V31 N1/2 Lightship 'Columbia' Restored to Original Beauty

Summer 1fJ05 Vol Jl,No. J..;1

A review and newsletter from the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, Oregon

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From the Wheelhouse Afterguard Capt. Rod Leland, President Thomas V Dulcich, Vice President Prudence M. Miller , Secretary Cheri Folk, Immediate Past President Mr. Ward Cook, Treasurer W Louis Larson , Advisor Jerry L. Ostermiller, Executive Director Board of Trustees George F. Beall Dennis Bjork Peter Brix* Richard T. Carruthers * Fred Fields Walter Gadsby, Jr. Alan C. Goudy * W Dennis Hall E.H. (Ted) Halton, Jr. Jonathan Harms Don M. Haskell Senator Mark Hatfield * Senator Betsy Johnson Dr. Russell Keizer S. Kenneth Kirn Robley Mangold * Thomas F. Martin John McGowan * Ken M . Novack Larry Perkins David W Phillips Hugh Seppa June Spence Joe Tennant Willis Van Dusen * Bruce Ward Samuel C. Wheeler Bill Wyatt Ted Zell * Trustee Emeritus

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Mariners hearing the cry "All Hands on Deck!" find their blood pressure soaring as they rush to face some unforeseen challenge which may spell disaster for their ship or crew. That call, shouted by Mr. Murphy's Law himself, came to us just 24 hours before we were scheduled to send the Lightship Columbia 100 miles up-river to the shipyard for her long awaited haul out and refit.

Leaving nothing to chance, all of us worked tirelessly for months to coordinate the many different partners (Foss, Tidewater, Sundial Marine, Columbia River Bar Pilots, etc.) who generously agreed to help move the vessel up-river at no cost to the Museum. We waited months for "just the right opening" in the shipyard and we had worked out all the details. We waited to shut down the tours of the lightship at the last possible moment, and determined the best possible tides to provide just enough water for the Foss tug to move the ship out from behind our pier. I can assure you that these arrangements, made with Foss and Tidewater, involved complex coordination and long-range planning.

It is not an easy task to move our vessel out into the Columbia River and attach her to a commercial tow for a long trip to Troutdale, Oregon.

Just a few hours before the show was to begin, we received a phone call about a major problem that had come up. The I-5 bridge in Portland was stuck in the down position and our masts were a full 3 feet too tall for safe clearance. Bonneville Dam was also releasing generous amounts of water that added to the problem. A quick huddle with the Museum's crew determined that it was literally "now or never," as we might have to wait months for a similar alignment of all these stars.

But what to do?

In situations like this we find our true friends . Taking my hat in my hand, I drove to the office of Bergerson Construction (one of the NW's busiest pile driving/ dock building firms) and paid a visit to President and CEO Dennis Bjork. After listening to my story, Dennis simply smiled and assured me that he would send a crane barge, a full crew, and everything it would take to cut off the top of the masts and safely lower and secure them to the deck. And all in time to meet our original schedule and at no charge to the Museum.

The rest, as we say, "is history."

The photos and story in this issue of the Quarterdeck document the value of your generous support of the Lightship Columbia Restoration Fund, which paid for the sand blasting, mast and ship repairs, transportation insurance and the repainting. However, I would be remiss if I hadn't shared the above story with you, because it illustrates the values we all admire and strive for: neighboring, professionalism, a belief in one of the best maritime institutions in the nation, and best of all, the high quality of the friends of this museum.

Regards,

Je,~lller, Director The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

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Lightship Columbia Returns to Museum One of the greatest accomplishments among the Maritime Museum's many projects this last year was the shipyard work done on the Lightship Columbia .

In October of 2004, following a full year's worth of effort on the part of Director Jerry Ostermiller to make the arrangments, the Lightship was removed from its berth alongside the Museum by the Foss Maritime tug Tiger and placed in a position at the pier to allow the Bergerson Construction crane barge to prepare the masts for the tow upriver.

Following an insurance survey, the Lightship was picked up by the Tidewater Barge Lines tug Liberty for delivery to Vancouver and then transferred by the tug Betty Lou to Sundial Marine Services yard in Troutdale, OR. The scope of work while in drydock at Sundial Marine was to include the complete commercial blasting of the exterior hull and decks to bare metal and the application of two coats of anticorrosive paint; this was to be followed by a finish coat of antifouling paint to the underwater areas, a high-gloss Polyurethane Red finish to the hull, repainting of the designation COLUMBIA in white, and application of an epoxy nonskid deck paint. In addition, three hatches and one ventilator shaft on deck were replaced due to extensive rust damage.

Mechanically, the packing in the stem gland (the seal around the propeller shaft) was removed and the tailshaft and bearing plates were inspected before repacking and tightening to seal against leakage. All sea chest valves were opened and inspected before resealing. In order for the Lightship to meet new Coast Guard regulations for being designated a Permanently Moored Vessel it was decided to cover all the sea chest openings. All the zincs that were attached to the exterior of the hull The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

were replaced with new zincs to control corros10n.

As in any major restoration work, new problems were discovered that had to be addressed. The Lightship's moorage arrangement consisting of cables and a large camel (a log fendering system designed to keep the ship from contacting the dock) had worn the surface of the hull in the area of contact to the point that it needed extensive welding to rebuild wasted welds and pitted plating. A new waist band of steel plate was welded over this area, and large vertical fendering was then installed over it to reduce wear and tear to the vessel hull. (A photo of the installation of the new system can be seen on the following page.)

Early in the morning of February 27, 2005, with crews having worked around the clock in order to get the ship off drydock on schedule, a final inspection was made and the drydock was filled and the lightship once again floated in the familiar waters of the Columbia River.

This project would not have been possible without the tireless support of many people who volunteered physical and business help to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. A special thanks to Tidewater Barge Lines for transportation services, to Foss Marine for fussing the Lightship in and out of its berth, to Bergerson Construction for immediate, unanticipated crane barge help, to Tongue Point Seamanship Program for providing line handling crews to moor the lightship, and to Sundial Marine and Drydock for their expert staff help in getting the most and the best out of their services. Thanks to all these professionals, the Lightship Columbia will remain one of the finest Lightships preserved anywhere in the world.

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Columbia was sandblasted down to bare metal for her new bottom coat of paint

New steel reinforcement was added to the hull and custom permanent fenders were installed on her starboard side.

Once painted, the last step was to add the signature Columbia to her sides.

