Mendocino County
History
History of Mendocino County California - Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880
FORT BRAGG.
This was the name of the military post at the Mendocino Reservation, and was established by Lieutenant Gibson in 1857. He erected the first house in the post, which was a small square one, and is still standing. We take the following extract from a description of Fort Bragg as it appeared in November, 1863, which was published in one of the Ukiah papers: "We will now transport the reader to the most lovely location in the county — Fort Bragg. This post is situated one and a half miles north of the mouth of the Noyo river, upon the Government reservation. It is not anything like a fortification, but is the nicest little village we have ever seen. There would seem to have been a provision of nature, that this coast shall at least have one beautiful spot upon it. Fort Bragg is merely a smooth, sloping, open piece of ground in a pine forest, with the various buildings encircling the open space, which is about ten acres in extent. The slope of the ground is towards the ocean, from whose biting winds it is sheltered by a thick belt of pines. On. the most elevated, and extremely eastern portion of the plaza, are situated the Captain's and Lieutenant's quarters, overlooking the whole of the other buildings. Upon the right and left, along the sides of the parallelogram, at regular intervals, are the quarters for the men and non-commissioned officers. At the extreme lower part of the plaza are the guard-house, commissary and quartermaster's storehouse; and in. the edge of the pines are the stables, and upon a high knoll in the northwest corner, is the hospital. Around in the space thus enclosed is a circular carriage way, and intersecting each other at right angles across the plaza are raised walks, and in the center is a magnificent flag-pole, proudly waving from the summit of which is our country's flag. The parade ground here afforded is as smooth as a floor, having just enough slope to insure good drainage. The buildings are comfortable and neat, inside and out, and all painted and white-washed."
But how changed are all things now ! The reservation was abandoned in 1867, and the military post was no longer needed nor sustained, and from that time on everything has been allowed to go to decay and ruin. Long years ago the paint and white-wash had been washed off from the buildings by the fogs of summer and the rains of winter, and their places have been taken by a coat of green moss. The fence that was once the pride of the commandant has gone to wreck along with everything else, and now the public highway bisects the parade ground. The old quarters of officers and men are still standing, but fast decaying. The plaza once so smooth and nicely kept, is now overgrown with a heavy crop of dog fennel and "chickweed." Like the tribes of Indians the reservation was supposed to gather in and care for, gone to wreck and ruin with scarcely a vestige left to mark their former abiding-place.
SAW–MILLS.—The pioneer mill of the Mendocino coast, was erected in Big River township, and at the place known in early days as Big River, by Harry Meigs, poor, expatriated Harry! the man of all men of his time, who had pluck and energy enough to breast the battle of life, perfectly undaunted, and to seize upon the opportunities that presented themselves in that day of wonderful enterprises. He, that in a strange land, speaking a foreign tongue, and associated with another race of people, displayed the ability to carry out enterprises that went far to connect the moon and earth, and left behind him, when called hence, a work that shall stand as long as this utilitarian age endures, speaking to all the generations that are to follow, and telling them to behold what a gigantic enterprise the master mind of Harry Meigs was able to conceive and conduct to a successful issue. But, because of a misstep here in the maelstrom days of finances, the popular voice cried out against him, and the one master mind of all was driven from California, and whatever blessings his industry and enterprise might have done for his adopted State, were lost to her, and transplanted upon other soil. And beside his name may well be placed, in the same category, that other martyr to a financial crisis, William C. Ralston, both of whom, were men that gave their all for California, "but their own received them not."
