Ear: Astorian

Morsels from The Daily Morning Astorian, Feb. 7, 1888:

• There was some trouble on the Duleep Singh outside the bar, the steward slicing the mate with a carving knife. The captain put him in irons, and he languishes in captivity.

• There were four deaths from smallpox in San Francisco last week.

Note: According to the World Economic Forum, “smallpox existed for thousands of years, killed millions, and was fatal in up to 30% of cases.” Considered eradicated, the last known natural case was in 1977 in Somalia.

• The lighthouse board of the treasury department has received from the keeper of Tillamook Rock light station a report of the terrific storm which visited that point early in December. A board member says there is no other authentic record of the breaking of the sea at such a height, which was at least 25 feet above the light tower.

Note: According to the Oregon Encyclopedia, the top of Terrible Tilly’s lighthouse tower was 133 feet above sea level. So, when the wave broke, it must have been at least 158 feet high.