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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1947)
> Never a Dull Moment y RONA MORRIS WORKMAN I have always known that if you want to be where things hap pen you should go to a logging camp. Always something new, and only a foolish man would gamble on what is going to hap pen next. It may be tragic, but more often is merely exciting or amusing, and each day carries its full quota of interest. The Big Boss, during his forty years of logging, has learned to cope with most of these daily incidents, but occasionally even runs into some thing a bit out of the ordinary pattern. Usually, he being the “strong, silent” type of man, I am the last one to hear of what has hap pened, but this time I got in on the first act in person, even if I didn’t realize it at the time. I was just setting the coffee pot on the table and the Big Boss was lacing his caulked boots when two men co-.ie to the door last Monday morning. The B.B. an swered the knock and as he open ed the door one of the two men standing there almost fell into the room. I thought nothing about it since on Monday morn ings most of the men, for some obscure reason, seem to be a bit unsteady on their feet, or with black eyes, groggy lookB and tempers like a sea-sick wild cat. After he had regained his balance he announced, “I’ve come to take that loading job.” The Boss looked at him rather sceptically. ’"Are you a loader?” he asked. “Sure I am. That’s what I came up here for.” The Boss grunted, and I know his grunts, and said, “All right. I’ll see you after breakfast.” As he sat down at the table he re marked, “If that man’s a loader, then I am a bloomin’ sailor,” and proceeded to attack his grape fruit. Two days later I got the rest of the story. The man was wait ing when the Boss went out. The Boss said, “I can’t use a loader right now, but you can go set chockers until there is an open ing.” The fellow spluttered a bit, but agreed and the Boss continued. “Go get your clothes changed and take that “crummy” there to the Mill Creek side.” At this the new chocker-setter fluffed up like a mad hen. “What’s the matter with my clothes ? I sup- posse you don’t like the way I part my hair either?” The Boss looked at him, I know that look, too, and, I also know that in the old days such an answer would have started a man right back down the way he came in, but times have changed. FRESH EVERY DAY IDEAL FOR LUNCHES . . and rich in the food elements every growing child needs. Oreder Butter Krust bread every day. The adults like it too! VERNONIA BAKERY HOME OF BUTTER KRUST BREAD y Now the Boss merely said, “I don’t care how you part your hair, but you can’t go <yi a job in the woods without caulked boots, so get ■'em, or don't come back.” RIVERVIEW —. Mrs. W. D. The fellow was still telling the world that he was dressed all Steeles daughter, Mr. and Mrs. right as the Boss left him, but James Walker and two children of he did go out and get some caulks Eugene, and Mr. and Mrs. Farn- and reported for duty next morn strom of Vancouver spent Sunday ing. Out at the Mill Creek land at the W. D. Steele home. Pfc. Cornett Falconbury is sta ing, Tiny, the hooker on that side, (and wouldn’t you know from the tioned at Jacksonville, Flordia name that “Tiny” is a hulking now. Walter Moore has been on the two-hundred pounder?) has been in the logging almost as long as sick list the past week. Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Greenwood the Big Boss. Seeing the new man, he went up and asked what motored down from Washington job he was going on out there. to get their .son who has been In answer the man struck a bel visiting his two gaandmothers, ligerent pose and demanded “what Mrs. Bud Rose and Mrs. Green the blankety-blank H—he wanted wood. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Neby and to know for” what was it to him anyhow.” I have the feeling that baby of Portland and Mr. and Mrs. right then Tiny remembered the Schmick of Portland visited at the old days with longing and his W. D. Steele home Sunday. Week end guests of the W. J. fist probably ached with the desire to be planted in exactly the right Lindsleys were Mr. and Mrs. C-H. spot, but Tiny, too, knows that Pearson and son of Elma, Wash- the old days are gone, so with . ington, Mr. and Mrs.Sam Smith superhuman effort he turned and sons of Sweet Home, Mr. and away and walked off. I can see Mrs. W. R. Prince and daughter him scratching his head and and Mrs. Jason of Portland and Mr. and Mrs. V. M. Lindsley and him this time. Two hours later, the Big Boss children and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. was rounding a curve in his pick Lindsley and family. A going- up when he saw the man sitting away dinner was given in honor by the side of the road looking of Pfc. L. M. Lindsley who left off into space. Stopping the car for California Wednesday where the B.B. wanted to know (pro he will report back to his marine bably in correct logganese which base at Terminal Island. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Meyer and would have to be expurgated for public reading) wHat he was doing daughter of Portland spent the there when he was suppose to be week end at the Merle Cline home. Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Hillyer and setting chockers. “Oh, just looking around,” was Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Combs, the vague answer. “Well, look motored to Hoquiam to spend the around down there where your week end with Mr. and Mrs. Geor :e chokers are. You’re half a mile Whittington, Aunt of Mr. Combs. from where you should be work Mr. and Mrs. Donna Hagen, Donna Combs, Walt Holcomb and Grand ing.” The fellow moved away in the ma Ward took care of the Hillyer right direction, but half an hour home during the Hillyer’s absence. Allene Hudson spent the week later the Boss found him stand ing at the landing with his hands end in Forest Grove visiting in his pockets watching the ac tivity with apparent interest and it went on, and before they could considerable disapproval. This finally get hi<p out of the camp was a bit too much, even for and into the hands of his family modern times, and the B.B. he had stormed back into the promptly ushered him into the office, torn up the check they Tiick-up and headed back to camp. had given him for three hours Just as they were rounding a “work,” declaring they were cheat curve cut into the mountain-side ing him and he wanted real with a nice precipice on one hand money, and then jumped on th? wondering what in Heaven’s name pieces. After a few more visits the employment agency had sent to the office he dragged a mat- and a lovely- rock wall on the ress and blankets from a bunk other, the ex-choker-setter grab house into the middle of the road bed the edge of the wind shield where the big logging trucks roar and yelled, “Hold her, hold her. by every little while and insisted Don’t, you see them rattlesnakes. upon sleeping there. Thousands of ’em, all over the No, never a dull moment in a road. Hold her, I say.” logging camp. Wonder what will I don't know how the Boss felt happen today. at that moment. He only laughed when I asked him and remarked that he assured the man that they would drive right over the snakes and for him not to worry. I know what I would have felt. That man could have had that pickup right then. I could have made better time back to camp on foot. Evidently these mountains are full of rattlesnakes for, ac cording to his wild yells, they ran into several batches of them as they came up that frightful road, but managed to drive over If a blow comes, you safely. Then he got a new idea. ■w*ill be glad you have “Where are you taking me?” he yelped, yanking at the door windstorm insurance handle. “We went up and up to You won’t have to pay get to that landing and now we are still going up. You said hundreds of dollars out of you’d take me to camp and you your own pocket to re ain’t. Let me out of here.” store your property if you “Well, if we keep going up, as you say we are, then we will have ycur fire insurance probably get to Heaven pretty policy extended to cover soon, don’t you think?” was the B.B. answer, and I am pretty windstorm damage. sure that by this time the pickup was really picking up speed. An Ask this Hartford ag-. other yell came when the fellow ency about it. saw camp. "What’s that ’town ? You’re a liar. That ain’t camp. I’ve never seen that place before.” VERNONIA He got more reassuring words about that, then he began worry INSURANCE ing about the money “due” him. 905 Bridge Street If he didn’t get it, then he’d get Phone 231 Vernonia a gun at Dallas, come back to camp and make the "dirty so-and- BILL J. HORN, AGENT sos” give him what he had com ing. Still more reassurances. So Marine on Way For Calif. Base THE EAGLE, VERNONIA, ORE., THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1947 5 friends. Mancel Lee Rose is home from Oregon State college now. Mr. and Mrs. Guy Herd, former residents, are the parents of a daughter born April 5. Archaeologists believe that the horse was first domesticated by Aryan people living northeast of the Caspian Sea, an erea now a part of Soviet Russia. A TOURIST VERNONIA CAB SERVICE IS A GUEST PACIFIC PUMPS STOUT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS Rates 35c anywhere within the city limits of Vernonia W. B. Starkey, Manager HÌS HOST! Advrti»tment From where I sit... fy Joe Marsh A Great Bunch -Those Ex-G.I.'s Willie Wells and a bunch of the boys from our town went to Pound Ridge Saturday to a reunion of their old regiment. There were about two hundred and fifty boys who came from miles around to a good old feast in Farmer Collins’ barn. I expect they seemed a lot different to each other out of uniform. But they had a great time, spinning yarns, drinking beer, and talking over the old times in South Africa and Italy and the Aleutians. I went over to cover the meeting for the Clarion, and one thing that sure impressed me was the good behavior of those boys—their pref erence for a moderate beverage like beer—their friendly spirit From where 1 sit, our cx-G.I.’s are making as good a showing in peacetime as they made during the war. And they're setting a mighty good example to the rest of us—in tolerance, and modera tion, and good fellowship. Copyright, 1947, United States Brewers Foundation ATLEY SEZ Howdy Folks: The question, as often debated is not where civilization began, but when will it. * * As Senator Sorghum you can’t choose your anrfS' tors, but that’s fair enough, because they probably would not have chosen you either. * ♦ .And about the only thing left in this world that can be shocked is grain. * ♦ But there’s absolutely nothing left undone when you bring your car to CHAPMAN’S for MARFAK LUBRICATION. Chapmans Service Store Bridge and Second Telephone 853 Vernonia, Ore. PHILCO Radio. HOTPOINT Distributor for these appliances including refrigerators SPARK OIL STOVES LANGE OIL RANGES MAYTAG ~ Home Freezers Washers CALL AND SEE THE LATEST IN FAUCETS DIAL EASY FAUCETS—CRANE EQUIPMENT BATHROOM FIXTURES—KITCHEN SINKS LAUNDRY TRAYS—ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS SEPTIC TANKS—RANGE BOILERS Beginning Saturday Morning 6 a.m. Phone 322 Palace Cafe EASY Washers STOCK MILLWORK: Kitchen cabinet., dcors, window., sash, window and door frame., sash weight, and cord, glass, etc. RADIO AND WASHING MACHINE RE PAIRS. COMPLETE LINE OF MAYTAG WASHER PARTS ANDERSON-ROEDIGER Sundland Electric & Appliance Plumbing and Stock Millwork Supplies Vernonia, Ora. Phone: Plumber, 5713, Shop 575 786 Bridge Street, Vernonia