LETTERS FROM SIBERIA

kathy mastako

Board Of Directors Point San Luis Lighthouse Keeper

William J. Smith was keeper at Point San Luis from 1905 until 1920, having replaced Henry Young who, after 15 years of service here, moved to the Alcatraz Island Lighthouse. Smith transferred to Point San Luis from the Point Arena Lighthouse, bringing his wife Nannie and their four children, Elsie, Bessie, Edna, and Ralph.

Ralph, age 15 when he arrived, graduated from San Luis High in 1911, where he played on the baseball team and served as student body treasurer. He then attended UC Berkeley where he received a degree in dentistry. On September 11, 1917, while practicing as a dentist in San Francisco, he enlisted in the Army and served with the Dental Corps, 31st Infantry, as a first lieutenant.

During the Russian Civil War, the 31st Infantry was stationed in Siberia as part of the American Expeditionary Force. Ralph was assigned to the camp’s infirmary. Following are excerpts from letters he wrote to his father from Siberia, which the keeper must have shared with the local newspaper. The letters were printed in the December 2, 1918, edition of the San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram:

A Seaport in Siberia, September 10, 1918:

Dear Dad,

We arrived here safely and so far things are pretty good. We have had two days of rain and it looks like more rain — the climate here is about the same as San Francisco this time of year. I am assigned to an infantry regiment and am on duty at their infirmary here near the city. I have been about quite a little since I arrived and some parts of the surrounding country are certainly pretty. The railroad here reminds me of the old P.C. [Pacific Coast Railway], only the gauge is much broader.

Vladivostok, September 18, 1918:

I am still pegging along, pulling a tooth now and then. I believe I will take on a name more Russian than mine and call it “Pullatuski.” It is getting a little colder now and I suppose we will have severe weather soon. This is quite a place and in peacetime I imagine it was a lively town.

Vladivostok, September 19, 1918:

Tonight is a humdinger. It has been raining all day and it certainly knows how in these parts, and tonight the wind is howling like it used to at Point Arena. We have stoves fully ten feet high in our rooms and they are lined with brick and when once heated they certainly keep a room warmed up. So I guess we won’t freeze this winter. The Russians built these houses with walls three feet thick, and double windows, and I guess they knew what they were doing. They were great on high ceilings and doors, which reach nearly to the ceilings. I am feeling fine and dandy and expect to enjoy the snow. It will be quite a novelty for us Californians and if we do not have to spend too many winters here it will be okay. The big game up the country a

Letters from Siberia to a Point San Luis Lighthouse Keeper

Postcard photo of 1911 graduating class at San Luis High. Ralph Smith is seated third from left. Courtesy of Pam Parsons William J. Smith was the lighthouse keeper at Point San Luis from 1905-20. Contributed Photos

ways is plentiful I hear, and I hope to get a crack at it before this fracas is over.

Vladivostok, September 24, 1918:

We are having a few fine days. I took a walk along the waterfront Sunday and saw some great sights. I stopped in at the YMCA and I want to tell you those people are on the job all the time everywhere. It is mighty nice for a soldier to be able to go to a place like they have and be able to read or write as he sees fit and to enjoy a little music or play a game of billiards, checkers, chess, etc. All the allied soldiers go there and it helps our boys to get acquainted with our allies. I cannot say too much in praise of the Czechs, by the way. They don’t know what it means to quit. They are some fighters and it heartens them to know that we are with them; what a crime it would have been for us to have stayed out of this. Our boys are in good spirits over here and are well-liked by the natives. I would almost take an oath that nine-tenths of our army would die willingly rather than quit before this is settled justly.

Vladivostok, October 28, 1918:

Well, Dad, I am still in the same old place. A few miles north of here are some of the largest wheat fields I have ever seen. This country is the richest in the world, but is woefully undeveloped and everything is done in a primitive fashion.