We have already narrated the facts which led to the discovery of the immense redwood forests in Mendocino county. The reader will remember the silk-laden vessel that was cast upon the strand at Noyo, and the party which came from Bodega to gather salvage upon the beach, and how they brought back such glowing reports of the grand old forests of redwoods, growing on all the hill and mountain sides, and along the banks of all the streams, extending down to the very ocean's brink, at a most propitious point, where schooners and larger vessels could land with safety, and take on a cargo of lumber. They will also remember that Harry Meigs, at once, conceived the idea, upon being satisfied that the reports were correct, of erecting a mill at that point, and with him, to will was to do, and soon all the machinery of preparation was in motion. The brig Ontario was purchased in San Francisco, and the machinery and men embarked upon it for Big River harbor. At the same time, oxen were sent overland from Bodega, that were to draw the logs to the mill. After a thirty days' trip, the brig arrived at her destination. The mill was erected on the point of the headland which flanks the harbor on the north side, it being intended to drive the logs out of the mouth of the river into the bay, and then draw them up to the mill, but this plan did not prove feasible, and a railroad was constructed from the flat on the river bank, up the grade to the mill, and the logs were thus transported from the woods to the mill. At that time, there were no chutes as there are now, and the lumber, after being sawed, was drawn back on the railroad to the flat, and transported in lighters out to the vessels lying in the harbor. The saw used in this mill, was a gang sash of twenty-eight saws and did good execution. In 1853, another mill was built by the same company (known as the California Lumber Company, of which firm, Meigs was the backbone). This second mill was located on the flat, on the site of the present mill. The machinery it this mill was quite an improvement over that used in the other, and consisted of two single circular saws, one muley, and one sash saw, and had a capacity of forty thousand feet of lumber per day. These mills changed hands in the fall of 1854, after the failure of Meigs. J. B. Ford and E. C. Williams had been working for the company since its organization, and their wages had accumulated, till they were a considerable sum, and they levied an attachment on the mill and machinery. Messrs. Godeffroy, Sillem & Freundt had a claim of $400,000 against the Lumber Company, and they also issued an attachment against the mill property. A compromise was effected, by which the entire property was taken into the hands of the attachees, and each party named, retained a fifth interest. The new company ran both mills till 1856 or 1857, but not regularly, however, the mill on the point was then taken down.
October 17, 1863, the mill on the flat was destroyed by fire, and fifty thousand feet of lumber with it, and the present mill building was erected in 1864. This mill is now owned by the Mendocino Lumber Company, and the present machinery consists of two muley saws, one double circular, one single circular, one gang edger, one picket saw, one picket header, one batton gang, four planers, and one sticking machine. The capacity of the mill is thirty thousand with one side, or fifty-five thousand with both sides. By sides is meant the using of so much extra machinery as is necessary to keep two gangs of men at work. In 1877 this mill ran both sides, and they cut thirty-four thousand logs during the season, and the average number cut of ordinary years, with one side is twenty-five thousand. There is a railroad extending from the mill to the chutes at the port, a distance of about one mile. The track passes up a grade, which is sixty-four feet high, and cars are elevated over it by a stationary engine. The company own three chutes at the point; hence can land three vessels at one time. There is a shingle-mill in connection with the mill, which has a capacity of fifteen thousand a day. The company owns about twenty-two thousand acres of timber land, which extends back from the coast twenty-four miles in a direct line, and they have already cut logs as far as eighteen miles back in a straight line. It is estimated that the mill has cut an average of eight million feet of lumber yearly since 1852, making a grand total of nearly two hundred and twenty-five million feet, which has been cut by this mill alone. When this mill is running to its full capacity it affords work for two hundred and twenty-five men, and puts about seven thousand dollars into circulation monthly in the item of wages alone. It will thus be seen that a saw-mill running at its full capacity is no mean factor in the prosperity of the community in which it is located.
In the summer of 1852, George Hegenmeyer and — Scharf, went up the Big river about ten miles, and began getting out piles for the San Francisco market. In September of that year they were joined by Gibhard Hegenmeyer in this business. Soon after the latter's arrival Mr. Scharf took the contract from Captain Richardson to erect and put in operation a waterpower saw-mill at the Albion. This mill was built during the winter of 1852-3, and was the second mill in Mendocino county. Nothing is now known of its capacity, nor how long it remained there or what became of it.