Tidewater lends an assist as the newly refurbished Columbia is floated out of drydock

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The Remarkable Voyage of Capt. Benson

By Wilmon Menard Capt. Nels P Benson, skipper for the shipping firm of Sanders and Kirchman of San Francisco, was known along the west coast of North and South America as "the fishing skipper."

He was also known as a hard taskmaster aboard any sailing ship he commanded. Nevertheless, thanks to his seamanship and navigation, he always cleared ports on schedule and brought home full cargoes; and as for his ability as a sport fisherman, although he had never established any record catches, he, significantly, rarely lost what he hooked.

He had, at all times, several rods and reels racked in his cabin, his favorite being an original design that he had fashioned himself, using an early Meek reel for a model. So, between voyages, or when he had finished with ship's agents and chandlers in different ports, he always made arrangements to enjoy a full measure of saltwater sport fishing.

His Scandinavian heritage called for it. By nature he was a solitary seafarer, brusque in manner and speech, well qualified, indeed, to handle tough sailing crews; and, as he made few friends, his hobby of fishing helped to allay his selfimposed loneliness.

The stocky, 46-year-old skipper in early March of 1913 had just completed arrangements for a week of sport fishing off northern California, when he received an urgent call from his shipping firm. He was to proceed immediately to Astoria, Ore., to take command of the four-masted schooner El Dorado which would load rough fir for discharge in Antofagasta, Chile.

Nels was annoyed at missing his fishing, and worried over his recent purchase of an old cottage in Oakland, Calif., for his "snug harbor." He had The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

The story of the voyage been short of cash and so he had been of Captain Benson compelled to take out a heavy mortgage was first printed in on the dwelling.

National Fisherman And he had heard of the El Dorado, in June of 1968. The and he knew her reputation for perverse story was discovered sailing; and a good crew would be difficult yet again recently to sign on now that the Alaska fisheries during an unrelated season had started. Last, he had received research project in our his sailing orders from Saunders and Library. The adventure Kirchman on a Friday, and Fridays were and humor of the story always bad-luck days for him. seemed like a natural fit for our Quarterdeck When the El Dorado finished her readers. With the loading of lumber at the Astoria mill gracious permission wharf, Capt. Benson reluctantly gave from the editorial staff Mr. Wilson, his first mate, a nervous nod at National Fisherman of his head to receive the line from the we have reprinted the tugboat to fasten on the bitts, and a halfstory of Captain Benson arrested jerk of his thumb for the second and his shanghaied crew mate, Johansen, to take the wheel. He was from Astoria. strangely loath to clear for the open sea.

He had every reason to be apprehensive.

Staggering around on deck was the sorriest lot of eight drink-sodden seamen that he had ever received from a crimp 's combing of the waterfront dives: a squatty, furtive Japanese signed on as a cook, a blank-faced Frenchman; a glowering Dutchman; a battered German with two front teeth knocked out in a bar-room brawl; an American on the brink of delirium tremens; two expressionless Norwegians; and a cursing Swede.

And they had come aboard carrying suitcases instead of proper sea-bags!

The captain of the tug waved and hollered. "Couldn't you find a better day to cast off?"

Nels staggered slightly, as if slugged, and almost swallowed his unlit cheroot.

The El Dorado was sailing for Antofagasta, Friday, March 13, 1913 !

Scarcely clear of the Astoria lightship, the schooner ran into nasty weather. The crew, claiming virtual shanghaiing, were 5 objecting strenuously to the food rations

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and talking back to First Mate Wilson, who, with threats and his fists, kept some of the crew at the pumps emptying the water in the leaky holds. Fortunately, all plain sail could be hoisted and furled from the deck, but had the El Dorado been a square-rigger, the voyage would have been one of mass suicide for the green, rebellious crew.

Nels groaned and silently cursed his luck. With such a miserable crew the fates were all against him! And the voyage would normally take about two months, each way!

Somehow, miraculously, the schooner progressed southward with the captain and the mates maintaining a strict vigil for any overt acts of mutiny.

The weather cleared on May 22, and on the following day a calm set in. Nels, seated on the taffrail, stared moodily out to sea. Perfect weather and conditions, he thought, for bonito to be foraging. A sail could be rigged on the lifeboat to catch any vagrant wind and, with about four men rowing strongly, they might intercept a passing schooner. But, he rancorously decided, with my jinx-crew no such luck!

However, in mid-afternoon, a milelong school of bonito made "dark water" to starboard, and Nels ordered Mr. Wilson to turn out four of the crew to make a lifeboat ready, and then he rushed below to get his special pearl shell lures cut crudely in the shape of a small fish to which a barbless hook was lashed with sennit and tufted with a bit of red-dyed coconut fiber, which he had copied carefully from models he had bought from the bonito fishermen of Tahiti.

The first mate handed him down his selected bamboo poles, and before he gave the order to pull away from the side of the El Dorado, he called up pleasantly: "You can tell the crew that we'll have fresh bonito for supper. I dare say it'll be

a welcome change from that maggoty saltpork." To the sullen, muttering rowers, he shouted: "Now pull together, lads, and we'll soon be on that school of bonito!"

And at last the lifeboat did lunge across the outer line of silvery froth made by the baby squid leaping frantically from the surface. Nels experimented quickly with his lures, which ranged in color from a light-green hue to jet-black. Then, for almost a quarter of an hour, while seamen strained mightily on the oars, the captain cast out and trailed the lure acceptable to the fastidious bonito, and his arms and well-conditioned muscles worked in harmony. Count was soon lost of the bonito he jerked aboard.

When they headed back to the El Dorado, the lifeboat held capacity load, and in a rough sea they would have swamped. The four seamen cursed under their breath as they started the long pull back to the becalmed schooner, where, on deck, Mr. Wilson had the rest of the crew in readiness with bags of salt, casks, knives and tubs of sea-water to receive the bonito for salting down.

At sunset, a strong wind, pushing dark clouds ahead, came over the horizon, and the El Dorado continued its southward course to Chile. And, after supper, the second mate brought the captain a disturbing report.

"The crew refused the evening meal of bonito and dumped it overboard. Most of them have worked the Alaska fisheries, so I suppose they've had all the fish they can stomach."

Nels crashed his fist onto the table, making the crockery jump and rattle.

"Those riff-raff, rustlin' cowboys! Too good to eat fish, eh? Well, they might rue the day they tossed such lovely fish over the side!"

He couldn't know then how true his prediction was to be!

Three days later squalls overtook the The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

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with his sextant, navigation books, charts El Dorado and clung tenaciously to her and the ship's papers. course. The seas and wind gained in The crew, under Mr. Johansen's force, causing the schooner to race as if out of control; heavy waves were shipped supervision, had made the only lifeboat left in the spanker throat halyards, and washing the full length of the deck, and the old schooner shook from stem to stern at four p.m. the 22-foot lifeboat pulled away from the sinking El Dorado, This under the sea shocks.

