75 years ago
July 13, 1942
Two Raymond youths were burned, one critically, when a vacuum gas tank on a car exploded early Sunday, flinging blazing fuel over the pair, Aberdeen police said.
Stanley Jenkins, 17, was in critical condition today at St. Joseph’s hospital, while Wayne Jones of the Provo Logging company, was at Aberdeen General hospital with less serious injuries.
Police said the accident occurred when the car’s fuel system failed and the boys began pouring gasoline into the vacuum tank to restart the motor. One of the occupants of the car struck a match to furnish light for the operation and the tank exploded.
July 14, 1942
A plywood bathtub — sliver proof and termite proof — has been invented by L.P. Burch, Aberdeen carpenter and boatmaker — something to replace the metal tubs during the war emergency.
Now being examined by the bureau of standards in Washington, D.C., the tub has several advantages over the old metal-porcelain type that has become a standard American fixture. It weighs about 60 pounds compared to 600 for the metal ones and it’s cheaper to make.
Heat-processed enamel is used on the surface, making it as smooth and sliver-proof as the others, Burch said. And termites won’t eat through the formaldehyde glue in the plywood.
50 years ago
July 13, 1967
County commissioners C. Tab Murphy and John Pearsall today confirmed the fact that because of a request by County Entineer C.C. Kirkwood, Mayor Byron Cramer of Westport has been given an indefinite leave of absence from his county employment because the upheaval in Westport is interfering with his duties for the county engineering department.
“We feel there is a conflict here in which Cramer cannot do justice to his position with the county,” said Murphy. “We have had complaints that he was at the Westport city hall at times when he was supposed to be in the field for the county. This is not a permanent lay-off. We have been well satisfied with his work, and he can return when the Westport situation is cleared up and no longer conflicts with his county employment.”
July 14, 1967
Men and equipment poured onto the Quinault Reservation this morning to battle a forest fire that consumed timber and brush on nearly 2,500 acres of land in the Raft River area about 10 miles west of Amanda Park.
The fire, carried by winds over the fire lines last night, spread to lands being logged by Rayonier Inc. in the Crane Creek area and by Taylor Brothers logging. Heavy smoke from the blaze hovered over the Grays Harbor area this morning and dropped ashes onto Aberdeen and Hoquiam.
25 years ago
July 13, 1992
Reiner’s Harbor Honda in Aberdeen has loaned a SeaDoo GTS three-seater to the Ocean Shores Police Department as part of a national program.
The machine will be used to patrol the city’s 23 miles of interconnecting lakes and canals, and also for rescue in the ocean.
Police officers and reservists donned wetsuits Thursday to test the new equipment on Duck Lake.
“I like that!” one reservist said as he pulled up to shore. “It’s a kick.”
“That thing is quick,” said Lt. Mike Styner. “You could outrun anything out there.” The SeaDoo can reach speeds of nearly 40 miles an hour.
July 14, 1992
Jack Evans, who operated Evans Sign Co. in Aberdeen for 35 years, decided to take action following the dramatic surf rescue May 26 of two girls who fell victim to a vicious rip current off Ocean Shores.
Evans, 74, enlisted the help of Daily World cartoonist Bob McCausland of Grayland to illustrate two dozen signs about the dangers that lurk in coastal waters.
The signs will be donated to the cities of Westport and Ocean Shore. They depict a falling silhouette of a boy, slipping off a large log as a wave crashes down. “Danger Floating Logs Can Kill” and “Surf Waders Beware — Current Can Drag You Into Deep Water” are emblazoned on the 3-by-4 1/2 foot signs.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
