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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017
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IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON
‘STILL AMAZED’
A
n enormous white sturgeon, 9.5 feet long, was found dead
June 22, by PacifiCorp hydro foreman Todd Engelbrecht
while checking the Keno Dam spill gate on the Klamath River,
according to a story on HeraldandNews.com (http://tinyurl.com/
fishbody500).
Initially thought to weigh in at around 250 pounds, Oregon
Fish and Wildlife biologist Bill Tinniswood later decided the fish
more likely weighed 500 pounds. It is shown in a photo courtesy
of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“It was quite a surprise,” Englebrech said. Tinniswood noted
that the animal was “the biggest freshwater fish I’ve ever touched
in my life.”
So, how did it get that large? This sturgeon, an untagged
female, was probably one of the 1958 transplants from the
Columbia River, when it was hoped the group would and could
restock their new home. Which didn’t work out, by the way, but
sturgeon can live a very long time — they can reach over 100
years old (http://tinyurl.com/oldfish100) — so it’s not a stretch
that this one could have been one of the originals.
Ironically, this fish was loaded with millions of eggs because
she apparently hadn’t found a suitable mate, and the eggs kept
accumulating. Other than that, Tinniswood observed she was in
good shape, and isn’t sure how she died. She had a head injury,
but he couldn’t tell if it happened before or after her death.
“I am still amazed,” Tinniswood admitted, “something this
big is swimming in our waters.”
GIVING BACK
lso from the Saturday, June 30, 1888 edition of The
Daily Morning Astorian, but worthy of separate note:
“In the senate, last Thursday, Senator Mitchell introduced
a bill to establish a lightship and flag signal on the bar
at the mouth of the Columbia River, at an estimated cost of
$60,000 (about $1.5 million in 2017).”
It appears this is how the first U.S. Coast Guard light-
ship on the Pacific Coast, Light Vessel (LV) 50, got its
start. Built in 1892 in San Francisco, the 112-foot long ship
was towed to the mouth of the Columbia River. Rigged as
a sail-schooner with a wood-planked steel hull, the equip-
ment aboard included two signal lanterns (with eight oil
lamps each) and two fog signals — a 12-inch steam whis-
tle and a hand operated bell — according to the Coast
Guard website (http://tinyurl.com/uscg50).
Gale force winds hit LV 50 on Nov. 28, 1899, causing
the ship to break her anchor chains and head for Peacock
Spit near Cape Disappointment — where it stayed. No one
could haul it off, even after six months, according to His-
toryLink.org (http://tinyurl.com/uscg50a). A new approach
was clearly needed.
In June 1900, a plan was concocted to move the light-
ship overland about 700 yards to Baker Bay. Two Port-
land house movers were hired to pull it off in 35 days for
$17,500 (around $450,000 in 2017). Work started in Feb-
ruary 1901, but it was no 35-day venture. The movers
hoisted the vessel onto a cradle they’d built, then pushed it
though the woods on rollers. On June 2, 1901, the LV 50
was finally relaunched in Baker Bay — and sent to Port-
land for repairs. A photo of the moving enterprise by J.F.
Ford is shown.
There were other incidents and expensive repairs and
refits, and in 1909, the LV 50 was retired from duty. It was
kept in Astoria, where an inglorious fate awaited. In 1915,
the lightship was surveyed and condemned, then sold at
public auction for $1,667.99 (about $40,000 in 2017).
Later it was used as a freighter in Alaskan waters, and was
last known as the San Cosmo & Margaret up until 1935.
Sadly, what became of it after that is unknown.
A
SHORT TAKES
T
he Ear cannot resist, and must update the theft the cocktail
toe from the Downtown Hotel Sourdough Saloon in Daw-
son City in Yukon, Canada. One of the bar’s favorite mummified
human toes, used as a garnish for its famous Sourtoe Cocktail,
was stolen. It is pictured in a photo from the “missing toe” flyer
posted all over town.
It’s a mystery why the appendage was swiped, but never mind.