The third mill in the township was constructed at Noyo for Captain Richardson also. The Hegenmeyer Brothers remained at work getting out piles on Big river until the freshet of that winter carried their piles down the river, and their summer's work floated out upon the bosom of the broad Pacific and disappeared. How like many of the enterprises, fond hopes and proud ambitions of poor mortals ! To-day we have the bubble in our grasp, but to-morrow it floats out upon the broad ocean, and we see it no more forever. This high water carried of the roof their house, but the body of it was so braced between two trees that it could not get away. About Christmas, 1852, George Hegenmeyer took the contract from Captain Richardson to construct the mill at Noyo, and his brother Gibhard accompanied him. After working until the building was about ready to receive the machinery, George went to San Francisco for the machinery and the necessary men to run the mill, leaving Gibhard in charge at the Noyo. In February, 1853, the Indians made a raid on the place and drove the occupants off, and stole everything in the house, except three guns, which they left, being evidently afraid of them. In the latter part of March George arrived from San Francisco on the schooner Water Witch, with the machinery and men, and at once renewed operations on the mill, which was located about three miles up the Noyo river. It was not, however, gotten into operation until November, 1853. The power was water, and the machinery consisted of one single circular and one edger, and it had a capacity of eight thousand feet daily. It was run for a few months only, cutting about one hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber. In January, 1854, it was carried away by a freshet.
The Albion steam mill was built in 1853 by A. G. Dallas, Donald Davidson and A. W. Macpherson, and was the second steam mill built in the township. It had a sash saw and a capacity of only four thousand feet daily. In 1855 a single circular saw and a planer were put into the mill, which increased its capacity to fourteen thousand feet. This mill continued to run till 1867, when it was destroyed by fire. During that year a new mill was built at the Albion, which is the present one. The machinery of the new mill consisted of one double circular saw, one sash saw, two planers, one picket and one lath saw, one picket header, and one single edger, and it has a capacity of thirty-five thousand feet of lumber daily. Logs for the mill are driven down the Albion river, near the mouth of which is a dam and booms. The mill is at present owned by Macpherson & Weatherby, who own in connection with it about twenty-seven thousand acres of timber land. It is estimated that this mill has cut about one hundred and twenty-five million feet of lumber since it was put in operation, and it is also estimated that about two-thirds of the available timber has now been cut out.
The Noyo mill was put in operation in 1858 by A. W. Macpherson, and when built it had a capacity of about thirty-five thousand feet daily, or six million a year. The first machinery consisted of a gang sash with twenty-six saws in the gang, and one seventy-two inch single circular. The present machinery consists of one double circular, one single circular, one pony saw, three planing-machines, one picket saw, one picket header, and one lath saw. Its present capacity is forty thousand feet daily. It is owned by Messrs. Macpherson & Weatherby. It is estimated that the mill has cut about one hundred and twenty million feet of lumber, which amount is probably about one-third of the entire yield of their tract of timber land, which embraces about seventeen thousand acres.
The Navarra mill was built in 1861 by Messrs. Tichenor & Hendy, and is at present owned by Messrs. H. B. Tichenor & Co. It had a capacity when first put in operation of ten thousand feet daily, but from time to time new and improved machinery has been added until now its capacity is thirty-five thousand feet, which is up to the average of first-class mills along the coast. The present machinery consists of one double circular, one muley and one picket saw, one Stearns' gang edger, three planers and one picket header, all of which are propelled by an engine of ample capacity. It is estimated that there is a body of timber accessible to the mill consisting of twenty thousand acres, of which the company owns fifteen thousand acres, of which about one-twentieth has been cut, yielding about one hundred and
twenty million feet of lumber. When the mill was first built the lumber was all lightered out to the vessels, but in 1868 a wharf was constructed and a railroad track laid from the mill to the end of the wharf. This withstood the waves and storm only two years, when it was washed away. Lighters were again resorted to, and used until 1874, when another attempt was made to establish and maintain a wharf. This remained until the winter of 1878, which proved so disastrous to the improvements along the coast, when it again succumbed to the action of the waves. The present wharf was then built, which is six hundred feet long, from high water mark, and twenty-four feet wide in the main, and sixty feet wide at the outer end, thus making room for two vessels to load at one time. There is a depth of seventeen feet of water at low tide at the end of the wharf, thus affording ample anchorage for the deepest draft vessels that come in there.