In the early morning of June 12 the El longboat had only a beam of 5 ½ feet and Dorado, still far off the coast of Chile,was a depth of 3 feet, and loaded with 11 men in a hurricane-lashed ocean the prospects straining and opening her seams. The steam and hand-pumps had to be worked seemed hopeless.

It was at this time that Mr. Wilson constantly. Regularly, a huge sea would smash against the schooner and heave her gave an exclamation and touched Nel's arm. "I meant to remind you, sir--the far over on beam ends, and because they chronometer!" were on the port tack, the starboard side The captain stiffened, cursed. In his of the huge deck-load oflogs started to hurry, and the imminence of the bulkheads shift.

Night brought no relief. The mainsail, giving way under the tons of seawater in the flooded hold, he had forgotten with a report like cannon fire, tore away it! Some 2700 miles off the coast of and flapped off eerily like a phantom bat Chile, with no navigational instrument to into the rushing darkness. calculate their position in longitude!

Mr. Wilson shouted through the When Nels looked back for the last maelstrom: "Starboard deckload has shifted a foot, sir! And the poop deck is time at the battered schooner, he saw that separating from the rail!" her decks were awash to the rails. She had given up the fight and was wallowing, Nels, cursing, swung the schooner around, but this only succeeded in shifting sinking slowly to her grave. A huge wave loomed like a black cliff on her port the port deckload. side, a wide screen of exploded spume Friday, June 13, brought no respite to the El Dorado and her exhausted crew. smothered her, and then the sea was The sea as far as the eye could reach a whirlpool of floating lumber, doors, skylights and railing, in which dark was a violently heaving and churning sections of the schooner's broken ribs cauldron, as if a volcano had erupted to windward. The El Dorado was being bobbed.

And in this instant the captain, seated methodically pounded to pieces.

Nels ordered the first mate to see how in the stern-sheets, gave a loud groan of anguish. much water there was in the hold and he "Damnation!" he exclaimed came back quickly to report: "It's over wretchedly. "I've lost my ship--but I'll my head!"

Nels ran a weary hand over his lined lose something else more important if I face. "I tell you, Mr. Wilson, I never don't get back to San Francisco quick!"

The shivering, white-faced crew could beat unlucky Fridays and 13 's.

We'll abandon ship." looked at him as if he were suddenly The captain went below for clothing, bereft of reason. blankets and food--and his favorite rod And their only hope of reaching land was to set a course for Easter Island, the and reel. He emptied the contents of the strange isle of the grim stone idols, which schooner's medicine-chest and filled it The QuarterDeck, vol. 31 No_ 1-2

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lay about 700 miles to the northeast by east. But as Nels had no chronometer, it would mean running out the latitude first, in consequence of which the voyage to Easter Island would total at least 900 miles, if they were lucky enough to reach it.

"Step the mast and bend the spreadsail and jib!" he ordered Second Mate Johansen. "We'll try to make Easter Island!"

Heavy swells violently rocked the lifeboat which had only a freeboard of 1O"; and the captain kept the crew bailing and handling sail, while he and his mates stood watches at the tiller.

Riding the crest of a wave and then tobogganing down its precipitous slope were repeated endlessly. The seamen became stupefied and slightly insane.

Some called out weakly that they could see palm trees and entrances to harbors, even familiar vessels passing, with sailor friends waving to them.

Once, finding the captain's rod and reel in his way a seaman kicked it impatiently aside. Nels was on him in a second, shaking him by the slack of his jumper. "You'll treat that with respect, you fugitive from Jesse James' gang, it might serve us well before this voyage is over!"

Days merged with nights, and there was always the shrieking of the gale, the hissing of the waves and the scrape of bailers on the lifeboat's planking. Some of the men sang tunelessly, others sobbed hysterically, a few prayed.

Immersed in seawater even before they took to the lifeboat, the hands and the feet of the tossing boatload of men started to swell, their eyes were festering from incessant salt spray, and the skin was cracking, particularly the tender skin under the thighs from the constant chafing caused by the lifeboat's roll. Pelvis bone ground on flesh, sinew

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and nerve, and every hard rocking of the lifeboat caused moans and curses.

Some tried kneeling, but then these sockets started to grind painfully. One seaman, Tassaman, tried to leap into the sea and end his misery and had to be tied up. Carlson, a Norwegian, wore only a shirt and drawers and he shook constantly as if with fever, grinning idiotically. He begged the captain to hit him over the head with an oar and lighten the lifeboat.

On June 18 catastrophe struck. Just before dawn the demented Carlson had hurled most of the food over the side!

Nels, after Carlson had been tied up, made a grim inventory of the remaining rations that had to last them at least a week longer: 3 cans of corned beef, 5 cans of soup, 8 cans of condensed milk, one can of jam, and a can of beef tongue.

The hopeless predicament of 11 men in a 22 foot lifeboat in a stormswept sea was brought to the captain with sickening clarity. What was left of the jettisoned rations would hardly sustain one man a week!

On June 21 the condition of the seamen was serious. Some were no longer able to bail, and now were sprawled, silent as corpses, in the bottom of the lifeboat.

Nels estimated the remaining provisions; one can of corned beef, the can ofbeeftongue a can of soup and two cans of condensed milk.

His anguished eyes shifted to his rod and reel, wrapped in its oil-soaked cloth, then lifted to contemplate the sea. It had abated somewhat. Was there a ghost of a chance that he could bring about a miracle? Could deliverance be placed in his hands? He had fished successfully for sport, now what would be his fisherman's luck in this portentious predicament?

He held a whispered conversation with Mr. Wilson.

"It'll mean doing some chumming ," he told him. "I'll have to sacrifice that The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

last can of corned beef, and perhaps the tongue, too. But the beef and tongue will never carry us through to Easter Island.

If I can catch a good size fish, we have a chance."

The first mate nodded heavily, grunted through salt-cracked, swollen lips. "I'll pray that you can do it, sir."

Unobserved by the starving seamen, Nels opened the can of corned beef and, with blank expression, he and the two mates watched the precious red meat trail behind on the surface, and finally disappear from sight into the lacy backwash of the lifeboat. The captain made ready his rod and reel, selected a lure, and cast out astern.

The whir of the reel and the sight of the captain with rod gripped desperately in his hands didn't even interest the huddled or prone seamen.

