This is Lime Kiln Lighthouse. To the southeast of here about 50 miles or so and nearer to the mainland is Deception Pass and a little blip called Ure Island. For previous generations, the numerous remote islands and waterways around these parts proved handy for various types of smuggling: opiates, booze, illegal Chinese immigrant labor…
In the late 19th-century Mr. Ben Ure conducted his own very successful trade in human contraband, headquartering at his little blip in the Pass, and hauling around his live product tied up in sacks — the easier to dispose of them by dumping them in the local waters, should the law come sniffing too close.
The tide carried the bodies up and away, depositing them on the northwest curve of our own island, in what became known as Dead Man’s Bay, which Lime Kiln Lighthouse overlooks.
It’s now a very popular spot for whale-watching.
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The Light at Dead Man’s Bay, c. 2013
Rollei Redbird 400
Really like this one. Add to it the charm of Mr. Ben Ure and your photo, Luddy, becomes astonishing.
The line of the horizon (seamlessly incorporating the roof line) seems terrifying to me, a clear-cut fact of life/death. And the skull-like house, and of course the blood-like color.
Absolutely excellent photo.
Thanks so much, Wilmer — your comments are always so thoughtful. In real life it’s a pretty spot, sealife, boaters, etc, rambling by, with a big view of the Olympic Mountains. I often wonder what would happen if I posted the story of this place on the lighthouse wall during tourist season, whether all the vacationing whale-watchers would come away with a different feeling about it.
I love places with creepy names.
They always have such great stories!!
haha, your blog should be on the History Channel. I still haven’t been out and around the San Juans, but hopefully this spring I’ll have the opportunity.
I dunno why the History Channel ignores us so! We’ve got all the melodrama they seem to love.
If the weather stays mild, I would recommend you come up before mid-May, when it’s still relatively tourist-free and you can really ramble around uninterrupted.
That’s beautiful. From the lighting and picture quality, it reminds me of the cover of a thriller from the 70s. But that might just be me. :)
We’ve got a vintage paperback copy of Anthony Boucher’s “Rocket to the Morgue” with colors that are similar to this! (Off topic, we also have a book called “The Icepick in Ollie Birk” — I’ve never read it, but it’s worth keeping for the title alone.)
love the pic and I envy you for your wondeful stories!!!
Haha, thanks Jesus!