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In December, 2008, the Times Colonist with the cooperation of The University of Victoria made the archives for the first 50 years of the newspaper available on line at The British Colonist 1858-1910 |
July 20
1859 |
House of Assembly Notice of Intention to select sites for the two lighthouses |
| Aug 12- 1859 |
HMS Plumper with Capt. Richards left Esquimalt to select a site for the lighthouse on Race Rocks |
| Sept 19, 1859 |
Last evening three "square rigged " vessels were inside Race Rocks heading towards Victoria. |
Dec.25
1859 |
Wreck of the Idaho still afloat in Strait of Juan de Fuca |
April12
1860 |
HMS Topaze is stationed in Victoria.. See story of their crew providing labour on Race Rocks Tower Construction |
April 14
1860 |
House of Assembly re appropriations for Race Rocks and FIsgard. |
| April 26, 1860 |
Estimates for erection of public works.. Race Rocks and Fisgard |
May3
1860 |
Band from the H.M.S.Topaze leads the Mayday parade. Further evidence of this ship being stationed in Victoria while its crew helped build the tower at Race Rocks. |
| June 09, 1860 |
Mr. Morris , Civil Engineer now erecting the lighthouse at Race Rocks---Home government appropriates 7000 pounds for the construction of the two lighthouses.--- 3500 to be paid by the Imperial government, , the other half by this colony and British Columbia-- "In that case we ought to have had the right to select the lightkeepers as there are many persons her just as well qualified as any that can be imported from England" |
June 28
1860 |
Further evidence of HMS Topaze being stationed in Victoria |
| June 30, 1860 |
A discussion arose as to whether the Home Government, British Columbia or Vancouver Island had to pay for the lightkeepers. |
| July 05, 1860 |
The Assembly discusses who should pay the wages for the lightkeepers.--
Mr. Franklin " The Home government having built the lightouses and stocked them , it was natural to suppose that they should pay for their keeping"---- |
July 20
1859 |
House of Assembly dispatchers have passed between the Governor (Sir James Douglas) and Sir L.B. Lyton ( British parliament) regarding payment for the two lighthouses. |
Sept 19
1859 |
This short clip presents an image long past " Last evening, three square rigged vessels were inside Race Rocks heading towards Victoria." |
| August 28 1860 |
Letter from "an old sailor" on payment for Pilotage. Vessels coming in from San Francisco would pick up a pilot off Race Rocks. |
| August 30,1860 |
The gun boat "Forward" receives the two lanterns for the l;ighthouses which have just arrived from England by the "Grecian" |
Dec. 25
1860 |
Total Loss of the British Barque Nanette, wrecked on Race Rocks |
| Dec 27, 1860 |
Pilotage bill not passed yet--two days ago the Nanette sank on Race Rocks.. On Nov 9 a pilot lost his life..---The pilots say they cannot maintain a boat outside because the remuneration they receive is insufficient to support them---- |
Dec.27,
1860 |
--the beacon on Race Rocks was lighted last evening for the first time--- |
Jan.15
1861 |
the schooner "Rebecca" was caught steeling from the wreck of the Nanette on Race Rocks |
| Jan 22, 1861 |
Reference to loss of the Nanette on Race Rocks. |
| Jan 23, 1861 |
Reference to Nanette as one of several shipwrecks. |
| Jan. 26, 1861 |
False Alarm--Two heavy guns heard in the direction of Race Rocks |
| Jan. 26, 1861 |
Two men arrested for stealing goods from the Nanette wrecked at Race Rocks |
Feb.1
1861 |
Court of Naval Inquiry re theft from wreck of Nanette. |
| Feb.1 1861 |