Winter has set in now by the looks of things and I’ll say that it is some cold. I’ve never felt anything like it. It goes through your ordinary clothes as though you had nothing on but we have all changed into our winter togs so perhaps can stand it. The little streams around here are all frozen over and it looks like Siberia sure enough now. We got President Wilson’s answer to Germany today and that old “Boy” can certainly talk to them.* I hope to get in on a hunting trip that some of the officers are planning on. There are all kinds of game out a few miles. They have a tiger as big as a lion. I saw some at a zoo in town and they are a pretty animal. Then there are bear, lynx and deer; also there are pheasants right around here but we have no shotgun ammunition so they are pretty safe. This is quite a country and if things ever get settled I would not mind living here. The harbor is ideal and is perfectly landlocked, but of course in winter it is a job to keep it open.

I suppose I have told you what a fine people those Czecho-Slovaks are. They have

Ralph Smith returned to the U.S. from Siberia on the army transport Logan, shown here. He fought in the Russian Civil War. surely put the fear of God into the Bolsheviks around here. They are a fine-looking lot of fellows. These fellows fought their way through Russia against fearful odds and I think they should be congratulated. They were originally, as you know, in the Austrian army, but they promptly deserted to the allied cause and their capture meant instant death. I know one of their doctors and it is interesting to listen to him tell of their struggles against the Germans and Bolsheviks. My hat is off to them and I wish there were more like them. The Yanks are all in good health and all they crave is a little action but I guess our chance of seeing it is slight, for the Czechs have cleaned up pretty well. Well, Dad, I’ll close for this time and hit the hay. From your son, Ralph

On May 3, 1919, Keeper Smith received a wireless from Ralph that he was on his way home from Siberia. Lieut. Smith returned home May 6, 1919, on the troopship Logan.

The San Francisco Call reported on the ship’s arrival in San Francisco:

Happy to be out of Siberia, happier to be home once more, 115 commissioned officers of the American Expeditionary Force, the first large contingent brought out of Siberia, arrived in San Francisco today on the army transport Logan. Not one of the returned officers would consent to be quoted concerning conditions in Siberia, but they unhesitatingly declared that Americans are too good to be wasted in a war with Bolsheviks, with Russians and Japanese as allies.

Smith was honorably discharged from the Army on May 7, 1919. Shortly after disembarking, he and his wife drove down to Point San Luis to visit with his father at the lighthouse. (Ralph had married Ira Kruft, a schoolteacher and friend of his sister Elsie, in 1917, shortly after enlisting). What a joyful reunion it must have been; what stories Ralph must have shared!

After returning to San Francisco, Ralph resumed his dental practice. He practiced dentistry in San Francisco until his death in 1950. *On October 4, 1918, the German Chancellor sent a telegram to Wilson requesting an armistice between Germany and the Allied powers. Wilson’s response, in notes of October 14 and 23, made it clear the Allies would only deal with a democratic Germany, not an imperial state. Germany continued to fight, but on November 7, the German army’s chief of staff contacted the Allied Supreme Commander to open armistice negotiations; four days later WWI came to an end. (Source: History.com.)

A version of this article appeared in the April 2022 edition of Keeper’s Log, the quarterly newsletter of the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers.

Author’s note: “The Lighthouse at Point San Luis,” published by the United States Lighthouse Society, is now available on Amazon and at pointsanluislighthouse.org. All proceeds benefit the United States Lighthouse Society and the Point San Luis Light Station, two non-profits dedicated to preserving lighthouse history. If you know a lighthouse lover, or someone who enjoys local history, it might make a nice gift.

By CAMILLE DEVAUL For Avila Beach Life

Eleven years ago, two friends sat in a Shell Beach cafe and decided to take a dip in the ocean to ring in the New Year. Now, every year since, Alan Raul and Cary Geihs are joined by hundreds for the Avila Beach Polar Bear Plunge.

Countries all over the world celebrate the New Year with a “polar bear plunge” to signify washing off the old year and welcoming new beginnings. Some plunges in the United States date back as far as 1904. In Avila Beach, the plunge is a celebration of fitness, nature, a New Year, camaraderie, and, finally, dessert. The dessert comes as a celebration of braving the cold-temperature waters and can be embraced with a cup of coffee, or something sweet from one of the local Avila Beach establishments. And if you haven’t had enough cold in your day, some ice cream.

The first plunge came at noon on January 1, 2013, with large waves crashing down the beach.

“The ocean gods have been very kind to us. They have not had that big of waves since that time,” Alan says, remembering that first day.