The Royal Canadian Mounties followed up on the toe-napping,
and the Alaska Dispatch News reports that the contrite thief has
returned the missing digit, via the mail, accompanied by a sincere
letter of apology (http://tinyurl.com/hometoe).
“We’re happy as clams about it,” saloon “toe captain” Sue
Taylor said. Toe-tally awesome.
T
erhaps it’s time to ponder our local sea serpent — who appar-
ently wanders between the Columbia River and British
Columbia — dubbed Cadborosaurus or “Caddy” by the Victoria
Daily Times, and Colossal Claude by The Oregonian. Marvin
the Monster is probably the same critter.
Pictured, a photo of Caddy (http://tinyurl.com/cadboro). From
“Myths and Mysteries of Washington,” by Lynn Bragg: “In 1934,
the first mate on a Columbia River light ship described a 40-foot-
long being that he had seen at the mouth of the river in the Pacific:
‘It had … a big round body, a mean-looking tail and an evil, snaky
look to its head.’ Three years later in the same area, Capt. Charles
Graham of the fishing troller Viv talked of seeing ‘a long, hairy,
tan-colored creature, with the head of an overgrown horse …’ The
crew from a halibut fishing ship working near the entrance to the
Columbia River in 1939 all witnessed a sea serpent lift 10 feet of
its neck above the ocean and look directly at the startled men.”
In 1963, the Shell Oil Company videotaped a mystery 15-foot
beastie swimming in a spiral motion at 180 feet off the coast of
Oregon, and they nicknamed him Martin (http://tinyurl.com/cad-
claude). A baby Caddy? Who knows, but he hasn’t been spotted
again. Yet.
P
roy Haskell, aka handyman Fix-it-Troy (pictured inset), is
on a mission to help his friends, Astorians Carl and Carol
Abraham, with their medical expenses. He’s built a one-of-a-
kind table, made mostly of discarded gun stock material and
driftwood, and he’s auctioning it off to the highest bidder.
The table is on display until July 9 at Roby’s Furniture and
Appliance, 1535 Commercial St., where a blue box is set up to
hold the sealed bids. The winner will be announced July 14, and
100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Abrahams.
“I’m doing this because of the example Carl and Carol have
always shown,” Troy explained, noting that the couple has
always been active in giving back to the community. “I’m just
trying to make sure they get back a little of what they’ve given.”
THIS LITTLE PIGGY CAME HOME
I SEE A SEA MONSTER
AN INGLORIOUS FATE
rom the Saturday, June 30, 1888 edition of The Daily
Morning Astorian:
• Capt. Carroll, of the Ancon, says that he and his four
partners have sold the Bear’s News mine in Alaska to some
Ohio men for $2.5 million (about $62 million in 2017). …
He says he will keep following the sea, because he likes
to. That’s it.
• There was some excitement at the Clatsop Mill yes-
terday, occasioned by one of the pony saws, which flew
out through the roof. No one was injured and the damage
was very light.
• A fire last night about 10:30 in Miss Kitty Burke’s
establishment, after considerable racing and chasing
around, was found to have scared the denizens and burn a
bedstead; fully insured.
• Thompson, De Hart & Co. have sent for a diamond
drill and are going to bore and determine the value of the
newly discovered coal deposits in Columbia and Washing-
ton counties.
Note: Yes, there really was coal in Columbia County.
A 1945 state Department of Geology and Mineral Indus-
tries report says coal was mined on Pebble Creek, south of
Vernonia, in the late 1800s and early 1900s (http://tinyurl.
com/columcoal).
• Editor Astorian: I found and buried the body of a man
that came in on the beach near here. It was tattooed, and on
his right arm was “R. W. Fletcher born July,” and further
we could not read. He is supposed to be a carpenter. Geo.
L. Houk, North Cove, Washington Territory.
CROWD FAVORITE
eff Daly had heard there was an impromptu weekly gathering
of hot rods every Wednesday night this summer at the Portland
International Raceway, and he wanted to check it out. It’s a char-
ity-driven event, Beaches Summertime Cruisin’ (http://tinyurl.
com/beachescruise), held by Beaches Restaurant and Bar to raise
money for local kids in need.