Fifteen minutes passed, with nothing happening. Nels picked up the can of beef-tongue, methodically opened this, broke the contents up in his hands and dribbled it over the stern.

The motion of the lifeboat, the empty sea, the effects of hunger, created a soporific effect. The captain's eyes became heavy, his chin lowered slowly on his chest. Then a hard nudge!

It was Mr. Johansen, his face distorted, exclaiming hoarsely: "Fish, sir!

There's fish out there now!"

Nels bent forward, peering intently.

Now he caught sight of something just below the surface, astern, cruising handsomely, illuminating the sea like summer lightning in a storm-cloud.

It was tuna, and they were barreling gracefully searching for more chum, and now one nosed up to within a few feet of the stern.

There was a strong following sea to assist a steady wind in the sails, and the lifeboat was moving rapidly, despite its depth in the water. The speed was The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

sufficient to make a lure effective, but would a tuna, one tuna, strike?

Suddenly the arched line pulled tight, and Nels felt the prodigious weight! A tuna had taken the hook and was now swimming stubbornly deeper. The captain sucked in his breath slowly, calming his nerves, concentrating his waning strength.

There must be no wrong move, no desperate decision!

What was on the hook spelled the difference between life and death for 11 men! Eighty feet or more of the line unwound with uniform speed.

Now wondered Nels now ... Now? He gave the drag a hard twist, watched until the line snapped up tauntly, and then, with his hands gripping the rod high, he gave the tuna his weight. His shouldermuscles strained agonizedly from the sudden shock, and he braced his torso and legs hard, straining backward to equalize the pressure. "Lower the sail!" he gasped to Mr. Johansen.

Suddenly, there was another responsive jolt on his entire body and he gave a startled grunt. The thick rod bent dangerously, the butt gouging his stomach, and he was violently jerked forward.

But he heaved up with all his strength, straightening slowly, with the precise action of a strong-man hefting a heavy bar-bell.

Nels inhaled slowly and hit the tuna again. The reel shrieked like a witch's banshee; line evaporated from the spool.

Now a sudden slack! He pumped hard, winding. The reel protested. The tuna had started another run, deep-down!

He tried to brake, but the thumb-guard burned him, and he glared with helpless rage at the disappearing line making its cut-water on the surface. Abruptly, the reel slowed its revolutions.

A half hour later, with grim determination, Nels brought the tuna longside. Mr. Wilson and Johansen

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grabbed the leader and worked the fish under the stern.

While the 250 lb. tuna was being lashed to the side of the lifeboat, the seamen lifted their heads and stared stupidly. Now some broke into sobs, others made chewing motions with their mouths, and saliva dripped from the corners.

Nels reached down and pinched the fish expertly, trying to control his emotions. "It'll make fine eating," he said quietly. He moved aside to permit the two mates to cut up the tuna.

"Chew the flesh carefully, which will be sweet and good, and it will mean food and water for you." He nodded and grinned. "Well, I think we're going to make Easter Island after all."

He stood up, braced his legs. "And now I think that it's appropriate that I offer up a short prayer."

With his face lifted to the grey sky, the captain gave an impromptu prayer. He made no quotes from the Bible, but spoke simply and forcefully, giving thanks for having been blessed by deciding to bring the rod and reel into the lifeboat, and his ability and final strength to land the tuna.

Mr. Wilson, busily stripping succulent fillets from the giant tuna, lifted his baritone voice in a hymn, and the seamen joined in weakly. It must have been a strange scene with the small lifeboat once again under sail, moving in a turbulent sea, and the cracked voices of the shipwrecked seamen riding the now increasing gale.

The next morning, Sunday, June 22nd, Nels staggered forward to try and rig a canvas cover for an auxiliary sail.

He stopped short, staring! Was it land, or was it a mirage?

"What do you see?" he gasped to Johansen.

"It's land alright!"

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Two points off the port bow loomed the grim silhouette of Easter Island!

On June 24 an excited Easter Islander burst in upon Percy Edmunds, English manager for Marlet Livestock Co., at the ranch house at Mataveri, in Hanga Piko to announce that two ragged, wild-eyed, bearded white men had stumbled into the village settlement, shouting incoherently and gesturing toward the East Cape.

Edmunds sent natives and horses to bring in the castaways. And when the strange procession of ragged seamen rode into his front yard, he stepped down from the porch to announce importantly, "Welcome to Easter Island. You 're the first shipwrecked seamen who have ever landed here. Congratulations!"

The Captain, hunched miserably over the pommel of the lead horse, lifted redrimmed eyes, absently dug salt-crust out of his left ear, and then managed a weak grin.

"Thank you, I'm Capt. Nels Benson of the American schooner El Dorado of San Francisco, which sank on unlucky Friday, June 13 in a bad storm."

He gingerly dismounted, and when his bloated feet touched the lava rubble he let out a bellowing curse that aroused seabirds in rookeries a mile away. "And these buckos are my hard-ridin' rootin'-tootin' Texas Rangers!"

Nels and his two mates were quartered in the ranch house at Hanga-Piko, while the crew was sheltered in the deserted Mission House in the native village of Hanga Roa, or Cook's Bay. Hot food and a change of clothes worked wonders with the exhausted men, and some set up housekeeping in the abandoned ancient stone huts, above which, on the slopes, stood the huge stone gods of Easter Island.

Others started planting gardens; and all turned to in assisting Edmunds with his shearing, sheep-dipping, rounding up cattle and lassoing wild horses.

"Well, they're finally getting to follow The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

their rightful trade," was the captain's wry observation.

To occupy his time, Capt. Benson tried some sport fishing off Cook's Bay, but without a single nibble or strike. To the British manager of Easter Island, he remarked sourly: "I think these rummy statues of yours here have scared off all the game fish in these waters."

Nels at the end of 105 days was acting like a deranged bull sea lion. He paced eternally the high cliffs, peering for the sight of a sail or a smudge of a steamer's smoke. But few vessels came by Easter Island.

Abruptly one morning, at breakfast, he announced to Edmunds: "I'm leaving for Tahiti tomorrow!"

"Tahiti's 2500 miles away!" exclaimed Edmunds. "You're crazy if you try it!"

"I'll be crazier if I'm stuck here any longer!" snapped Nels. "Look, Matey, I'm buying a home in California on the installment plan, and ifl don't get back they'll foreclose on the mortgage."

He drew forth his cheap nickel-plated Pocket Ben watch. "If I had remembered to wind this I could have used it for a chronometer. Well, on the trip to Tahiti, I'll use it alright, and I'll bet the watch company will pay me a pretty penny when I endorse their watch in one of their ads."