The Caspar mill was built by Messrs. Kelley & Randall in the fall of 1861 and in the fall of 1864 J. G. Jackson came into possession of it, and has since owned it. It had a capacity when first put in operation of fifteen thousand feet, which has since been increased by the addition of new and improved machinery to forty-five thousand feet daily. The original machinery consisted of a sash and pony saw. The machinery at present consists of one double and one single circular saw, one gang edger, one picket saw, one picket header, three planers, and a shingle mill with a capacity of twenty-five thousand daily. The mill is situated on the north bank of the stream and near its mouth. The proprietor of the mill owns about ten thousand four hundred and thirty acres of timber land in connection with the mill, of which it is estimated that almost fifty per cent has been cut out, yielding about one hundred and fifteen million feet of lumber. For the purpose of conveying the logs from the woods to the mill, there is a wide gauge railroad built, which is three and a half miles long. The propelling power on this track is a geared locomotive, similar to the one used at Gualala; and there are ten cars used for transportation purposes. There is a tramway from the mill to the landing, on which the lumber is conveyed to the chute. There are at present one hundred and sixty-six men employed in the various vocations about the mill.
The Little River mill was erected in 1864 by Messrs. Silas Coombs, Ruel Stickney & Tapping Reeves, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. In November, 1871, Mr. Reeves disposed of his interest to the other gentlemen, and in December, 1873, Mr. Stickney sold his interest to C. A. Perkins; Mr. Coombs retaining his interest in the mill from the first. When built it had a capacity of twenty thousand feet daily, having a double circular saw, and other smaller saws and necessary machinery, and about one hundred men were required to keep every department in motion. In March, 1874, after running very nearly ten years, the mill was destroyed by fire, which is supposed to have originated in the engine-room, as the planing department was kept running till 12 o'clock the night previous to the fire. On the 6th day of the next month ground was broken for a new mill on the opposite side of the river from where the old building had stood, and on the 4th of July following, the mill was ready for operations again. The new mill had a capacity of thirty thousand feet daily. The company owns one thousand eight hundred acres of timber land, and the mill has cut about eighty-six million feet according to the best estimates, which is thought is from one-quarter to one-half of all the lumber which the tract owned by the company will yield.
A sprightly correspondent of one of the Ukiah papers, in 1877, gives this interesting scrap of history concerning the mill at Little River: "In August, 1864, Messrs. Stickney, Coombs & Reeves began hewing timber for their mill, and on the evening of October 15th, of that year the whistle sounded a triumphant blast that rang out through the redwoods as a knell of their doom. The mill company began shipping lumber the following January. During the first year there were thirty-eight schooners loaded with lumber at their yard. On the 20th day of March, 1874, and only two days after the withdrawal of Mr. Stickney, the mill was burned down. On the 6th day of April following, a new site was chosen, and by the 24th day of June the steam whistle proclaimed the wonderful energy of the owners.
In February, 1869, William H. Kelley began the erection of a mill at Pudding creek. It is not known now what was the capacity of the mill or how long it ran.
In 1870 A. W. Hall constructed the first mill at Cuffey's Cove or Greenwood creek, which had a capacity of sixteen thousand feet daily, and was run till 1873, when it was taken out.
