This photo shows the ship Alsternixe aground on Peacock Spit in February 1903. CPHM: 1995.107

February Happenings in History

Feb. 6, 1952: King George VI of England died. Upon his death, his daughter Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Her actual coronation took place on June 2, 1953.

Oct. 21, 1915: The first transatlantic radio voice message was made by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company from Virginia to Paris.

Feb. 20, 1962: Astronaut John Glenn became the first American launched into orbit. Traveling aboard the “Friendship 7” spacecraft, Glenn reached an altitude of 162 miles (260 kilometers) and completed three orbits in a flight lasting just under five hours. Glenn was the third American in space, preceded by Alan Shepard and Virgil “Gus” Grissom who had each completed short sub-orbital flights. All of them had been preceded by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin who was the first human in space, completing one orbit on April 12, 1961 — a feat that intensified the already ongoing Space Race between the Russians and Americans. Glenn’s successful flight showed the Americans had caught up and was followed in September 1962 by President John F. Kennedy’s open-call to land an American on the moon before the decade’s end.

The Local Pages

Feb. 13, 1903, Pacific Journal, “Bark Alsternixe Ashore on Island, Big German Four-Master Hard and Fast in the Sands, Bravery of Life Crews”

“Tugs Standing By in an Effort to Get Her Off — Captain Stuart Overboard — Life Boat Capsized — No Loss of Life”

Residents of Ilwaco and the peninsula were thrown into a fit of excitement last Monday evening by the announcement by telephone from North Head, from Mr. Kelliber that a vessel had gone ashore near Peacock Spit, answering the description of and supposed to be the German bark, Alsternixe. Citizens were eagerly waiting for more news and there were many preparing to leave for the scene of the disaster. Very soon after the first news it was reported that the vessel was a four-masted bark and would soon be a total wreck, and as the life crew were unable to reach her, the anxiety for the safety of her crew grew intense. Visions of the sad fate of the Strathblane were revived in the minds of the people, and when Captain Stuart telephoned for assistance, and for the aid of the Ilwaco Life-saving crew, anxiety was up to fever heat, and forthwith many departed for Fort Canby, employing such means of transportation as were immediately present, some going afoot.

The telephone line to Nahcotta was down and rendered useless, which by the way, is invariably the case when the wind blows a little, and it was impossible to notify the Ilwaco life-crew that their assistance was needed so that they might be in waiting. In this connection it might be added that communication from Astoria was cut off by reason of the line being down and bar tugs could not be notified in time to be of assistance…

Ilwaco citizens prevailed upon the management of the railroad company to send a special train for the transportation of the Ilwaco life-saving crew… Twenty or 30 human lives were on the very verge of being swallowed up by the mighty breakers which were encouraged by a terrific gale blowing off the mouth of the river and that with an incoming tide… the train was secured and Conductor Evans given in charge. Reaching the station at 8:30 the alarm was given and within fifty minutes the big life-boat was loaded, the two watches called in with sky-rockets and the entire crew ready for battle.

At 10:15, after a careful run down the beach, the train reached the dock at Ilwaco and the launch of the life-boat with its occupants was accomplished from the slip amid a chorus of cheers from the anxious spectators…

When the vessel first struck it laid about a mile and a half southwest of the Cape… The Point Adams life-saving crew, Captain Wicklund, and the Fort Canby life saving crew, Captain Stuart, at once put out to the scene and later the Ilwaco life savers under Captain Theo. Conick arrive to assist. When the boats had arrived nearly along side the stranded vessel Captain Stuart was swept overboard, but managed to cling to the steering oar until rescued by his comrads… By the united efforts of the three lifesaving crews a line was gotten aboard and 10 men were taken off. The men were put on board the tug Tatoosh. Owing to the very severe weather further effort to save the remainder of the crew had to be abandoned. Tuesday morning the sea was sufficiently calm to admit of the rescue of the entire crew…The bark was lying about 500 yards south of the scene of the Great Republic wreck… The three crews of lifesavers in their heroic work on this occasion experienced hardships which cannot by told by pen. For one hour and a half they were pulling hard against a heavy swell with no let up and just barely holding their own with the tide. They were drenched to the skin. The Ilwaco crew were precipitated into the water and their boat nearly capsized, but luckily none were injured. Two of Captain Connick’s men Potter and Matthews, became entirely exhausted and had to be taken on one of the tugs. This left them short handed and they gave up the battle. The Ilwaco crew returned to their station Wednesday morning, and Captain Conick is loud in praises of the heroic efforts and good work done by his men; likewise, Captain Stuart speaks in high terms of his brave lifesavers.”

Note: The Ilwaco life saving crew mentioned was from Ilwaco Beach station, formerly located at Klipsan Beach.

The four-masted bark Alsternixe was re-floated and removed from Peacock Spit at high tide using a method known as kedging. In this instance, the workers used a line attached to the ship and an anchor located in deep water. By pulling the ship towards the anchor, it slowly moved the ship off the sand.