Alan, who in his own words is a “water person,” likes to hold his own plunges throughout the year. He and Cary were brought together through their love of water sports and photography. Both reside in Shell and Pismo Beach and have a fondness for Avila Beach that is unmatched.

The friends’ plunge went from two people to 20 friends plunging the ocean waters together to 200 plungers the following year.

Cary, who watched their innocent dip grow into a thousand participants, says, “I see it continuing to grow each year.”

After the dip drew 200 participants, Alan was approached by the Port San Luis Harbor District while having some lunch in the Avila Market. Turns out the plunge did not go unnoticed and Alan and Cary would have to make this event official with permits and insurance.

To give back to the community, Cary and Alan developed a partnership with the local nonprofit Friends of 40 Prado. With its origins beginning in 1993, the mission of the Friends of 40 Prado is to provide support funding for the nonprofit’s operations and help homeless people in the community find a level of self-sufficiency appropriate to each individual.

To accomplish this supportive effort, Cary and Alan began designing and selling T-shirts at the polar plunge. Proceeds from the shirts help pay for the plunge’s expenses, and the rest go to Friends of 40 Prado.

In 2021, the polar plunge had nearly 1,000 plunging participants and raised nearly $4,000 for the nonprofit. This year, Cary and Alan say they hope to raise enough to give some of their proceeds to another nonprofit, Friends of Avila Pier.

Friends of Avila Pier is another nonprofit that was organzied by volunteers from the Avila Beach community with the sole purpose of assisting in raising funds to preserve, renovate and maintain Avila Pier.

The nonprofit says, “We need to raise money from our amazing community to augment grant funds secured by the Port San Luis Harbor District. This will ensure that the Harbor District can repair and preserve the marine heritage and character of the local port for future generations.”

The Avila Pier has been under renovation and repairs since about 2015. With much of the typical wear and tear damage caused by years of storms, it wasn’t until the humpback whales’ arrival in May of 2015 that ended in closing the pier for public safety. The whales’ arrival in the harbor attracted high amounts of spectators to the pier which caused the pier to sway as people ran from one side of the pier to the other to catch a glimpse of the whales.

Donations received by Friends of Avila Pier from 2019 through 2021 were used to facilitate the start of Stage 1 repairs in the summer of 2022 — now they are raising funds to help the final two stages of the pier’s restoration.

The pier itself could be considered the heart of Avila Beach and it is where all the action happens on plunge day.

On New Years Day, families and plungers of all kinds gather around the pier, getting pumped up to embrace the chilly waters. A DJ plays music under the pier, getting everyone excited. Since the very first plunge, everyone runs for the waters right at noon. The build up and countdown to the run is one of Cary’s favorite parts of the event.

“It’s a fun event to bring in the new year and wash off the old year,” says Cary. “The fact that were doing it for some good causes [adds to the fun].”

People have started to come to the plunge in creative costumes, adding to the fun of the day. While the beach is full of plungers, there are even more spectators on the pier and boardwalk.

Alan, who is contemplating wearing his own costume this year, says, “We have quite the spectator audience.”

Polar Bear Dip T-shirts will be available on the day of the event, and both Alan and Cary recommend coming early to find a good parking spot and to enjoy as much camaraderie as possible. And if years prior are any indication, it is sure to be a good turnout this year.

“We used to have flyers and post on windows and everything,” says Alan. “We don’t even do that anymore. It’s almost a given. Everybody in this area knows.”

Some people, like Cary, view the New Year’s Day plunge as a symbolic start to the year. But others, like Alan, just do it for fun.

“Any excuse to do something extreme, I’m game for it,” he says.

Whatever your reason for being a polar bear on New Years Day, remember to “Be Bold ... Get Cold.”

For more information on the Avila Beach Polar Bear Plunge, visit avilabeachpolarbearplunge.com

Friends Cary Geihs (left) and Alan Raul pose in front of one of the iconic Avila Beach lifeguard tower. Photo by Rick Evans

The 2019 crowd entering the water for the New Year’s Polar Plunge. Contributed Photo

The Polar Plunge starts alongside the Avila Pier at Noon each year. Photo by Rick Evans Cary with his schnauzer’s Grace (left) and Grant at Avila Beach. Photo by Rick Evans