He grinned broadly. "And I'll bet, too, that any reel-maker would give me plenty of cash to endorse one of their products. After all, my rod and reel saved our lives."

The captain had already scraped and recaulked the El Dorado's lifeboat, and the next morning he was ready to cast off. Water kegs were put aboard, wood for fuel under the little half-deck forward; a steer was killed and the meat jerked to preserve it, and sweet potatoes, eggs, bacon and taro-root were stored in The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

abundance. And a 10-gal. steel drum was fashioned into a crude stove.

The French seaman, Alex Simoneau, and the Dutchman, Steve Drinkwater, whose name must have been a sardonic reminder on the perilous voyage of shipwreck, decided to accompany him. It was the month of September, the approach of summer below the equator, and there would be fair weather, steady winds and calm seas.

Once out beyond the line of dangerous surf, Nels bawled back at his staring seamen on the beach: "Yah, and as for you, you mangy cattle rustlers, scared to go with me, eh? Well, stick to your bulldoggin', you misbegotten recruits for Boot Hill! By the time you're picked up by a ship, you'll be able to use your beards for lassos!"(* A British steamer came by Easter Island six months later, to pick up wool and hides, and took the crew to Sydney, Australia, where they were able to get transportation to Puget Sound, Washington.)

Capt. Benson set a course for Magna Reva in the Gambler Group, 1600 miles distant. On Oct. 23rd the lifeboat was floating in a calm sea off Riki tea Village of this island, completing the voyage in 16 days, thus averaging 100 miles a day.

Curious natives paddled out in outrigger-canoes with an invitation from the Catholic priest of Riki tea to come ashore and rest and eat, but Nels brusquely refused, sending back a hastily scribbled note which read: "Thanks.

Sorry, but I can't. I'm running a race against time. Those human sharks in America will gobble up my home if I don't get a move on!"

And a real man-eating shark followed the lifeboat on its course from Manga Reva to Tahiti, 900 miles away. Finally, outraged at this lurking symbol of misfortune, Nels lashed a sharpened marlin-pike to the end of the oar, and

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when the brute slid up astern again, he rammed it hard into the unblinking gruesome eye. There was a mighty splash, and the shark was seen no more.

On November 5 Nels steered the lifeboat through the Taunoa reef passage into Papeete's lagoon harbor, completing, from the scene of the original shipwreck, an amazing open-boat voyage of more than 3500 miles!

He rushed to the American Consul.

"I'm taking off tonight in my lifeboat for San Francisco!" he shouted. "I'll need some money and provisions!"

"The steamer Moana is due in three weeks," the Consul advised him. "I suggest that you wait for this vessel."

For the next three weeks, while awaiting the arrival of the Moana, Nels was out in the channel between Tahiti and Moorea in a native sailing canoe, manned by stalwart Tahitians, maintaining his reputation as "The Fishing Skipper." He landed a number of tiger sharks, a marlin and a broadbill, none of then record catches, but of great personal satisfaction to himself.

"Fishing keeps my nerves in shape while waiting for that damned Moana," he informed the Consul, when the latter suggested he get all the rest he could after his harrowing ordeal.

When the M oana did anchor in Papeete's lagoon, Nels had the lifeboat lifted aboard.

"If this old hooker sinks, I'll still have my own boat to sail on to California!" he shouted hoarsely.

Then he galloped up the gangway, followed by Simoneau and Drinkwater, waving and bellowing to the astonished mailboat's skipper. "Push this old cheese-box for all she can stand! I've got to get to San Francisco in record time! The building-and-loan vultures are roosting on the eaves of my house!"

He waved the wrapped rod and reel.

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"But this is my ace-in-the-hole ... and this too!" He held up the Pocket Ben watch.

Landing in San Francisco, Capt.

Benson's first dutiful visit was to Sanders and Kichman the shipping company of the El Dorado, to make an official report of its sinking.

But they had already collected insurance on her, and they had another vessel awaiting his command. And for a bonus they let him keep as a souvenir the lost schooner's lifeboat. He, also, was given a few weeks leave for some sport fishing.

Did Nels arrive back in America in time to save his home?

The building-and-loan company hadn't even sent him a notice of delinquent payments!

Did Nels sell his "rod and reel and watch rights" to the companies for advertising purposes?

Unfortunately, no. With the typical hard-headedness of a seafarer, he demanded too exorbitant a price, and eventually they lost interest.

Nevertheless, we must admit that Capt. Benson's unreasonable distrust of mortgage companies had compelled him to make one of the most remarkable voyages in the history of shipwrecked seamen, aided and abetted by a Meek-type rod and reel and a cheap, nickel-plated Pocket Ben watch.

The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

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Summertime fun is always a welcome change of pace! Russ Bean, RachelWynne,and Valerie Burham create a quick puppet show at the front desk.

From the Museum Store Hand Puppets A Big Hit! With summer upon us and our children and grandchildren at home what could be better entertainment than to set up a puppet show? Your Museum Store now carries the Folkmanis line of hand puppets in every maritime character or oceanic creature available. We have a pirate puppet (that looks suspiciously like Johnny Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie), blonde, brunette and redhead mermaids, Great White sharks, stingrays, crabs, octopi and fur bearing mammals that are associated with the China fur trade, i.e. otters and beavers.

There is even a small sea serpent to frighten unwary sailors far from land.

This line of hand puppets never ceases to amaze me with the extremely high quality of workmanship and the materials used in construction. The fur seems real, soft and very like the creature it represents, the skin of the stingray glistens in an undulating pattern just like the real thing. As you can tell, I really love this line of children's hand puppets.

As a matter of fact, so do other adults, The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

as is evidenced by the number of mature folk who stop and play with them in the store. Stop by your Store to see these great puppets or call for more details and price quotes. Remember, as a valued member of the Columbia River Maritime Museum you will always receive a 10% discount on all purchases. Your Museum Store Manager - Rachel Wynne

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Museum Staff: Russ Bean Celerino Bebeloni Ann Bronson Valerie Burham B etsey Ellerbroek Helen Hon! Kathy Johnson Arline LaMear Jim Nyberg Jerry Ostermiller David Pearson Deb Pyle Lulu Quinn Nathan Sandel Molly Saranpaa Hampton Scudder Jeff Smith Cynthia Svensson Patric Valade Eddie vega Rachel Wynne

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News and Notes This season over 16 large oceangoing cruise ships will call upon Astoria for day tours. Visitors have been enjoying the historic tours, our emerging downtown shopping, and of course a visit to the maritime museum.

