raveyard of the Pacific

Duty of Police Motor Boat Patrol to Search for Wrecks on Dangerous West Coast
—Fully Equipped with Two-way Radio Telegraph—Pick Up Survivors of Missing
Fish Packer 'Zip”—Unfortunate Plight of Mate Unable to Swim—Was Drowned

WHILE BILLOWY breakers pound relent-
lessly against the shoreline of the west
coast, a small band of men— The Police
Motor Patrol—are daily braving the ele-
ments, taking their craft to sea in all kinds
of weather.

On October 7, 1936, a fish packer, the
Zip, was reported missing in “The Grave-
yard of the Pacific,” off Carmanah Light.

Caught in a severe storm, the Zip was
completely wrecked when only 300 feet
offshore. First Mate Olaf Dahl was drowned.
Captain Peter Jensen, George Elander and
Edwin Sydholm, all of Vancouver, sur-
vived.

When Constables A. L. “Bud” Frost and
Stuart Menzies, aboard the P.M.L. No. 7
heard the news they immediately investi-
gated.

The rugged coastline would not permit
the large police boat to come any closer
than 500 feet. Constables Frost and Men-

and Washed Ashore

desperate and that Dahl must take the
chance of saving himself rather than the

they both dived in and made the shore
safely. Dahl, however, lost his nerve and

Pilot House washed up on the rocks.

three of them risk losing their lives.
They tied him to a raft made of a door,

The wrecked Fish Packer “Zip.”

zies lowered a small dinghy and coming
ashore, found three survivors of the Zip.

A thorough investigation by the two
constables brought to light the facts that
the Zip foundered at 5.40 in the morning.
A hurried but unsuccessful attempt was
made to launch the ship’s dinghy, but a
roaring wave, breaking amidships, cap-
sized the craft. Captain Jensen bravely hung
on to the tiny dinghy and was washed
ashore and made for Carmanah Lighthouse
to bring aid. The speed with which the ship
was sinking made it useless for the other
men to think of awaiting rescue. Debating
their position on the ship’s deck, they decided
it was every man for himself.

Dahl, however, was not a swimmer. Elan-
der and Sydholm realized their situation was

Page Eighty-Four

and strapped a life belt to him and told him
to jump from the ship after them. With this,

was last seen walking the deck of the sinking
ship before a big wave swept him overboard.
His body was found later by his com-
panions, who waded in to search for it after
they had recovered.
Constable Frost can be seen standing be-

side the body of Dahl, covered by a blanket.

So great was the ferocity of the storm
preceding the tragedy that, the pilot house,
shown in the picture, was torn off the Zip
and washed upon the rocks at Clyde Beach.

SKIFF POUNDED TO PIECES
The accompanying photo shows the
wreck, and it can be seen that the photo was
taken shortly before the huge breakers

pounded the ship’s hull to pieces against
Bonilla Reef.

Constable Frost is now stationed aboard
the department’s new streamlined 100-foot
P.M.L. No. 14, while Constable Menzies
is doing duty at Port Renfrew.

Constable Frost beside the body of Dahl.

THE

SHOULDER STRAP