YEAR BUILT: 1892

BUILT AT: San Francisco (CA)

BUILDER: Union Iron Works

APPROPRIATION: $70, 000

CONTRACT PRICE: $61,150

SISTER VESSELS: LV 47,48,49

DESIGN: Composite-steel frame planked with Puget Sound pine, sheathed with white oak; fastened with galv. iron bolts; 2 masts with lattice daymarks; stack ahead of mainmast; 2 aux. boilers 6'6"dia x 7'3"lg; steam pumps & windlass

LENGTH: 120'l0"(loa); BEAM: 269"; DRAFT: 113"; TONNAGE: 470 displ

PROPULSION: Sail-schooner rig, fore and main carried on spencer masts

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 2 lanterns, each with 8 oil lamps

FOG SIGNAL: 12" steam whistle; hand operated bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 50
-1894: Aug 22-Sep 5, "thoroughly repaired" at Astoria (OR)
-1897: Boilers retubed on station
-1897: Sep 9-Jun 25, extensive hull repairs at Astoria
-1899: May 6-Jun 13, boiler and machinery repairs
-1901: Mar-Aug 18, relaunching and comprehensive repairs to hull, boilers and
machinery following the grounding on Nov 29, 1899 - $31, 095
-1902: May 26-Jun 4, repaired and resupplied
-1905: Jan 7-Mar 2, routine repair and refit
-1905: Oct 6 - Oct 9 1906, off station for extensive repairs after second
grounding; completion prolonged by contractual difficulties

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 50
1892-1909: Columbia River (OR)
1909-1915: Unassigned -- laid up at Astoria (OF)

(1892 Jul 6, position moved 3 mi SE)
(1897-1898 Off station for extensive repairs: station marked by LV 67)
(1899-1901 Off station undergoing major repairs after being blown ashore;
station marked by Black/White can buoy during this period)
(1905-1906 Off station for major repairs following second grounding; station
marked temporarily by LV 67, diverted from Umatilla Reef)

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 50
-1892: Mar 26, launched at Potrero, San Francisco; fitted out and towed to
Astoria (OR) Apr 2-5 by tender MADRONO
-1892: Apr 11, placed on Columbia River station by tender MANZANITA
-1892: Jul 6, position moved 3 mi SE
-1894: Aug 22-Sep 5, withdrawn for repair; station marked by mooring buoy
-1897: Sep 9-Jan 5 1898, relieved (by LV 67) for repairs
-1899: May 6-Jun 13, withdrawn for repair; replaced by mooring buoy
-1899: Nov 29, broke adrift in 74 mph gale, stood offshore under sail; later
while attempts were made to tow, went aground on beach easterly of Cape Disappointment Light; replaced by black & white can buoy. Remained stranded on beach
for 16 months during unsuccessful attempts to refloat. Marine railway was built
and ship jacked onto a cradle, hauled 700 yards overland and relaunched into
Bakers Bay (WA) at cost of $17,500. Hull repaired at Bakers Bay ($12,135), then
towed to Portland (OR) for boiler & machinery repairs ($1,460). Repairs complete
Aug 1901; resupplied and replaced on station Aug 18, 1901
-1902: May 26-Jun 4, withdrawn for repair; replaced by fixed white lighted buoy
lettered "light vessel moorings"
-1905: Jan 7-Mar 2, off station for repair

More notes: LV 50

-1905: Oct 6, parted chain in SE gale, grounding on beach 1/4 mi ENE of Cape
Disappointment Light. Refloated Oct 16; towed to Tongue Point Depot for hull
repairs. Procedural problems with bids and funding caused long delays. Funds
for constructing a new lightship, plus supplementary funds were used and
vessel resumed station Oct 9, 1906. (LV 67 had manned the station during most
of this period.
-1907: Mar 4, appropriation approved for new steam driven replacement vessel
-1907: May 9-May 13 broke adrift; towed in by tug; resupplied and returned
-1909: Withdrawn and laid up at Astoria (OR) pending further disposition
-1915: Surveyed and condemned

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1909; AGE: 17

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold at public auction Apr 27, 1915 - $1,667.99
Later used as freighter and laid up in Alaska 1925, Said to have been still
later registered as SAN COSMO & MARGARET until 1935

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 50

1898-?: Joseph H. Harriman, Master

Back to Columbia River Lightship Station History.

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