A Bottle, a Storm, and a 150-Year-Old Mystery 🌊
Last Thursday, something extraordinary washed up on our shores – quite literally.
A guest approached us at the Lodge holding an old, thick glass bottle she’d just discovered on the beach in front of Hollyhock. She had been resting there in the sunshine, recovering from a wild night when her campsite was rained out by an unprecedented summer storm. As she sat on the beach, she noticed something peculiar beside her: a glass bottle, sealed with a cork.
She brought it up to us, curious. The cork was so firmly lodged that it took two people, a corkscrew, and a bit of muscle to pry it loose. As it came free (partially crumbling in the process) a faint blast of brandy drifted into the air. Inside was something even more intriguing: a tiny, tightly wound scroll, bound with a piece of twine.
Unfurling it, we found thick, slightly mildewed paper bearing the words:
Nov. 4th, 1875
S.S. Pacific
Our ship is going down. My thoughts are only for my beloved family as I trust my soul to the Almighty.
— John Tarnett
Note and glass bottle found by a guest at the beach in front of Hollyhock, August 7th, 2025.
Goosebumps. This is not what we were expecting. Could this be real?
A quick search revealed that the S.S. Pacific did indeed sink off the coast of the BC and Washington border at Cape Flattery on November 4, 1875, while sailing from Victoria to San Francisco. Historical records confirm that a John Tarnett was on board and that he perished with the ship, along with 300 other passengers.
The find sparked a wave of awe and skepticism between us all. Could this be a genuine relic, someone’s final words from 150 years ago? Or is it an incredibly well-crafted hoax?
The S.S. Pacific, courtesy of Gare Maritime
The guest has since taken the bottle to the BC Maritime Museum for investigation. We’re awaiting word on whether this is truly a piece of maritime history… or a mystery of a different sort.
Stay tuned – this story is just beginning to unfold… âš“
