southtillamookcounty.com
History
"Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers" written about South Tillamook County, Oregon
The page below was written by Mrs. Hardy Rock (Alexandria LEY Rock) and published in 1949. NVMS students have retyped her history so that many may read it. Although some punctuation errors have been corrected the text remains as written by Mrs. Rock.
Note that Alexandria LEY Rock's "Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers" has been republished in book form as of January 2007 and is now being offered for sale by the Tillamook County Historical Society!
(This page was typed by NVMS 6th grader, Amy P., during the spring of 2002 and edited by Dean Bones.)
1951, October 7th, Charles O. Woolsey drowned on Bar while fishing with George Carrol. The tide was running swift. After Woolsey and Carrol got their net picked up, a huge breaker washed an oar away, also took the anchor overboard. Clair and Frank Follett, who were near, rowed close to them and threw an oar, which Woolsey caught; The heavy surf again washed an oar away from them. Frank and Clair rowed back again with a pair of oars and to try to get to the men which was prevented by the rough surf and a southwest wind. They worked trying a rescue for sometime. They had Willie and John Redberg's fish boat and had thrown their net out on sand to attempt a rescue. The boat with Woolsey and Carrol turned over on end after which the two men managed to get on the overturned boat twice and as swiftly washed off. In a third attempt to reach the boat, Woolsey failed and was drowned. John Redberg saw him last as he appeared under a large breaker about to fall. Carrol gained the boat and was carried about two miles to sea where he was rescued by Pete Buckbee and Joe Everest, who took the Redberg fishing boat back to through the breakers near the north part of the Bar where it was not so rough or swift. Carrol was cold and helpless and nearly dead when picked up, the fishermen rubbed him and put dry clothes on him. About 20 men carried the Redberg fishing boat back to the channel. At midnight, Willie and John Redberg, Mr. Ball, Richard Miles and Pete Buckbee searched from the bar to Sand Cape for Woolsey's body which was never found, although his hat and pipe, the boat, 4 oars, a salmon club and stern sheet were picked up on the beach. John Redberg sent a night letter to Woolsey's son in Colma, Calif. On this same tide, Will Cage and Joe Everest also got into trouble while fishing but did get in on the north spit.October 19, 1925, Willie Fraser (son of Alex Fraser, early resident of Meda), and Nolan Babcock from Woods, were drowned while fishing on Nestucca Bar. A high swift tide carried the boys to sea and neither body was ever recovered. Both boys were about 20 years of age.
June 18, 1945, Merle Porter, age 24 years, and Lloyd Porter, age 18 years, sons of Earl and Alma Porter and grandsons of Truman Porter, were drowned while returning from a clam trip. The two boys and their uncle, Elsworth Wonser of Klamath Falls, accompanied by three other young people were in a row boat being rowed by Merle Porter. Lloyd was out of the boat holding on the back of it trying to swim. When he lost his hold, Merle tried to help him, losing an oar in this efforts. Lloyd could not swim. The boat tipped over throwing others into the river; then swung over on the other side when the remaining ones also went out. Elsworth Wonser, age 70 years, was the only one who could swim and he had he had almost reached shore when he drowned. The two young men lost their lives in the struggle and all the others barely escaped death also. Wonser was taken to Klamath Falls for burial. Merle was married, the father of a 3 year old son and of twin girls born after his death. The bodies of the two young men were laid to rest in Oretown.
In 1947 a man named Miller and his companion were drowned on Nestucca Bar. The body of Miller was found. They were not local people and undoubtedly knew other of the dangers of trying to cross out over the bar.
In 1949 a man named Knox or Knott, age 20 years, from Portland, was drowned on the Bar of Nestucca Bay. The boat came in but the body was not found.
Continue to page 23 of "Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers!"