The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-11-08

died. and command fell to the mate,
John kenlon.
They had no tools. timber no
nothingi II looked as though they
were doomed 10 perish unless they
could get TO nearby Australia.
although they did manage to catch
couple Of fish 90 l.ecp body and
soul together. Capt. kenion hied
himself off TO brood his black prob
lem. As he sat on the snn-beaten
volcanic rock. he recalled a chance
remark OF one Of his sailors.
"You never struck me NJ .
dreamer, captain. I've always
thought your Ideas ran 90
something more practical and
concrete"
Therein lay his inspiration He'd
built houses OF homemade concrete
In his native Ireland--why not
boat7
Time, for the present. meant
nothing and the gamble was GER
tainly worth every effort. He went
to work crushing and burning lime
stone.
Then, with q few splinters
salvaged from the wrecked
clipper, he laid q relatively
fiimsy keel and framework Of
boat 81 feet long and al
feet wide.
Salvaged bits Of hsmpen rope
were also laid in the crude forms
for reinforcement.
The sailors turned-to with a
cheerful skepticism. mixing sand
and the homemade cement 10 Ken
Ions orders. The actual pouring
took only as hours.
When the concrete had hardened
the strange craft was rugged with
more salvage from the wrecked
clipper, Then she was launched.
A trial run for the sloop was
made around the island; the
ftHhtt@t hbt VuftF Efttftts
were NJ least satisfying.
The crew wanted 10 start the
is00-mile trip Immediately, but
Capt. Kenlon turned them TO catch
Ing and curing fish and stray rab-
bits while he accustomed himself
to his strange boat with further
tests OF her seaworthiness; tri-
umphantly. she met them all in
great style.
AZ last. all WAS ready and the
We had not been able to see any
lights. which was distinctly against
marine regulations. We could plain
Iy hear the boat and voices aboard
her a. she crept past the sandbar
and then We caught a fleeing
glimpse OF II as II passed over the
silver path OF the moon on the
water.
unwelcome Visitors
There IL something ssris about
boat running without lights on =
deserted section OF ths river and.
when the boat put in on the bar just
above Us. We were frankly worried.
Both Of us were seated In plain
view about the roaring fire with
our precious equipment piled about
us, but We couldn't see what was
going on up the beach. though
there seemed 10 be a good deal OF
talking. Bob. as unobtrusiyely ~
possible. worked his purse from his
hip pocket and dropped II with iis
precious contents Of four dollars.
at his feet and kicked sand over u.
Louise strollsd 10 the opposite side
Of the fire as footsteps sounded
! close BY.
A moment later large Negro.
hip booted and heavily clothed.
STROBE into the eircis Of light and
asked for the loan Of tbs axe. bob
hesitsted The rifle had had 20 be
sold IN Memphis when our funds
gave out and that axe vas the only
weapon Of defense ws had left.
Then the oolored man explained
that his boat had struck a log IN
the channel and the fudder bar had
been bent. All he wanted 70 DO
vas stralghten u. Nevertheless.
We were stiil uneasy and when an
other eoiored man brought Il back,
Bob reached for the axe before the
man had = chance 70 hand u 70
him. Neither Of " felt free 10 70
70 bed until TIRE fading sounds u
the motor told Ne that they had
rounded the next bend.
Groundiess fears. and. - u
turned oat. a little silly. Bgi thoss
Mississippi river sand bars are
lonesome spots At night and. &C.
cordinR 70 numerous stories. many
have seen their share or yioisncs
and robbery. Time And again Ns
had been warned about boats run
ming without hghts ard % keep
weapons close 81 hand when night
landings are MADE. mat incident
harmless a. = vas. made "a sorry
that the rife was the only part q
our equipment that would have
brought = fair price
ldORE LATEKl