❖ 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