The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-26
A eooMeaANc's FLIGHTS.
Wonderful Things 1t Did Even In IN
skilled Hands.

skilled HANDS.
There are boomerang stories and
boomerang stories, but there is no
boomerang story so wonderful as the
boomerang itself. Some years ago peo-
pie smiled when tales were told of a
stick which. being thrown. would per-
form intricate evolutions n return to
the hand Of the thrower. These ac-
counts were classed in the same cate
CORY as perpetual motion, the philos-
opher's stone and other cheerful myths.
One could hardly find a believer in them
until a band of Australian bushmen
came to this city n gave an exhibit.
ton. The spectacle of a curved stick
travelling 100 feet parallel to the ground
then striking OF and rising so yards in
the air and finally sweeping back to
its starting point in a circle. the diam
eter of which was not less thar 100
yards, went far towards discouraging
skepticism.
Smith OF Brooklyn was an interested
spectator and succeeded in buying one
Of the strange curved sticks. Through
an interpreter the bushman who sold
IL explained that II was a particular
ly trustworthy implement and could be
depended upon FOR a return trip from
any where. Very late that night Smith
tossed IL gently I'm the air while going
across Broadway. There wasn't enough
force in the toss to carry a biscuit five
yards, but the boomerang sailed of
jsuntily and brought up broadside with
a resembling whack against a plate
glass window which may have cost.
perhaps. $500. Smith took the boomer
ang home, put IL in an old trunk.
weighted il down with some outworn
political literature and turned the key
on II. He didn't want IL %cavorting
around the place and raising the deuce.
he said. IN its W hook. as IL was quite
capable of doing. That was several
years ago. The boomerang lay in the
trunk until last September, when Smith.
about to start on his vacation. decided
to taxi ii along for an airing. When he
o II from h trunk II looked the
same as when he first got IL. There was
no sign OF warping and all the infini-
tesimal depressions and swelings along
its sides. which are said to be RESPONSE
BILE for the magical flight, were still
there. as he could see by glancing along
II sidewise
1t went with him to a house party on
one OF the little lakes in the Southern
Tier and was openly jeered by the 9TH
er members of the party as a fake.
Smith was called THE Bushman's Vic
tim" when he told how much he paid
for ID.
"Boomerang?" cried Lieut.. Oscar
King. who was Of the party. Poppy
cock! Goldbrickerang. I'd call It,"
Looks like an attenuated coat hang
err" remarked McSofter. viewing IL
with contempt.
"Or a distorted barrel stave," said
young Bixby. There may be such a
thing as a boomerang. but I'll bet
money that isn't one"
In spite of the ancient experience In
Broadway. Smith felt some doubts
s-..Af Co he aAL t ON -s- -.
can't lot behind the cottage and expert
mented with II. At first IL behaved dis
gracefully-simply fooled and fiuttered
like a headless hen. Becoming enraged
after several fiat failures, Smith picked
the strange bit of wood from the
ground where IL had struck. point
downward, and hurled II angrily and
without special intent. Forthwith the
implement rose in a lofty curve, circled
over the cottage and lived down on
the opposite side. Smith heard a crash
Of branches. followed by a feminine
shrek and then the voice Of Lieut.
Oscar King raised in wrath.
who threw that Internal machine
at us? Confound 1t. IL nearly scalped
me. I'll put II out OF mischief"
Hold on there!" shouted Smith.
rushing forward. Don't throw it
away"
But II was too late. Rising up from
under the lakeside tree. beneath whose
spreading shade he had been reading
Killings latest verses to one of the
girls of the party. the irate lieutenant
cast the interrupting stick far out over
the waves. Smith rushed for a boat.
hut II was not needed. To the delight
Of Smith and the disguised amazement
Of King. the boomerang. after travelling
straight u for a hundred feet OF so,
turned TO the left. swept round in a
circle and landed almost at the feet OF
McSofter. who was engaged In remov-
ing some brilliant-hued fishing flies
from his trousers.
"Great Scott," he exclaimed. Its a
sure enough boomerang. isn't IL? Here;
let's have a shot"
He jerked IL sharply from his hand.
and straight as n bullet II few through
the nearest window pane in the cot
tage.
Just my dashed luck" cried Nc