"The past actually happened but history is only what someone wrote down." A. Whitney Brown.

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San Juan Archipelago, Washington State, United States
A society formed in 2009 for the purpose of collecting, preserving, celebrating, and disseminating the maritime history of the San Juan Islands and northern Puget Sound area. Check this log for tales from out-of-print publications as well as from members and friends. There are circa 750, often long entries, on a broad range of maritime topics; there are search aids at the bottom of the log. Please ask for permission to use any photo posted on this site. Thank you.

27 March 2015

❖ ARE THEY SWIMMING OR WALKING?

Piling Busters Yearbook 1952
Stories of Towboating by Towboat Men

SKAGIT QUEEN
116866

BUILT IN 1898, WEST SEATTLE,
for CAP H. H. McDONALD,

FOR SKAGIT RIVER NAVIGATION AND TRADING.

125.5' x 25.7' x 4.6'
318 tons.
Original photo from the archives of the S.P.H.S©

"At the tender age of 17-years, I had taken a job as a Quartermaster on the old SKAGIT QUEEN with Capt. McDonald Sr. On this particular trip, we were headed from Seattle and way-points to Mt. Vernon, and after leaving Utsalady [Camano Island], we headed for the Skagit River, and right into pea soup fog. Cap said, 'Boy, go down on the foredeck and keep a good lookout, and sing out if you see anything.' Being a dutiful 'boy' I took this job seriously, as I should, and after some time, all at once, a black patch appeared, and 'boy' shouted in the best seafaring style, something dead ahead 'sir' and Cap came back with, 'what is it?' By this time I could see it was a flock of ducks; and called, 'it is ducks, Sir, and back from the pilothouse came this reply, 'are they swimming or walking?'
This actually happened."
Al Smiley

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