The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-31
Boy Scouts Garry Fine Compass in Their Heads
How to Tell Directions by the Sun,
the North Star and Even by the
Trees and Grass.

the North Star and Even by the
Trees and Grass.
BY G. L.. Gilman.
Ever hear of a scout being lost?
No, sir, you never did.
A wise old Indian chief once
said, "Injun never lost, SOME time
tepee heap much lost"
Now, to find your way scouting
you have to know all the time
which way are the points of the
compass-north, south, east and
west.
Every Times scout ought to
have a pocket compass of his own.
They can be bought for from 25
cents up, and you want to get one
into your scout kit just as quick
as you can earn the money. Next
to matches and a knife, it's the
most important thing.
But there are bound to be times
when you haven't a compass.
Then the sur will serve you in
the daytime and the north star by
night.
The diagram with this article
shows plainly how to locate the
north star.
If you-have a watch you can
easily take your directions from
the sun.
Use Watch for Compass.
Lay the watch flat with the
hour hand pointing at the sun.
Half way the shortest way around
the dial to the figure ~ will be
due south. A line from this
point drawn through the hub
where the hands are fastened will
point north.
If you haven't a watch, your
shadow will give you the direc-
lions, though not so accurately.
When the sun is at its highest in
the sky, noon, your shadow will
point due north. Early in the
morning it will point a little north
of west, at mid-forenoon it will
point northwest, at midafternoon
it will point northeast and at
shutdown just a little north of
east.
Take out a compass and verify
these directions, which are APP
Iproximate, for yourself. When
the sky is so cloudy that you can't
see the sun you will often find
that your scouts staff, held ver-
teal, will still cast a shadow.
Finding the directions when
you have no compass and the sky
is completely covered with clouds
is a hard job. While out hiking,
notice and remember these
things:
Other Ways.
On which side of the trees is
the bark generally the toughest?
On which side does the moss
grow thickest?
Which way are the tips Of
trees bent?
Do grass and weeds all lean in
one direction? Z =
1t isn't enough to be able to as
certain the points of the compass
by any of>these means. You must
learn to keep your of them
through all the twists and turns
of a cross-country hike. To cult
vate this faculty try this game.
Turn all your compasses over to.
the patrol or outfit boss, after
each of you has gotten the
points clearly located. Then
started your hike. Let the course
be crooked. At a given signal, as
attention." blown by the leader,
let every scout lay his staff along
what seems to him to be a due
north and south line. Then let
your leader check them up with
his compass and give every scout
whose staff is laid within a foot
of the. true line one point on the
days total core.
Now we have sort of rushed in
to scouting without much bother
about organization. But / believe
we all know each other well
enough now to get together and
put this game on a business basis.
The various patrols or outfits
of Tacoma should be brought to-
gether under one central commit
tee. Here is where the groWnup|
men who IN helping should get
busy, form a good, storing commit
tee, and get a charter from the
commander in chief, Col. Peter S.