Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

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uTmtaur? “If we could only find a big rock, it would be the greatest joke I ever heard of. Won’t it be sport to see Uncle George dig?” Of course we can find a rock. You don’t suppose there’s a seashore without a rock near by, do you? Get that paper out and lets look at it once more. We may have a chance to bury it later this evening.” 1 he two boys, Ned and Roy, who were speaking in low tones, were walking some distance behind the covered camp wagon on the way to. their annual place of camp¬ ing. This camping place was near the coast at the edge of a great pine forest, solemn and full of murmuring voices. Pastures filled with birches, which gleamed silvery in the shades of the summer evening, stretched to the one side, while on the other a little river almost hidden by trees leaped and rushed on to the seashore less than half a mile away. Ned opened a small, hardwood box, bound with iron bands. The corners of the box had been tipped with iron, as could be seen in one or two places; but the whole thing was so covered with rust, shells, and sand hardened into stone that it was difficult to tell of what it was made. Plainly, the box had been buried in wet sand on the sea¬ shore for many years. It contained a folded sheet of parchment every bit as old and worn as the box itself. On the center of this parchment three lines were drawn, and beneath this in a half-illegible hand the following di¬ rections were written: “From the Great Rock to the Eastward, twelve paces. To the North, four paces, There Digge.” “Isn’t that great!” Roy exclaimed under his breath. If I found that I d spend half my life looking for the Great Rock;’ and the other half digging. It will set Uncle George crazy.” “I sa w it in that curiosity shop in Broadway a dozen times, but it just struck me when we were getting ready for this trip. There’s the thing to play a little joke on Uncle George with, so I bought it,” answered Ned. “I tell you how we will do it,” said Roy. “We’ll slip out tonight and run down to the beach when the tide is out, and bury it in the sand with one corner sticking out, so they will be sure to find it in the morning. The tide will wash our footprints and all the marks of our digging away.” “That’s it exactly,” Ned whispered. When the boy’s attentions turned to the wagon again they found that they were being watched by their two sisters. They were at a loss as to what to do, but finally decided to tell them their plans, and make the girls prom¬ ise to keep the secret and not even tell their mother. They succeeded, as all were ready to see a joke played on Uncle George. Their father and uncle were riding upon the front seat with the driver. Their uncle was a wealthy man with so little to do that he devoted almost his entire time to the 25

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(Eonatrurttim of % marmot Utrrlraa Station On the shores of Tomales Bay, in a beautiful spot one mile from Marshall, is built the plant of the Marconi Wireless. Little did people ever think that a wireless would be built in that vicinity, but in February of 1913 the Marconi people showed themselves and bought about twelve hundred acres of fine dairy land from a prominent Marshall dairyman. This place fronts on Tomales Bay for about a mile, on which, in a beautiful spot, the Marconi built their plant. People would be surprised to see what they have accomplished in just one year’s time. On March of that year with a few hired helpers they broke the ground for their roads with plows, scrapers or any other thing that could be used. After this they hired many men and teams and started to work on the hotel and towers. It was impossible to accommodate all of these people in this vicinity, so the Marconi people hired a cooking and lodging department, called a commissary. All the people working on this construction were com¬ pelled to board and lodge there. Meanwhile the towers and buildings were going for¬ ward. One would first observe a massive hotel built of concrete with tiling roof. It would take too long to de¬ scribe the construction of it, but it is built of steel with cement walls and pillars and finished inside with polished oak. There are about forty rooms in this structure. Much labor and material have been furnished by Petaluma peo¬ ple and firms. Northwest a short distance from the hotel aie built two beautiful concrete, tile-roofed cottages, which are to be occupied by the superintendents who will oversee the operating of the wireless plant. On a cliff back of the two cottages they built their operating build¬ ing of concrete with tiled roof overlooking Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean, “A most beautiful sight.” Back of the operating building in a southeasterly direc¬ tion are built what are called masts, seven in number. T. hey are three hundred feet high and are tied with cables to an anchor cemented on the ground. It was a fine sight to see these big masts built, as they were put up in half sections of ten feet long; these sections were hoisted up by a donkey engine to men who were in a square cage and did the bolting, placing and tying of the cables. On the top of these masts are stretched two lines, which are called aerial lines. In a northern direction from the operating building are built so far six steel tow¬ ers, also constructed of steel sections, somewhat on the plan of a windmill tower. These are one hundred and twenty-five feet high and are used as balancing lines. South of the hotel they have built a concrete, tile-roofed power house, where they generate their electricity, and also a heating system to supply all of their other buildings. Their work is drawing very close to a finish and the wireless plant will soon be in operation. C. MAGGETTI, T6. 24

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collection of antiqu es, so the boys knew their plan would work to perfection. They succeeded in finding a large rock near the shore and in burying the box unnoticed. The next morning they sat on the hillside and slyly watched the two men walking up the beach. Uncle George discovered the corner of the half hidden box. He dug it up in triumph, opened it, read part, and rushed back to the tent, where with the open parchment in his hand he shouted, “Stir up lively, boys! There’s a find! From the great rock to eastward, twelve paces,”he read. “There’s the rock. Get the compass, someone. Bring along the shovel, boys. It’s a pirate’s treasure, sure. No breakfast till we find it.” The boys asked questions as innocently as they possi¬ bly could. Uncle George had already paced off the ground when they arrived with the shovels. “Here’s the spot,” he cried. “All pure sand. The easiest digging in the world. Give me a shovel!” Uncle George began the digging himself. Although he dug quite a hole there was no sign of a treasure. The father took his turn at digging next. The boys almost died with suppressed laughter to see their father digging for the treasure where none had been buried. But they dared make no sign. They took their turn next, and it was a great relief for them to step into the hole, for they had been afraid every minute that they should burst into a fit of laughter. After they had had their turn Uncle George took his again, but their father refused to dig any more. “I’m not used to digging,” he said, “and I’m sore al¬ ready. You had better be cautious too, George, and let the boys dig.” Uncle George laughted at the warning, and worked manfully when his turn came again. But in the midst of it, he dropped the shovel with an expression of pain, and placed both hands on the small of his back. “I’m afraid I have wrenched my weak back,” he groaned. “I should have taken your advice, but it’s too late now.” The boy’s father assisted his brother to the tent, and also informed the boys that they must continue the dig¬ ging. They were greatly dismayed, but they would have been still more dismayed if they could have seen how rapidly Uncle George’s back improved when he was hid¬ den within the tent. The boys dug away, but soon be¬ came very sore and tired. “Do you think we had better own up and get out of it that way?” Ned asked. “Own up!” Roy exclaimed, pushing his shovel viciously into the ground. “I’d dig through to China first.” “So would I,” said Ned. “We may as well make the best of a bad bargain and see it through.” The father and Uncle George watched the daily prog¬ ress and said, “You have done nobly, boys. Don’t be dis¬ couraged if you don’t find anything. You know this loose sand often drifts.” One evening the boys overheard part of a conversation that filled them with alarm. Their father and uncle were evidently accusing the cook of having stolen the treasure. “Ned, do you know, I believe they think the cook has stolen the treasure,” Roy whispered. “I’m afraid they do,” Ned replied. “Since he is sus¬ pected the only decent thing we can do is to own up. I’d rather dig a month than to give ourselves away so, but it is not fair to let someone else suffer on our account.” “That’s what I think,” said Roy. “Let’s go and tell right now.” 26