The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-30
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G,2zz3lz:N1E23 49,

It now and got mad all over
AGAIN.
Whenever you see US lolling
somewhere around a log boom
watching the boomers and seal
ers at work, you may be sure
we are rather awed by what we
know is percolating in said log
scaler's noggin-''to determine
the number Of board feet in a
log: Square the diameter Of the
small end. deduct three times
the diameter. multiply by half
the length. divide by 10" How'd
you like to earn your living in
that improbable way. sir?
Each year about this time
we are reminded TO wistfully
suggest that a long outboard
motorboat race would be q good
thing for the Puget Sound fra
ternity. We think of it now be-
cause the 14th annual Albany
New York outboard marathon
is slated for May IL. That clas-
sic event-170 miles longs
one Of the reasons your out
board is what 1t is today and
not what II was ten years ago.
or even five years ago, bless
those ornery old putt-putts.
But the race itself is a crowd
puller and one of the major
boating events of the world,
sir.
This happened the other day
at one of the residential beaches
on nearby Vashon. Against all
advice, a greenhorn boating
(outboard) enthusiast was de-
termined to tow a skiff almost
full of water. Once well clear
Of the wharf and into the deep
water. he found it didn't work SO
good. So he let go the tow
rope and unanswered his boat
alongside the waterfilled boat
with the intention che said
afterward) Of bailing the latter.
Then he stepped from his own
boat into the sinking boat so it
would be easier to bail, Specta-
tors even bothered to rescue
him, very wet and surprised,
from the chilly waters of the
Sound. Amt that something?
If we joined the navy to see
the world, we'd first make some
sort Of a deal so there'd be no
chance of getting assigned to
the naval station located at the
seaport" of Hawthorne-in the
Nevada desert. A million miles
from nowhere and even farther
from proper navigable water.
It's an ammunition depot.) All,
the sweetly shrill notes of a
boatswain's pipe waiting gently
on the clear desert air, while the
ships band plays Anchors
Aweigh" and the bluejackets
smartly heave chantey on the
portboard scuppers amid the
sagebrush. Prairie schooner to
Loo'ard, sir, and she hull down
there between the sou'west COR
ner of the anchor windlass and
yonder herd of cows" No thanks.
A charming lady client just
telephoned. Old rascal that
we are, we exchanged a good
deal of free chit chat even
though we've never met the
customer in question. Among
other things, she seemed sur
prised when We said she is the
only member of the gentler sex
who evidences any interest in
merchant shipping affairs. Said
she: We'll, insult the female of
the species in print. Then they'll
read from self defense and
thereby can't help but learn
something about the fascinating
world of ships. sailormen and
the sea" Well, what do you sup
pose would make you the mad
dest, ladies'?
Never mind the dinosaurs and
other prehistoric monsters. The
biggest critter that ever lived
at any time is the blue whale,
and 100-footers are turning up
every once in awhile. Quite a
hunk of fish. And when SWIM
ming at his usual speed Of
about q miles an hour, blue
whale generates tidy 500
horsepower.