When two of these giant ships arrive on the same day, one of the ships anchors out and tender in passengers, dropping them off at the Museum plaza. The next cruise ship to anchor off the Museum will be September 25 th • Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who have helped welcome these visitors ashore.

This fall, Oregon's premier bicycling event, Cycle Oregon, will be following the path of Lewis and Clark out to the coast. The finish line, which will welcome over 2,000 cyclists from across the country, will be at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. We are honored to be able to host the Cycle Oregon Event on the waterfront directly to the east of

the Museum. The festivities will begin around 1:00pm on Saturday September 17th •

The Museum's dedicated crew of Lightship Volunteers got a complete tour of the Lightship while she was in drydock.

Special thanks go to Sundial Marine for making this a possibility in their busy shipyard schedule. A great time was had by all. Seeing the Columbia out of the water provided an opportunity to appreciate her true size and scale.

The QuarterDeck, ro/. 31 No. 1-2

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The Museum's website has had some impressive new upgrades. A new live video web camera has been installed on the peak of the Museum. A special thanks to Hazel M. Sealy and Dan Sealy for their generous donation of the camera and the countless hours of time donated to get everything running smoothly. The camera offers a stunning 3 60 degree view of Astoria and the Columbia River. Check out the view at crmm.org.

In addition to the web camera we have also added live weather monitoring to the website with our own weather station.

The fully automated system is installed on the 17th Street Pier just outside of the Museum. Now you can watch the winter storms from the comfort of your home and even see how much rain has fallen outside your window.

The Library has also made some exciting advances now available online at our website. With a generous donation from the Judy and Jim Sloan Foundation of the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund the Library catalog is now searchable online.

Researchers can check the shelf listing to see what resources are available in our library from anywhere in the world.

With this we have also launched a new interactive shipwreck database showing the shipwrecks at the mouth of the Columbia River in collaboration with MapBureau.com through an interactive timeline. To see both of these new features go the Museum's webpage at crmm.org and follow the Curatorial link to the Museum's Library page.Visit crmm.org and let us know what you think.

The QuarterDeck, vol. 31 No. 1-2

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Navigating the Past summer day camp will be a fantastic adventure for participants this summer, thanks to a $3,400 grant from U.S . Bancorp. With these funds our June and July campers will be transported to North Head Lighthouse for a tour, explore Cape Disappointment State Park, and feel the rush of the wind on their face as they ride in the jet boat Outrageous. August participants will learn about archaeology as they simulate a dig at Fort Stevens State Park. The children will be treated to a special experience as they take part in a cooking class at the Duncan Law Seafood Cooking School. Culmination for the August camp will also be aboard the jet boat. U.S. Bank has been an avid patron of our education programs and wc thank them for their generous financial support.

A special thanks to the Oregon Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society for helping to re-upholster the Lightship's galley furniture while the ship was at drydock.

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The Quarterdeck Volume 31, No. 1-2 Summer 2005 The Quarterdeck is published by the Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, Oregon 97103.

Tel: (503)325-2323 Fax: (503)325-2331 www.crmm.org Editor: David Pearson Editorial Staff: Betsey Ellerbroek Jerry Ostermiller Molly Saranpaa Jeff Smith

Printed by Printgraphics Beaverton, Oregon

A huge thanks to the Friends of Columbia River Maritime Museum, who for the second year in a row, have contributed a very generous donation of $3,000 to the Museum's education programs. Their donation has assisted us in offering unique hands-on experiences for children in schools in five counties as well as for families visiting the Museum.

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Education Programs Continue to Grow We would be remiss ifwe didn't share one of our greatest sources of mail with our members. These are two examples from the hundreds of letters we receive from students every year regarding our Museum in the Schools programs. This school year we presented 517 programs to 582 classes reaching over 13,000 students.

from

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Membership New Members September 16, 2004June 28, 2005 Statesman Carol Berry Gerry Dean Elston Sally Gidley Partick Harrison Karen Runkel Edward Smith Melvin Sommer Ensign/Individual Alice Codd Shayne Erickson Rosemarie Hallin Carol Kerfoot Lisa Mannery Niki Norman Jeff Olson Judith Osthoff Richard Portwood Kim Werst Crew/Family Michael and Linnea Alley Ted and Jean Austin Ray and Joan Azinger Stan and Lois Barber Mary Ann and Michael Barton Paolo Benzan Cindy and Bernie Buckle David and Mary Lou Buntz John Clark and Diane Stout Davy and Larry Craig David and Kimber Eckman Jake Erickson and Kathryn Streicher Robert and Patricia Eterno Matthew Grauff Graham and Barbara Hicks Bill and Penelope Higgins Mel and Bea Hirahara Linda Johnsen and Cole Augstine Shawn and Marie Karns Kathryn and Douglas King Barry Kolek Ray and Suzy Lafrance Annette and Scott Lewis Dick McCoy Drew and Maili McDaniel Russ and Michele Mcgillivray Steven and Debra Means Robert Meehan and Ginger Edwards Lindsay and Michael Minor The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

R I V E R _ M _A R _I T I M E

Lyn and Shawn O'Handley Christopher Paddon and Caren Black Josie Pepper Dean and Andrea Perez Juanita J. Prince and Billie A. Tooke Lee Reddick and Sandra King Dr. and Mrs. Robert Rittel Phillip Roche and Sharon Schomer Roger Sheldon and Family Bill and Debbie Sherman Lynn and Fred Smith Thatcher Family Charles and Lorena Thurman P.R. Tooke and Kirk D. Terry Ron and Vicki Westerlund Donald and Jean Yennello Helmsman Don and Patricia Abrahams Russell Bowen and Brigid Engstrom Stephen Butsko and Wendy Hartman Glen Cross and Margaret Simmons-Cross Jeanne and Mike Crowley Don and Rona Davis Hal and Terry Denison Vincent and Grace Evans Daniel and Eva Ferrell Lance Ford and Mary Jansma Rick and Cathy Gardner Lonnie and Sheila Harper Margaret Jane Harris Mr. and Mrs. Dave B. Hubbard Edward and Mary Ann Kerber Kevin and Lynn Kreig Kathy and Laurence McEathron Michael and Diane O'Meagher Wendall Oswalt Rick and Bonnie Ryding Roger Searle Barry and Hazel Schlesinger Antoine Simmons Jerry and Marlene Vanderpool Ben and Robin Vose Jack and Shelley Wendt Kathleen and Ted Widger Jeanette Zaman Boatswain Peter Ehrman James and Karen Flint Haglund, Kelley, Horngren & Jones, LLP Bill Henningsgaard

