History is relative in the sense that what seems ancient to some seems like just the other day to others, including me. Here's an example --- a certificate commemorating a July 1962 raft trip down the Des Moines River issued to David Threlkeld, who donated it recently to the Lucas County Historical Society collection. If you're from Lucas County and read the names, most of them will be familiar.
I was a year older than the Explorer Scout participants and a failed Cub Scout --- so not a participant as I prepared to enter my junior year at Russell High School. All but one of these students --- Doug Dickinson --- were students at Chariton High School. Doug was Russell's representative.
The trip, unlikely to occur these days because of insurance and other concerns, resulted in a couple of reports in Chariton newspapers. Doug's parents edited and published The Russell Union-Tribune, but I didn't find a report there, although there may well have been one. In any case, here's the report from The Chariton Leader of July 17, 1962:
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Nine members of Scout Explorer Post 149 of Chariton are afloat this week on the Des Moines River --- hoping to make the 100 to 150 mile run on the river from Des Moines to Ottumwa by Saturday.
"Outside of saying they're short of ice cream," one of the parents remarked, "the boys are doing alright."
Ice cream, however, hasn't been one of their commodities and a nice catch of fish Sunday proved not to be among the items on the menu either.
The nine --- all 16 years of age or under --- were put afloat on a raft 16 foot long and 8 foot wide about 9 a.m. Sunday at Des Moines. The raft was made by the boys from 10 large barrels and boards.
The raft was properly christened as it glided onto the river. The youth have attached a "skull" near the flagstaff and have named the craft the "USS Numbskull."
Aboard are Explorer Scouts Tom Martin, son of the Frank Martins; Gary Baze, son of the Joe Bazes; Rick Kerr, son of the Richard Kerrs; Jerry Willis, son of the Don Willises; Jerry Foster, son of the Lyle Fosters; Marion Palmer, son of the Jack Palmers; David Threlkeld, son of the Dick Threlkelds; Dwaine Halferty, son of the Dennis Halfertys, all of Chariton; and Doug Dickinson, son of the Leonard Dickinsons of Russell.
Five men are taking turns riding on the raft each day and last night some of the parents drove north of Chariton and Knoxville to see the crew.
Three of the boys met the parents; the other six were on the raft, perched on a sand bar. The sand bars, incidentally, are regular tie-up spots. They hold the raft from slipping downstream while the voyagers sleep.
With the boys Sunday, Monday and today is Ray Webb, advisor of the post. Tomorrow, the Rev. Clarence Newby of Chariton will go aboard to relieve Webb. On Thursday, Bob Sims, associate post advisor will join the boys. Friday will be Dick Threlkeld's turn. Webb will return on Saturday and Don Willis will take over Sunday --- providing the raft and boys haven't reached Ottumwa or a distance sufficient for calling an end to the exploration.
Reporting back to the parents after a visit with the boys last night, Frank Martin related this information:
The raft became lodged on logs Sunday. The only way to proceed was to cut a hole in the craft, which the boys did, dislodging the barrels, boards and boys.
Fishing was good Sunday, Martin commented, "but they didn't get a chance to eat their catch."
The youths caught a 4-pound cat, a 5-pound carp and some smaller catfish. They put them on a stringer, trailing them at the end of the raft. When eating time came Monday, the fish and stringer were gone.
Cutting the hole in the raft to clear the logs Sunday, Martin said, has produced a leak in one of the barrels. Now the boys are cautiously keeping weight off the leaky side.
And, all the boys have been dunked in the river. A mass dunk occurred while they were guiding the raft in shallow water toward shore. They jumped into the water but found it wasn't shallow.
The raft is expected to cross beneath Highway 14 north of Knoxville tonight where parents will be given a report on the third day afloat.
One report is expected for certain. It's the same one received Sunday and Monday: "The mosquitoes are biting."
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The Leader of July 24 contained a photograph of the scouts and a paragraph noting their safe return to Lucas County. Unfortunately, the microfilm image of that photo is of such poor quality that no one is recognizable.
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