Notice to Mariners about the new light being exhibited in the Light House recently erected on Great Race Rock and cautioning about the strong tides at Race Rocks No ti ice to Mariners of Lighthouse on Race Island , Strait of Juan de Fuca |
Feb.1
1861 |
Directions for Fisgard and Race Rocks -- Notice to Mariners; |
| Feb. 4, 1861 |
Tax assessment for John Morris at Race Rocks of 2500 pounds. |
Feb. 9
1861 |
Captain of Schooner Rebecca accused of stealing from wreck of Nanette |
| Feb.11 1861 |
Court of Naval Inquiry re : Wreck of Nanette |
| Feb.13 1861 |
The Nanette is sold at auction for $650.00 |
Sept.21
1861 |
Topaze arrives from Chile , she left here last April (1861) En route took in tow a sloop from the Fannings Islands with starving occupants on board who had resorted to cannibalism in order to survive. |
| Jan. 08, 1862 |
Discussion on the Pilot Bill .. Government had killed the passage of an excellent Pilot law in 1860 |
Dec 10
1862 |
House of Assembly recognizes the work of Capt. Richards who surveyed and chose the site for Race Rocks. |
| March 22, 1864 |
Use of semaphore signal at Race Rocks |
| Dec. 17, 1866 |
Death at the Lighthouse Geo. N. Davies first lightkeeper died on Friday night last-- |
| Feb.5,1867 |
Disaster to the Ship Nicholas Biddel |
| Mar.4, 1873 |
Lightkeeper reports ship aground on Rosedale Reef |
| May 11, 1873 |
Dominion Estimates.. gives lightkeepers salaries, |
May 29
1873 |
Lightkeepers spend time blasting and removing large rocks making a landing at Race Rocks |
| Feb2, 1877 |
"Murder"----- "Mr.T. Argyle arrived in town yestert tday bringing with him in a canoe the body of an Indian woman, which , from the marks upon it, leaves but little doubt that the woman was foully murdered." |
| Nov. 7, 1877 |
Wreck of the HMS Swordfish off Beecher bay |
| Nov. 7, 1877 |
H.M.S.Opal rescues crew of the Swordfish |
Nov. 7
1877 |
Trial of James Argyle for rescuing deserters from a naval ship (Full newspaper page!) |
Nov.11
1877 |
Sale of the Swordfish ( wreckage) |
March 22
1881 |
Report on lack of a granite quarry on Vancouver Island.. This may be evidence that the grey granite of Race Rocks was probably not quarried locally 21 years previous to this date. |
| March 31, 1881 |
The tug Etta White rescues American barque Antioch. note reference to the Idaho which later comes aground at RR. |
July 31
1888 |
A watery grave: Thomas Argyle Jr., at 25 years of age the eldest son of lighthouse keeper Thomas Argyle, along with three other friends who were on their way out to Race Rocks to stay overnight with his parents, all drowned in a gale. |
Aug 2
1888 |
Lightkeeper Argyle searches and is unable to find his son and other drowning victims. |
| Dec 25, 1889 |
Wreck of the Idaho still afloat after slipping off Race Rocks |
Aug 11
1895 |
A Fortunate Escape: (by the New Zealand Vessel Warrimoo.) |
Sept 19
1900 |
Lightkeeper Eastwood charged with leaving the station and employing Japanese(!!) |
June 10
1909 |
The tug Sea Lion Sunk in Collision--run down by Oceania Vance during thick fog near Race Rocks |
Sept 5
1909 |
Proposal to build a Fort (Fort Rod Hill) at the entance to Esquimalt Harbour :
"The width of the Strait East of the Race Rocks is such that a ship of war, keeping well out to sea would be out of range of the guns at Esquimalt or at Fort Macaulay, and would be free to proceed on its way to Vancouver withourt interuption unless a fort were erected at some point commanding the passage." |
Sept 18
1909 |
Lightkeeper F.Eastwood saw drowning by the overturning of a Columbia River boat loaded -- Hesquiot Indian tells another story----No one drowned!- |
| !889-1906 |
Reference page for entries from the Daily Colonist for Lightkeeper W.P. Phil Daykin |