So, last Wednesday, Jeff drove the trusty original 1948 Chrysler
Astoria Clown Car — you know the one, it goes down the street
backwards — to the event to see what would happen. Jeff’s photo
of the car is shown.
When he entered, “I just kept driving, and people kept waving
me in,” he said, “and I found myself in the middle of 400 cars at this
weekly gathering, with three people yelling to stop. Not because
they thought a car was driving backwards, but instead, wanted it in
the middle of the road, as they decided it was an immediate winner
the second they saw it, and wanted it in front of the stage.”
So, the Astoria Clown Car won a trophy. Jeff hasn’t received
it yet, so he’s not sure what it’s for, but he’s guessing for “Crowd
Favorite” — which the Clown Car is, everywhere it goes.
J
F
CHARMING ASTORIA
storia is getting some love on the Internet again, this time from
Invaluable.com (http://tinyurl.com/Astoria4), which features
Astoria as No. 4 of “The 10 Most Charming Cities in America.”
So, how did they come to this conclusion?
They compiled a list of 998 “mid-sized cities” with the main cri-
teria for charm being a city’s walkability, then the number of shops,
art galleries, restaurants and hotels. The city founding date was also
rolled in, because “history definitely adds to the charm factor,” and
also the proximity of the city to “nearby natural beauty.”
Back to walkability. Each city had a “walk score” of 80 or bet-
ter, i.e. you can park and walk to lots of local stores and sights eas-
ily. Which is certainly true in Astoria. If you can find a place to
park, that is.
“Astoria has a gritty exterior,” Invaluable.com says, “but an
artistic heart with fisherman poets, loggers who double as baristas,
and several galleries to peruse.”
A
COMMUNITY NOTES
SATURDAY
Sit & Stitch — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
Homespun Quilts & Yarn, 108 10th
St. Bring knitting, crochet or other
needlework projects to this com-
munity stitching time. All skill levels
welcome.
Detachment 1228 Marine
Corps League — noon, El Compa-
dre, 119 Main Ave., Warrenton. For
information, contact Lou Neubecker
at 503-717-0153.
Columbia Northwestern Mod-
el Railroading Club — 1 p.m., in
Hammond. Group runs trains on
HO-scale layout. For information, call
Don Carter at 503-325-0757.
Seaside American Legion, 1315
Broadway. For information, call 503-
738-5111. No cost; suggested $5 tip
to the instructor.
Spinning Circle — 1 to 3 p.m.,
Astoria Fiber Arts Academy, 1296
Duane St. Bring a spinning wheel.
For information, call 503-325-5598 or
go to http://astoriafiberarts.com
Chair Exercises for Seniors —
9 to 9:45 a.m., Astoria Senior Center,
1111 Exchange St. For information,
call 503-325-3231.
MONDAY
SUNDAY
Line Dancing — 5:30 to 8 p.m.,
Scandinavian Workshop — 10
a.m., First Lutheran Church, 725 33rd
St. Needlework, hardanger, knitting,
crocheting, embroidery and quilting.
All are welcome. For information, call
503-325-1364 or 503-325-7960.
Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225
Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do-
nation $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60. For
information, call Michelle Lewis at
503-861-4200.
Columbia Senior Diners —
11:30 a.m., 1111 Exchange St. Cost
is $6. For information, or to have a
meal delivered, call 503-325-9693.
welcome. For information, go to
www.AstoriaRotary.org
Warrenton Senior Lunch Pro-
gram — noon, Warrenton Com-
munity Center, 170 S.W. Third St.
Suggested donation of $5 for seniors
and $7 for those younger than 60.
For information, or to volunteer, call
503-861-3502 Monday or Thursday.
Knochlers Pinochle Group —
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside.
Cost is $1 per regular session, per
person. Players with highest and
second-highest scores split the prize.
Game is designed for players 55 and
older, but all ages are welcome.
Astoria Rotary Club — noon,
second floor of the Astoria Elks
Lodge, 453 11th St. Guests always
See NOTES, Page 2B