Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-20
THROWING THE BOOMERANG.
Great Skill Required in Manipulation
Of Simple Weapon.

VI SiIHPio "0dPoHs
Boomerangs are undoubtedly one Of
the most curious and interesting and
most remarkable weapons in the world,
considering their crudeness The tales
that have been told about the feats
that can be performed with them by
an expert are not myths by any means.
An Englishman who has been inves-
tigating the subject in Australia and
who has reported his results and made
exhibition throws for King George, |
says that by selecting boomerang Of
suitable shape and by knowing the
knack Of giving it just the right twist
the natives of Queensland and New
South Wales can make them do things
80 startling that they seem bewitched.
The boomerangs are usually made
from limb or root Of tree that has
the proper crook. or sometimes they
are made by heating a green stick in
the fire and then bending 1t. They are
worked to the desired shape by scrap
Ing with flint instruments and smooth
ing with bits Of glass. They are usu-
ally made rounding on one side and
f1attish on the other. One form Of
boomerang used in war has a hook at
one end.
When this instrument is thrown at
an enemy he puts up his own BOOM
erang to ward off the blow. This ac-
ton, says the Pathfinder, causes the
hook to catch or his own boomerang
and brings the hooked weapon side
ways in such q way that 1t deals him
hard blow on the side Of the head,
almost in spite of anything he can do
to parry 1t.
Making the boomerang perform a
figure eight In the air Is comparatively
a common feat, and all sorts Of COM
plicated figures are produced, includ-
ing double eight. The test Of sure
thrower is to make the stick come
back obediently to his feet after en-
gaging in these flights. so he will only
have to stoop to pick it up.
One very useful throw which Is Of
ten used by the natives in hunting
wild fowl and other small animals con-
sists in standing behind some barrier
which cuts Off the view and then hurl-
ing the instrument in a direction away
from the game, so that it then turns in
its flight and goes straight among
them, where 1t performs a number Of
gyrations and Is pretty sure to cause
considerable carnage.
Amateurs have often tried to learn
the trick of throwing a boomerang,
but 1t takes long practice to do much
with 1t. There are number Of boom
erangs from Australia apd the Pacific
islands In the government collections
at Washington and several scientists
have succeeded In throwing them In
such way at least as to make every
one within half mile fearful Ct being
hit. They are rather ticklish instru-
ments to fool with, for unless a per-
son Is acquainted with their ways they
are liable to turn in the air and give
some one a rap when least expected.
1t Is impossible to make the BOOM
erang work in high wind, though a
little breeze is necessary, as in kite fly
Ing. You throw across the wilma; that
is, If the wind is from the west, you
throw either to the north or south, ac-
cording to whether the boomerang is
fiattened on one side or the other.
There is no absolute standard shape
for a boomerang, as many people
think. In fact, many different shapes
are used, according to conditions.
In throwing the instrument more
knack than actual muscle is required,
though the movement must be rapid
and straight. 1t Is thrown at an angle
usually Of about As degrees in the air.
and just as 1t leaves the hand 1t is
given a slight upward jerk, which i'm
parts to 1t spinning motion. 1t Is
this spinning motion, like the curve OF
a thrown baseball, that produces the
eccentric results.