_M U S E U M

Alfredo and Heather Julian Riley Keown Hugh and Merry Riley Barbara Spreng and Patty Page Pilot Capt. and Mrs. Dan Jordan Capt. Tyler Matthew Pier 11 Navigator Michael and Elizabeth Hayward

Increased Memberships September 16, 2004June 28, 2005 Ensign/Individual Membership Michael and Angela Ballard Nigel Cundy Dolores Ducich Doug Gordenier Stuart Rideout Crew/Family Membership Mr. and Mrs. Don Budde Mr. and Mrs. John B. Crowell, Jr. Tim Dalrymple Larry Douglas Mr. and Mrs. Paul Forrer Mr. and Mrs. William Garvin Kaye Mulvey Annie Oliver Helmsman Donna and Leo Bauer Mr. and Mrs. Ike Bay Capt. Donald N. Dackins Daniel N. David Michael Driscoll Robert Earle Kathleen Edgar Floyd Fredrickson Harold Lampi Captain and Mrs. Warren G. Leback Earl and Mary Rogness Clifford N. Stephens Gloria Swire Sarah and Kim Townsend Mr. and Mrs. James Trofitter Frank A. Bauman Boatswain Joyce Bondietti John Bunnell Jim and Kay Cobb George Fulton Joan Gamble Richard and Daphne Green Patricia Hartle Pat J. Jenkins

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Mr. and Mrs. Mike Killion Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Larsen Mr. and Mrs. William C. Lawrence, III Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mestrich Joan Miller James Nelson Larry Nordholm Mr. and Mrs. Tom Petersen Mr. and Mrs. Donald Skinner John Vitas Bob and Aletha Westerberg Pilot Mr. and Mrs. Victor L. Fox Lylla and Jim Gaebel Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garman Dwayne and Marjorie Huddleston Donald and Marilyn Kessler Heather Reynolds and Mark Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Richardson Capt. Thran Riggs Capt. and Mrs. Lonny Rodgers Navigator Marcella L. Hatch Mr. and Mrs. Brnce North Captain and Mrs. C. S. Wetherell Hood River Distillers Captain Mr. and Mrs. George F. Beall Mr. and Mrs. Martin Nygaard

Welcome Back to Membership September 16, 2004June 28, 2005 Statesman Ann Parks Ensign/Individual Membership Center for Wooden Boats Elmer Engman Betty Gill Daniel Hawken Crew/Family Membership Bill and Kim Carter Noel and Ashley Des Marteau Mr. and Mrs. Ross Fearey Moria Golub and Joe Maxey Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Hirsch Tom and Connie Hutson

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Mr. and Mrs. Orlo Johnson Steve and Debbie Mansfield Zell Ostermiller Grant and Mary Polk William Sacherek and Liselotte Lamerdin Mr. and Mrs. Peter Strandberg David and Linda Thomas Peter Wilcox Helmsman Bud Carpenter and Caroline Weubbrn Connie Chester Arthur and Laurie Dolan Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Flynn Mr. and Mrs. Michael Leamy Tim Martinez Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schroeder Sharon and Oliver Waldman Boatswain Dr. and Mrs. James Gilbaugh Paula Marineau Anthony and Lorraine Nailor Pilot ILWU Local #21 Navigator Michael and Sharon Malone Admiral Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. DeArmond

Memorial Donations September 16, 2004 June 28, 2005 Mervin Andersen Ben Bay Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Hjorten Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Johnson Eugene Knutsen and Peggy Person Donald Link Violet Paulson Jack and Madeline Strickfaden Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Teppola Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Weaver Louise Arzabala Gurie O'Connor David Baker Crew of the USS Knapp DD-653 Admiral Barbey Leonard and Hilde Kaufman Clarence Barendse

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Mr. and Mrs . David D. Corkill Jon Westerholm Anna Basel Ella P. Hill Florence Belkna11 Gurie O'Connor Roma Bigby Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Hauke. Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Larry E. Johnson Eugene Knutsen and Peggy Person John and Sally Laine Larry and Cheryl Lockett Captain and Mrs. James T. Maher Ann and Craig Meyer Jerry Ostermiller and Lynne Johnson David and Susie Romppanen Helmi Romppanen Nelzel Carl and Sarah Snow June Spence Mr. and Mrs. Dick Thompson Conrad and Kim Timmerman Ron and Vicki Westerlund Paul Byrne Crew of the USS Knapp DD-653 Richard Cameron Patricia Drake Eileen Thompson Lloyd Classen Allan Maki Ca11t. Raymond Collins Roy and Dorothy Boyle Kay and Evelyn Bredleau Capt. and Mrs. Joseph Bruneau Mr. and Mrs. Allen V. Cellars Mr. and Mrs. John L. Christie, Jr. Bill and Deborah Cook Capt. & Mrs. Dale A. Dickinson Donald Fastabend Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Hauke, Sr. Robert Hauke Ella P. Hill Dr. and Mrs. Richard Kettelkamp Joan Kroll Linda Krugel Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Krugel Mike and Donna Kuratli Duncan and Flora Law Mr. and Mrs. John W Liedel Mr. and Mrs. Toivo Mustonen Larry and Avelia Normand Jerry Ostermiller and Lynne Johnson John and Juanita Price Phoebe Ridman

M A R I T I M E

M U S E U M _______

Marilyn Milburn Hugh Ferguson Pat and Peter Roscoe Mr. and Mrs. George Schmeltzer Robert and Dorothy Scott Mr. and Mrs. George E. Siverson Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Snell Mr. and Mrs. Michael Soderberg June Spence Mr. and Mrs . Harold Sutlief Nancy Walker Columbia House Condominium Homeowners Assoc.