In 1873 James Dixon, a saw-mill man who has had mills in almost every available place from the redwoods in Marin county to no one knows where up the coast, moved his machinery from Fort Ross, Sonoma county, to near Bridgeport, Mendocino county, and established a mill at that place. After running it one year as a saw-mill he disposed of it to James Lamoine, who converted it into a shingle mill. In 1876 A. Newfield came into possession of it, which he retained till 1878, when he disposed of it to Mr. Dixon again, who converted it again into a saw-mill. In June, 1880, Mr. Newfield again got possession of the and is still its proprietor. Its present capacity is fifteen thousand feet daily, and there are about six hundred acres of timber land available to the mill. While it was a shingle machine it cut about twenty million shingles.
In 1874 Messrs. Philips Brothers & Welle built a shingle mill at Cuffey's Cove, which they continued to run there for three years, and in 1877 it was moved into the cañon. Its capacity was ninety thousand daily, and it is still in operation.
In the fall of 1875 James Dixon built a steam saw-mill on Greenwood creek, just back of Cuffey's Cove. It had a capacity of twenty thousand feet daily, and while it was run cut about five million feet of lumber. In 1877 the mill was discontinued.
During the fall of 1875 and the spring of 1876, Fred. Helmke, a mill man, also well known in Sonoma county, erected the second mill on Greenwood creek. This was a first-class mill in every respect, its capacity being fifty thousand daily. Poor Helmke, another one of those invincible spirits of energy and enterprise that will not down under the ban of adversity, just such a man as can see all the possibilities, but not all the contingencies, that are in an enterprise, and one that, being so constituted, is very apt to overstep the bounds of a perfectly safe investment, and let his hopes and ambitions carry him out upon the sea of misfortune and dash his craft upon the rocks of disaster, sinking all that his economy and business tact had garnered during the days of prosperous ventures, and also all that his credit could avail him. Such a man was Helmke; generous to a fault; honorable and honest to a farthing, as long as he had the farthing to pay his debts with. But financial disaster overtook him, and all his grand business ambitions were swept out of existence in a day. The mill is now owned by the "Redwood Lumber Company." It is estimated that this mill has cut about twenty-three million feet of lumber since its erection.
In August, 1876, the "Salmon Creek Mill Company " erected a mill at Salmon creek, with a capacity of twenty thousand feet daily. The machinery consists of one double circular, one single edger, one planer, one trimmer, and one slab-saw. The company owns about seven hundred acres of timberland, and it is estimated that the mill has cut from eight million to ten million feet of lumber since it began operations.
In 1878 Messrs. Gray & White erected a shingle mill at Salmon creek, with a capacity of ninety thousand shingles per day.
In 1878 Messrs. Coombs & Perkins erected a mill at Stillwell Gulch, about one and a half miles south of Little River. The mill has a capacity of twenty thousand feet daily. Its machinery is complete, and is a first-class mill in every respect, though small.
Messrs. Britt & White have erected a mill during the present season (1880) at Salmon creek, which has a capacity of thirty thousand feet per day.
It will be seen by counting up, that there have been twenty mills, including the shingle mills, in Big River township, extending their time of erection from 1852 till 1880. This, of itself, is sufficient to give a good idea of the importance of the lumber business in the township and along the coast. It may be possible, that in gathering the facts and notes for these annals, that a few mills have been overlooked; and also, that as full a history could not be obtained from some mills as of others. In a work of this kind it is impossible to get all the facts that everybody knows concerning events and industries, as in many cases the principal actors have long since passed away, and what has come down in tradition is all that can be gathered now.
RAILROADS. ----- When railroads for the transportation of logs or lumber have been directly connected with mills, mention of them has been made in connection with the mills; but there are two roads that have been constructed as a private enterprise, in one sense of the word, in that they serve the purposes of several mills.
In 1875 the Mendocino Railroad Company was organized and incorporated, and the road constructed extending from the chutes at Cuffey's Cove, a distance of three and a half miles into the woods along the banks of Greenwood creek. The track is the regular T rail, and is laid in the usual narrow-gauge measure. Two locomotives, not geared, each having forty-two inch drivers, and twenty-nine flat cars, constitute the rolling-stock of the company. Mr. A. W. Hall, an enterprising citizen of that section, was one of the prime movers in the project, and is one of the principal stockholders.
