The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-03
THE FLIGHTS OF
A BOOMERANG.
Some Wonderful Things 1t Did in
UnskiIIed Hands.
WAS BOUGHT OF AN AUSTRALIAN
Though Somewhat Uncertain i'm Ac-
ton it Surprised People ia More
Ways Than One-Its Final Mys-
FERROUS Disappearance.

story 50 Nti-ttIlul as lHc booilei ans -
self. Some years ago people smiled when
tales were told OF a stick which, Delhb
thrown, would perform intricate eNolu-
lions and return to the hand OF the throw
er. These accounts were classeu IN we
same category as perpetual motion, the
philosophers stone and other cheerful
myths. one could hardly nnd believer
in them until "a band OF Australian Oush-
men came to this city ana gave an *
hibtiou. The spectacle or curved sllch
travelling loo feet parallel 10 the Brouhu,
then striking OF and rising MY yaiuS
I'm the air and finally sweeping back 10 its
starting point in a circle the diameter
OF which was not less than 100 yaros'
went far toward dfscourdgfug skepucfsH,
Smith. Of Brooklyn, was an interested
spectator and succeeded in buying one
OF the strange curved sticks through
an Interpreter the bushman who sold III
explained that II was particularly trust
worthy implement and could De depended
upon for return trip from anywhere.
Very late that night smith tossed II
gently i'm the air while going across
Broadway. There WASH I enough force IN
the toss TO carry biscuit fve yards:
but tho boomerang sailed OF Jauhuiy anu
brought up DrOadside with resouhIihB
whack against - plate glass window
which may have cost perhaps, 500.
Smith took the boomerang home, put
Il Ia an ola trunk. weighted II down WIN
some outworn political literature ana
turned the key on g. He didn't want II
cavOrting around the place and raising
the deuce he said on lis own nook. Is
II was quite capable Of doing. That was
several years ago. The boomerang lay
In the trunk uuth last september Wnth
smith. about 10 start on his vacation. de-
cfded 10 take II along Tor an aTlnA,
When he took it from the trunk II looked
the same as when he hrst B9t u 1tLo
was no sign Of warping and an me lhiill-
tesimal Impressions ald swellings along
Us sides. which are said TO he responsloie
for the magical fight, were still there
as he could see bv CHANGING along 1t side
wise. -. .,,r,,
II went with him to a house party on
ono OF tho little lakes IN the southern
Tier and was openly jeered by the otner
members ~ - party as fake Smitn
was called the Bushman's Victim
when ne told how mucn he paid for IT,
"Poomerang?' cried Lieutenant oscar
King. who was Of the party. Poppy
cock, Goldbrickerang ia call T.
Looks Ike an attenuated coat hanger.
remarked McSofter. viewing It with con-
Or a distorted barrel stavey said
thing as a boomerang, but I'll bet mon
ev that isn't one"
IN spite OF the ancient experience N
broadway Smith felt some doubts him
self So he took r. or into n vacant lot
behind the cottage and experimental with
H. At first IL behaved disgracefully-sim-
ply fooled and fiuttered IKE a headlees
hen. Becoming enraged after several nat
failures. Smith picked the strange bit OF
wood from the ground whore II had stuck
point downward, and hurled II angrlly
and without special intent Forthwith
the implement rose In lofty curve. cir
cled over the cottage and dived down on
the opposite side Smith heard a crash
Of branches. followed by feminine
shrek and then the voice Of Lieutenant
Oscar King raised in wrath
Who threw that internal machine ~
us? Confound it, it nearly scalped me-
I'll put IL ont OF mischief
Hold on there" shouted Smith, rush
inc forward. Don't throw II away
But II was too late. Rising up from mn
der the lakeside tree beneath whose
spreading shade he had been reading KIP
llng's latest verses TO one Of the girls or
the party. the irate Lieutenant cast the
interrupting stick far out over the waves.
Smith rushed for a boat but II was nor
needed. To the delight Of smith ana we
disgusted amazement OF King the boom
erang. after travelling straight out FOR
hundred feet or so. turned 20 the lett'
swept around in a circle ana landed az
most az the feet Of McSofter. who was
engaged I'm removing some orllllant-hued
fishing flies from his trousers.
Great Scott" he exclaimed. ITS
sure enough boomerang isn't 1t? Here
let's have "A shot"
lie ierked it sharply from his hand. and
nearest window pane In the cottage.
HIS LUCK.
Just my dashed luck" cried McSOfter.
forgetting In his grief his former Occupa-
ton, and sitting down hard on several Of
the fly hooks. whence he rose with a
shrek OF agony and fed into the house,
leaving the boomerang 10 the tender care
OF young BiXby. That youth. accompa-
nied by Smith, went afar into the fields
and experimental until they got 70 some
minor extent the hang Of the thing They
found out. for instance, that the boom
eTang should be thrown with the con-
cave side forward and with the point
pretty well down. and that the greater
the whirl impaired TO IL by jerk Of the
wrist just as il was leaving the hand.
the more extraordinary would its evolu-
lions prove. They discovered. also. that
it travelled best against the wind. Young
BiXby in particular became quite pro-
ncient IN the art OF casting the weapon,
ana after Few hours of assiduOus prac-
tice, was able 10 bring it circlng back
10 his immediate vicinity four times out
Of I'VE. The rest Of the party came out
10 look on admringly, and the girls inn
perilied the lives OF all by their attempts
to put the boomerang through its PAGES
For the next two days the main interest
OF the house party was the bit Of Aus
tralian wood McSOfter, who believes he
can do anything until he has tried and
found he can't. essayed 10 fashion
boomerang of his own out or "a piece or
green wood. There was no general lamen-
tauOn when at the first trial his model
collided with large tree and broke into
several pieces.
Meantime the real article continued its
night with occasional rOOstings I'm tree
tops for a rest necessitating much climb
ing and casting Of sticks after g. u was
a hardy cOntrivance and WithstOOd all
sorts Of hard usage with no other signs
Of wear than slight chipping near the
points. There came a day when the
crowd went over 10 the ncighbOring links
10 play golf and young BiXby must needs
take the boomerang along I'm his golf
bag At the links they encountered the
dump ard elderly Col Pi7a. who Is the
moving spirit and mentor Of the golf
ciuh. 80 sooner had he caught sight OF
the boomerang than he pounce upon Il.
what you call that thing?' he de-
manded.
"Oh that?" said young Bixby. careless
w. That's nothing but a boomerang
that happened 10 he left In the bag"
boomerang? Boomerang" said the
Colonel. looking at it from all sides as II
he suspected n secret spring. Heard
Of 'em often. Never saw one. Nothing
in the stories you hear about 'em, Of
course All Hes"
Lies? Well, I should rather think not"
said young Bixbv.
"Wha, does the thing DOR
Thereupon young BiSbv gave n long
and glowing. If somewhat confused. ac-
count Of the evolutions OF a healthy. we'll
conditioned boomerang. calculated 70
make Baron Munchausen feel II he could
have heard II. that he was calm and
commonplace historian.
do YOU mean - tell me said the o.
derly Colonel. that n this ridiculous
bit OF wood Is thrown out into the air II
will right-about-face and come back