Richard Comer Marcella L. Hatch Jack Dant Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Tevis Tom Doig Mr. and Mrs. Norman Forney Edmond Ellis Mr. & Mrs. Louis Kennedy, Jr. Erland Fahlstrom Mr. and Mrs. David D. Corkill Mabel Herold Vern and Gloria Larson Mr. and Mrs. Toivo Mustonen Arthur E. Farr George and Janet Emmanuel Mr. and Mrs. Graham T. Hunt Deutsche Asset Management James and Joyce West Helen Fastabend Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Johnson Gloria Fick Kaarlo and Katherine Karna Eugene Knutsen and Peggy Person Bart Oja and Family Dr. Robert Friedrich Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mestrich CaQt. Robert Gibson Capt. and Mrs. Joseph Bruneau Miriam Goodman Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Zafiratos Jane Goudy Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gadsby, Jr. Jerry Ostermiller and Lynne Johnson Rod Grider Capt. and Mrs. Joseph Bruneau Mary Lou Haggren Mr. and Mrs. Theodore T. Bugas Mr. and Mrs. Allen V. Cellars Mr. and Mrs. Ronald C. Collman

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Mr. and Mrs . Robert E. Frame George Fulton Donna M. Gustafson Bob and Virginia Kearney Eugene Knutsen and Peggy Person Eldon Korpela Joe and Edith Miller Susan Orr Harry Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Hugh A. Seppa June Spence Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Zafiratos Heikkala Harold Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Zafiratos Donald Rodney Mr. and Mrs. Norman Forney Ca11t. Paul Jackson Charlotte Jackson Helen Johnson Ella P. Hill Howard Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Toivo Mustonen Dr. and Mrs. David I. Williams Ann C. Johnson Phil Nock Jennie Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Oja Newton Keck Eva Moore Olga Kerekes Robert and Dianne Palmrose Mildred Kilburn Mr. & Mrs. Louis Kennedy, Jr. JackM. Kirk Jeffrey D. and James A. Kirk Esty Knutsen Elva Andersen Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Bakkensen Ben Bay Mr. and Mrs. Bob Canessa Mr. and Mrs. David D. Corkill Mr. and Mrs. Clarence 0.

Dreyer Bank of Astoria Del and Cheri Folk George Fulton Bill Henningsgaard Mr. and Mrs. William R. King Eldon Korpela Mike and Donna Kuratli Donald Link The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

!------------------ _ ___ C O L U _ M B _I A R _I V E Nancy Lowe Ed Lundholm Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Lundholm Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mestrich Bill and Sara Orr Mr. and Mrs. Ward Paldanius Mr. and Mrs. Larry Perkins Carroll and Lydia Seabold Mr. and Mrs. Hugh A. Seppa Mr. and Mrs. George E. Siverson June Spence Robert and Mary Swingle John Ten Eyck Mr. and Mrs. Dick Thompson Lou Ann Thorsness Nancy Thorsness Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Weaver Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Zafiratos Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Ziessler Edwin A. Lahti Lorna Kairala Judi Seago Dr. and Mrs. David I. Williams Mitzi Latourette Wells Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Tevis Jim Lavis Mr. and Mrs. Elmer T. Hjorten James W. Leach Lori Leach and Brian Powers Doris Link Elva Andersen Mr. and Mrs. George Crandall Mr. and Mrs. Clarence 0.

Dreyer Mr. and Mrs. William R. King Eugene Knutsen and Peggy Person Jack and Madeline Strickfaden Nancy Lowe Mr. and Mrs. Wesley J. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gannaway Eugene Knutsen and Peggy Person Capt. and Mrs. James T. Maher John McGowan Jerry Ostermiller and Lynne Johnson June Spence Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Zafiratos Nancy and Eugene Lowe Mr. and Mrs. Marsh Hoffman Ralph Mace Don and Donna Speed Georgia Maki Jon Westerholm The QuarterDeck, Vol. 31 No. 1-2

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Earl Malinen Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Barrows Mr. and Mrs. Elmer T. Hjorten Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Hjorten Eldon Korpela Allan Maki Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Oja Janet Maxon Edith Leslie Capt. Kenneth McAll!in Capt. and Mrs. Joseph Bruneau Annabell Miller Frank Frost Margo and Brad Jacobsen Mr. & Mrs. Louis Kennedy, Jr. Maude C. Nilsen Nikki Stuart Director Virginia Lee Morell Marcella L. Hatch Abraham Morrison Crew of the USS Knapp DD-653 Harold C. Nelson Mr. and Mrs. Elmer T. Hjorten Columbia River Gillnetter Kristian Nielson Dr. and Mrs. David I. Williams Rall!h Nordstrom Bart Oja and Family Michael Olsen Mr. and Mrs. Norman Forney Grant Orr At-Sea Processors Association Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Blair Joyce Cameron Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Coggins Steven and Marilyn Dahlmeier Mr. and Mrs. Clarence 0. Dreyer Donna Mary Dukich Donald Fastabend Ed and Charlotte Fearey George Fulton Mr. and Mrs. Donald Helligso Harold Hendricksen Mr. and Mrs. Dave B. Hubbard Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Reed Hubbard Charles and Ruth Johnson Harriet Johnson Bessie Justen Kenneth & Esther Lampi Mr. and Mrs. Bob Landwehr Paul Lydolph and Joyce Benson Edna Magnuson Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mestrich Mindy Pin Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Rainey Bob Rakita and Ingrid Nielsen

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Helen Robnett Mr. and Mrs. Frank Royston Frank and Betty Satterwhite Carroll and Lydia Seabold June Spence Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Story Marlene Taylor Lou Ann Thorsness Nancy Thorsness Carol Welch Ron and Vicki Westerlund Eben Parker Allan Maki Lucille Perkins Edith Leslie Cal!t. Ed Quinn Capt. and Mrs. Joseph Bruneau Frank Ragusa Crew of the USS Knapp DD-653 Sandra Ramsdell Melton, Julie, Keifer, Kyle and Jared Lucore Donald Riswick Eldon Korpela Allan Maki June Moskovita Jon Westerholm Columbia River Gillnetter Carol Rogers Gurie O'Connor Nick Rusinovich Elaine Rusinovich Capt. Stanley Sayers Capt. & Mrs. Joseph Bruneau David Seaberg Patricia Hallin George Shaver Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gadsby, Jr. Dottie Sorensen Mr. and Mrs. Dick Thompson Helen Sorkki Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bishop, III Mary Ann SI!icka Allan Maki Richard Steele Libby Holden Harry Swanson Crew of the USS Knapp DD-653 Claude Swingle Mr. and Mrs. Bob Canessa Joe Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Warren Mattson Odea! Tillson Mr. and Mrs. Steve Johnson La Verna Tindall

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Edith Leslie Ellen Tobin Patricia Hallin Raymond Torkelson Allan Maki Carl Utzinger Mr. and Mrs. Wesley J. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Frame Dave Walker Becky Belangy Clifford N. Stephens Ruth Watson Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Barrows James Wells Mr. & Mrs. Louis Kennedy, Jr. Kathleen Williams Mr. and Mrs. Donald Magnusen Mrs. Gary Winlund Dr. and Mrs. David I. Williams Arden Wright Hugh Ferguson Marilyn Milburn Phoebe Ridman Chris Zafiratos Joe and Gwen Bakkensen Donald and Marilyn Kessler Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Zafiratos

In honor of..

S. and R. Weinberg Marilyn and Seymore Schuster

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COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM 1792 MARINE DRIVE ASTORIA, OREGON 97103 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Astoria, Oregon Permit No. 340