dec, 1906. 
Marine men familiar with the details of this case, believe that no more heroic act was ever performed on this coast. Mrs Paterson’s deed was exploited far and wide at the time, and it was believed that the Carnegie commission would recognize her… Mrs Paterson’s husband at the time of the wreck was keeper of lighthouse at Cape Beale. Coloma was driven ashore in a terrific storm, Dec 7, 1906, and the unfortunate crew took to the rigging. Seeing their desperate plight Mrs Paterson bravely made her way over a rough road for miles, through a blinding storm to give the alarm. Word reached Dominion Government Steamer Quadra which rescued the 10 men in the nick of time. But for Mrs Paterson’s heroic act every man would have been lost, as the bark soon pounded to pieces. 
Mrs Paterson received a gold medal from the United States government. [Colonist, 1908-10-31]

 

Wreckage found some days ago by David Logan, lineman at Clo-oose, who arrived here by Steamer Tees indicates that some small gasoline boat or sailing Schooner was wrecked off West Coast Vancouver Island. Mr Logan said that a short distance West of Nitinat River he had found a white-painted deckhouse with a red top… Mr Bradbury, the wireless telegraph operator at Pachena Point also found some wreckage near there. 
Tees, which reached port yesterday from Cape Scott and way ports brought a full complement of passengers, about 50 in the saloon and 100 in the ‘tween decks and a full cargo including 903 barrels of whale oil, 63 barrels of whale meat, 21 bales of gill bone and 500 cases of canned salmon from the cannery at Uchucklesset. Among the passengers were Mr Milward of Pacific cable board, who has been inspecting the cable stn at Banfield and Mrs Milward, J Turnan, mgr of Uchucklessett cannery which has been closed down for the season: R J Flaherty, who has been prospecting for marble at hd of Esperanza Inlet and brought some excellent sample from some locations; A Paget and J Ringland, who have been hunting elk in Kyuquot dist; W R Miffonts, who was sent by Dominion Government from eastern Canada to construct a lighthouse at Estevan Point. Also: F Smith, C Todd, D A Lewis and W Allen from Nootka; J Campbell, J Shafer, from Nootka; E Wall, from Hesquiot, D McDonald, J Heins, J D McDonald, J Barnes, D Beck, F Fawcett, H Tolmie, W Randell, James Murphy, W Morris, J Amer, D Irmin, H MdDonald, J Michaels, F Hall, E L Roberts, H Landon, D Mills from Alberni, D Logan and R Daykin, from Clo-oose; Mrs Warsion, T Tye and A A Vernon from Port Renfrew. There were a large number of Japanese and Chinese employees of the whaling stn and canneries which have been shut down for the season. Steamer will sail again for West Coast tomorrow night at 11. [Colonist, 1908-11-01]

 

News indicating the loss during the gales of the last few days off the West Coast Vancouver Island of a small vessel, presumably an American Schooner, was received from Carmanah Point near which wreckage pointing to disaster but not sufficient to identify the victim was received. The wreckage came ashore yesterday on the rocks 2 � miles West of the lighthouse where W P Daykin is in charge. Included was a broken clinker-built gig with letters J D C alone showing, the rest of the letters being broken away. Shipping lists and registers give but one vessel with these letters beginning her name and that vessel is in the Atlantic. There was also a shield of sugar pine with United States coast of arms, stars in gilt and red, white and blue of the stripes and field in enamel. These things alone of the flotsam which came ashore offered any clue whatever to the victim of the gales. There was also a piece of ship’s rail of teak, about 15′ long, 8″ wide and 4″ thick, seemingly part of the rail of a small Schooner, and a few coconuts were also washed ashore amongst the wreckage. 
Lightkeeper Daykin sighted no vessels in any distress. Clo-oose reported a Schooner off there Fri, sailing inward. A Schooner was becalmed off there, but afterward she got a breeze and sailed away. [Colonist, 1908-11-22]

 

Tees, which reached port yesterday from Cape Scott and way ports of the West Coast had a stormy passage, and during the Christmas Day gale had to steam out of Deserted Bay, where she had anchored owing to the storm. She dragged at her anchors with sheets of water lifted over her, and the wind blowing down the bay as down a funnel seemed as if it would lift the Steamer from the water. Shelter was obtained in Plumper Bay. When leaving Nootka Sound the Steamer again sheltered at Friendly Cove, but the wind blew so strong that the 2 anchors were lifted and the Steamer put out to sea, rolling and laboring. 
There was a fair complement of passengers and slim freight, the only cargo on board being some slabs of marble from the quarries on Nootka Sound to Alex Stewart, of Victoria, British Columbia. The passengers included C F Betterton, the well known mill man; H Bruce and wife, from San Juan; W Garrard, a timber man, and wife, from Alberni; Christopher Anderson, J Hartwell, A S Gwyne, Dr West, F Gowen, J Drinkwater, of Alberni; H Garrard, from Lennard I lighthouse, bound to England, Ed Evanson, Quatsino, Ed Henderson, Alberni and several others. 
Captain Gillam, chief officer of the Steamer, was in command, Captain Townsend having remained ashore for the Christmas holiday. Tees will sail again tonight for Clayoquot and way ports. [Colonist, 1909-01-01]

 

Captain J Gaudin, Agent of Marine and fisheries has received a report concerning the loss of the Banfield motor lifeboat, the wreck of which has been picked up by the Steamer Leebro and will be brought to Victoria for survey and repairs. It seems that the Child of Mr/Mrs Thompson of the Cape Beale lighthouse was ill and in need of medical attention and the mother and child were taken to Ucluelet where the little one died. The lifeboat was not hauled out as usual, having returned after nightfall. A watch was left and when the light was missed the watchman failed to report it. A strong Southeast wind was blowing and nothing could be done until it moderated. Then, the morning after the lifeboat broke adrift, Captain Gillan was taken in the motor yacht Winona of Victoria which happened to be at Banfield Creek to search for the lifeboat which was found on Robbers I. The engines were taken out and the boat floated with the greater part of her starboard side torn out. When the weather abates sufficiently to get the Clo-oose lifeboat and take it to Banfield the wrecked craft will be brought her by Leebro. [Colonist, 1909-01-23]