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.

Pt San Juan likely to get station…; WC will be well guarded… Carmanah, Pachena, Beale to have radio phones… Clayoquot lifesaving station to be linked by cable with Lennard I lighthouse…; 18 – Bamfield life-saving crew’s work appreciated…; Apr 13, 1; proper safeguards on WC…; Apr 17, 5 – confirmation, WC to get wireless station – Pachena Pnt…; Apr 18, 19 – will test Pachena as wireless site… [Colonist, 1923-04-11, p. 17]

Died Jun, 1923 at Vancouver, BC, George Frederick McNeill, brother of D H McNeill, lighthousekeeper at Fiddler Reef, near Oak Bay. B Jun 10, 1857 at McNeill’s Bay, he was the 3rd son of late Capt W H McNeill, skipper of HBC vessel Enterprise, and other local craft of early days. 
Deceased followed the trade of blacksmith for many yrs, and was for a considerable time a horse trainer. resident of Vancouver for 20+ yrs. In 1888 he was one of the 3 bros who went N and assisted in quelling a disturbance among the Indians. Latterly he had been with a ming company as a drill sharpener, in which he was an expert. Vancouver burial. [Colonist, 1923-06-17*]

 

HMCS Thiepval left for Bamfield yesterday to go on patrol duty along the outside coast of the island. She will be relieved later by HMCS Armentieres. The 2 vessels will act as lifesaving craft off the VI coast during the winter months and will do the rescue work, in conjunction with the Bamfield lifeboat, in event of shipwreck. With temporary wireless stations at Cape Beale, Carmanah, Lennard I and Bamfield, the coast is now ready for the winter storms… The direction-finding wireless station at Pachena is also now in operations… 
Nov 30, 1 – …discovery of lumber and a dead pig on the beach near Carmanah, a sharp watch was being kept last night by lighthouse tenders and wireless operators… The discovery was reported to the Gonzales Hill station… [Colonist, 1923-11-29, p. 19]

 

Duncan McKay, fisherman, formerly of Ladner, brought from Lacombe, AB on charge of bigamy. 2nd wife, Elizabeth Sophia Georgeson, Mayne lighthouse, married Sep 17, 1919. 1st wife Josephine Gabrielle, m at Ladner Oct 3, 1914. Dec 23, 3 – sent up for trial…; 7 – suspended sentence… [Colonist, 1923-12-18, p. 13]

 

W H and Ervilla Gertrude Peter, celebrate 40th wedding anniversary. She – only daughter of Mr/Mrs J Rumjan, of Ocheyedan, IA, they had 4 children. He comes of an old Scottish family, eldest son of late H Thomas Peter, of Kirkland, Sct, leaving there with his parents in 1880, he lived in IA until 1890, when, with his wife, he came to Victoria. He was a clever mechanic, and was made inspector of lighthouses in BC many yrs ago, a position he still holds. [Colonist, 1924-01-04, p. 9]

 

ph/Mr/Mrs James Georgeson of Saturna I celebrate 50th anniversary. Came to Canada in 1887, and he served in the Dominion lighthouse service for 33 yrs. [Colonist, 1924-01-16, p. 8]

 

Forsyth family, lighthousekeeper at Race Rocks, grateful for radio… [Colonist, 1924-02-03, p. 7]