1907~~ LOST IN THE DARK

 

This crop shows the probable area  
of the route between Deer Harbor
and Lopez Island mentioned  
in the below news clip.
Image source:
Detail of an undated map
published by 
Real Estate broker V.F. Pavey,
who began business in 1909, 
some happening later on Lopez
and Shaw Islands.
Click image to enlarge.

"A small launch party left Orcas Island Sunday with the intention of making a short visit with Lopez Island friends. The party succeeded in reaching Lopez all right but was delayed in leaving there, as their friends asked them to attend the evening church service. They did not leave until 9:30 p.m. and had not been out very long when a heavy storm arose, and to make matters worse the night was very dark. 

        After battling with the sea for over an hour and a half the captain became aware that he had lost his bearings and as the boat was taking water it was decided to make a landing as soon as possible. They landed in a small cove and made preparations to spend the night there. 

        A fire was built with the aid of a screwdriver and stilson. The place proved to be a shelf of rock only about six feet wide, below a perpendicular cliff 200 feet high. The members of the party, wet to the skin, huddled about the fire trying to dry themselves when it began to rain and they were forced to seek shelter on the launch until daybreak, as the tide rose and there was no beach.

        They succeeded in surviving the perils of the night; daylight revealed to them that they were on the southwest coast of Shaw Island. Little the worse for their night's experience, they hastened to their anxious friends who were about to send out a searching party for them."