In May, 1877, the Salmon Creek Railroad Company began operations, and by the following January had completed eight miles of narrow-gauge road, extending from the Salmon creek wharf back into the woods along the bank of that stream. The rolling-stock consists of one engine and twenty flat cars. The road is complete in all its details, and certainly speaks in high terms of commendation of the enterprise the gentlemen displayed who had its building in charge. It is owned by the "Salmon Creek Railroad Company," of whom Mr. L. E. White, of San Francisco, James Townsend, of Salmon creek, and others are the principal stock owners.
SHIP BUILDING.-----
"Build me straight, O worthy master!
Staunch and strong, a goodly vessel,
That shall laugh at all disaster,
And with wave and whirlwind wrestle!'
"Thus, with the rising of the sun,
Was the noble task begun.
And soon throughout the shipyard's bounds
Were heard the intermingled sounds
Of axes and of mallets, plied
With vigorous arms on every side;
Plied so deftly and so well,
That, ere the shadows of evening fell,
The keel of oak for a noble ship,
Scarfed and bolted, straight and strong,
Was lying ready and stretched along
The blocks, well placed upon the slip.
Happy, thrice happy, every one
Who sees his labor well begun,
And not perplexed and multiplied
By idly waiting for time and tide!
"They fell—those lordly pines!
Those grand majestic pines!
'Mid shouts and cheers
The jaded steers,
Panting beneath the goad,.
Dragged down the weary, winding road
Those captive kings so straight and tall,
To be shorn of their streaming hair,
And, naked and bare,
To feel the stress and the strain
Of the wind, and the reeling main,
Whose roar
Would remind them forevermore
Of their native forests they should not see again.
And everywhere the slender, graceful spars
Poise aloft in the air,
And at the mast head
White, blue and red,
A flag unrolls—the stripes and stars.
" All is finished! and at length
Has come the bridal day
Of beauty and of strength;
To-day the vessel shall be launched!
"The ocean old,
Centuries old,
Strong as a youth, and as uncontrolled,
Paces restless to and fro
Up and down the sand of gold.
His beating heart is not at rest,
And far and wide
With ceaseless flow
His beard of snow
Heaves with the heaving of his breast.
He waits impatient for his bride.
There she stands
With her foot upon the sands,
Decked with flags and streamers gay,
In honor of her marriage day,
Her snow-white signals fluttering, blending
Round her like a veil descending,
Ready to be
The bride of the gray old sea.
"Then the Master,
With a gesture of command,
Waved his hand; And at the word,
Loud and sudden there was heard
All around them, and below,
The sound of hammers, blow on blow,
Knocking away the shores and spurs,
And see! She stirs!
"She starts,—she moves,—she seems to feel
The thrill of life along her keel,
And, spurring with her foot the ground,
With one exulting joyous bound,
She leaps into the ocean's arms!
And lo! from the assembled crowds
There rose a shout prolonged and loud,
That to the ocean seemed to say,
`Take her, O bridegroom, old and gray,
Take her to thy protecting arms,
With all her youth and all her charms! '
How beautiful she is!
How fair She lies within those arms that press
Her form with many a soft caress
Of tenderness, and watchful care!
Sail forth into the sea, O ship!
Through wind and wave, right onward steer!"
The above extract from the beautiful poem entitled, " The Building of the Ship," written by Henry W. Longfellow, that patriarch of American bards, is so apropos and fitting that we were constrained to quote from it at length.
