Pacific Crest Trail Stories ~ Chapter Interludes |
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Contents |
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Story 3 ~ John Bartholomew Hurley Invention ~ Page 52 |
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I have been requested to submit a few notes on my father to help clear up an historical misunderstanding. Since my eyes aren't what they used to be, my nurse, Helen D. Wiggenbottom, has graciously consented to write out the truth of the matters involving the Great South Western Lumber, Cordwood, Railroad Tie, and Matchstick Corporation, and my father, John Bartholomew Hurley.
Poor Dad He was a great visionary slandered by idle, wicked, tongues. I was a rather young girl to have remembered his famous days up north in the timber camps of the Northwest where he was known as the greatest log skidder that ever followed a team of oxen. But, years later, one Odis E. Hollewagner called upon me to reassure me of this known fact.
I'm not sure what the reasons were that we moved to the desert. I suspect it was for health, and not what others have implied. Dad did try farming, which of course was far beneath his abilities and talents, with little success. So most of the trouble that followed should rightfully be assigned to Thadeus A. Bancroft of the Desert Queen Trading and Mercantile Company.
My father owed him a trifling amount which we were temporarily unable to pay. I'm sure dad would not have instigated stock sales at this time if it had not been for this problem. And, I resent the implication that we lived off of other people's money for many years.
The idea was sound! It could have been the start of a commercial empire. Even the dumbest of farmers could see the potential when my father took him outside and had him look up to the forest on top of Black Mountain. Even the dumber than dumb could realize the profits that could be made supplying lumber to a region starved for building materials. And even if they couldn't comprehend the technicalities of the Hurley Gravity Method, they all were anxious to be a part of this daring and farsighted endeavor.
Unfortunately this excitement forced dad to rely on the inadequate draft horses of C. WetheraIl, M. G. Aldrich, S. I. Monagham, and a H. Smith, instead of waiting until he could acquire the weight and brawn of oxen, which were scarce in desert country. The suggestion that J. B. Hurley, as it was so crudely put, "Put up, or shut up," was the reason for this untimely trial of what was in reality a genius bit of engineering.
As I understand the technical details, two lead horses were to guide a log down a steep slope, while six more acted as a counterweight by also pulling downhill on a line run through a system of pulleys, which was supposed to keep the load from running away.
I am positive that if those farmers had waited for my father's supervision, the catastrophe that followed would not have happened.
It also is extremely unfortunate that Dad was in consultation with the company secretary this fateful day, and that Mr. T. Bancroft thought there was a prowler in his wife's bedroom, for sadly, this was the moment this great guiding spirit's light was dimmed forever.
Sincerely,
Abegail Abernathy Hurley
Poor Dad He was a great visionary slandered by idle, wicked, tongues. I was a rather young girl to have remembered his famous days up north in the timber camps of the Northwest where he was known as the greatest log skidder that ever followed a team of oxen. But, years later, one Odis E. Hollewagner called upon me to reassure me of this known fact.
I'm not sure what the reasons were that we moved to the desert. I suspect it was for health, and not what others have implied. Dad did try farming, which of course was far beneath his abilities and talents, with little success. So most of the trouble that followed should rightfully be assigned to Thadeus A. Bancroft of the Desert Queen Trading and Mercantile Company.
My father owed him a trifling amount which we were temporarily unable to pay. I'm sure dad would not have instigated stock sales at this time if it had not been for this problem. And, I resent the implication that we lived off of other people's money for many years.
The idea was sound! It could have been the start of a commercial empire. Even the dumbest of farmers could see the potential when my father took him outside and had him look up to the forest on top of Black Mountain. Even the dumber than dumb could realize the profits that could be made supplying lumber to a region starved for building materials. And even if they couldn't comprehend the technicalities of the Hurley Gravity Method, they all were anxious to be a part of this daring and farsighted endeavor.
Unfortunately this excitement forced dad to rely on the inadequate draft horses of C. WetheraIl, M. G. Aldrich, S. I. Monagham, and a H. Smith, instead of waiting until he could acquire the weight and brawn of oxen, which were scarce in desert country. The suggestion that J. B. Hurley, as it was so crudely put, "Put up, or shut up," was the reason for this untimely trial of what was in reality a genius bit of engineering.
As I understand the technical details, two lead horses were to guide a log down a steep slope, while six more acted as a counterweight by also pulling downhill on a line run through a system of pulleys, which was supposed to keep the load from running away.
I am positive that if those farmers had waited for my father's supervision, the catastrophe that followed would not have happened.
It also is extremely unfortunate that Dad was in consultation with the company secretary this fateful day, and that Mr. T. Bancroft thought there was a prowler in his wife's bedroom, for sadly, this was the moment this great guiding spirit's light was dimmed forever.
Sincerely,
Abegail Abernathy Hurley
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