There have been a number of vessels built in the Big River township harbors, but the date of their construction or their tonnage burthen is unknown, as it was impossible to get at the records or to see the builder, or to hear from him. Capt. Thomas H. Peterson, at present a resident of Little River, has probably built more vessels than any other builder. The following list comprises all the information obtainable concerning them: Schooner Sue Merrill, three masts, was built at Russian Gulch, and lost at Noyo about her first trip; schooner James Townsend, three masts, built at Noyo in 1870, and is still alive; schooner Phil Sheridan, two masts built at Little River; she was run down by a steamer up north; schooner Little River, two masts, built at Little River, and is still alive; schooner Napa City, two masts, smallest of them all, was built at Little River, and is still alive; large tug Brannan, built at Noyo, and is still alive; schooner Sea Foam, two masts, built at Big River, and is still alive; schooner Uncle Sam, two masts, built at Big River, and is still alive; schooner Alice Kimball, two masts, built at Little River; schooner Brescot, two masts, built at Little River, and lost at San Miguel Island; schooner Silas Coombs, two masts, built at Little River, and lost in that port; schooner Emma and Louisa, two masts, was built at Little River, and is still alive; schooner S. M. Coombs, two masts, and still alive; schooner Johanna Brock, two masts, built at Little River, and capsized during the winter of 1879-80, up the coast near Humboldt bay; schooner Electra, two masts, built at Little River; schooner Gallatee, two masts, built at Little River, and is still alive; schooner Hannah Madison, two masts, built at Little River, and is still alive; schooner Barbara, two masts, built at Little River, and is still alive; schooner Mary D. Pomeroy, two masts, built at Little River, and lost off Point Reyes, with all on board.
Charles. Fletcher, at Nevarra, is another shipbuilder, and the following list comprises those he has built: Schooner Nevarra, fifty tons burthen, built at Nevarra, and sold to parties in Mexico; schooner Sina, one hundred and forty tons burthen, built at Nevarra, and sold also to parties in Mexico; schooner Ocean Pearl, three hundred tons burthen, built at Nevarra, and lost up the coast in 1878. Capt. Fletcher has also built the following schooners, but not at Nevarra: Schooner Ocean Spray, one hundred and forty tons burthen; schooner Ino, one hundred and forty tons burthen; and schooner Maggie Johnson, one hundred and fifty tons burthen. All these schooners are still alive. Capt. Fletcher's shipyard is located at the mouth of the Nevarra river, and the timber he has used in their construction all grew upon the adjacent hillsides. The California fir, which grows in that vicinity, and which is known in the market as Oregon pine, if cut in the fall of the year, makes stronger and tougher timber than the regular Oregon fir (pine).
SHIPWRECKS.-----It is utterly impossible to give a detailed account of all of the vessels which have gone ashore along the coast of Big River township, hence a few prominent wrecks, with some general statements, must suffice. Mention has already been made of the silk-laden vessel that went ashore at the mouth of the Noyo river, in the winter of 1851-2, which was the first vessel to strand upon the Mendocino shore. In the winter of 1855 a Chilian vessel and two schooners, which were loading lumber in the Mendocino City harbor, were driven ashore and lost, and several lives lost. The day was bright and clear, and no one thought of any impending danger, but suddenly great waves began to roll in, breaking clear across the harbor from point to point. The vessels were driven from their moorings, and soon dashed upon the beach or against the rocks. One of the schooners went into the famous "blow hole," as a seam in the rocks of the shore of the bay is called, and was never seen or heard from afterwards. She made three attempts to enter before she effected her purpose, if we may so speak of an inanimate object, but displayed such pertinacity in her efforts that she almost seemed endowed with intelligence and definite purpose. The first plunge she made her foremast was carried away, and the second time she dashed into the hole the main mast was snapped like a pipe-stem and the rigging carried away, and upon the third attempt she clashed directly into the hole, and there was never a trace of any kind of her discovered afterwards. How far this hole extends into the rock is a mystery, but it is known to extend for some distance, as parties have passed into it as far as feasible for the tides. One sailor went into the hole with the vessel, the others on board
having jumped overboard were picked up out of the surf and saved. The steamer Fideleter went ashore in 1875, at Cuffey's Cove, and was a total wreck. The ports and harbors are not at all secure along the Mendocino coast, and the great number of small crafts which ply in the lumber trade make it a matter of no wonderment that scores of vessels have been dashed to pieces.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.