The story of George Clifton – Part two

In January 1924, 17-year-old George Clifton began working for Simpson Logging Co. at a camp near Lake Nahwatzel. For the next two years, he kept a sporadic journal of his experiences. This story is taken from that journal. This is the second part of Clifton's story - the first part ran in the Dec. 23 edition of the Shelton-Mason County Journal.

On Sept. 16, 1925, George was blowing whistles. Ed, the timekeeper, has not found it out yet, so I'm still getting choker's wages. We got 18 loads and pay was the most I ever got.

Sept. 18: In the afternoon about 1 o'clock a thunderstorm came up. It rained as hard as I have ever seen it. I was soaking wet in about 10 minutes. The lightning was close. Twice I got shocked when I had ahold of the whistle wire. I got badly scared the second time, as the shock knocked the button out of my hand. We logged all day, tho. A couple of cars got loose and the first one went off the rail. Four ties were cut clear off. A good mess for the train crew.

Sunday, Sept. 20: Worked about 6 hours today to finish up rigging the spar. Went to the Shelton fair. Spent about $8. Got 2 dolls and a box of candy. Gave one doll and a box of candy to Z. R.

Monday, Oct. 5: Was still blowing whistles this morning. Leland fell a back spar across the haulback; this in turn shorted the whistle wire. While I was trying to get the haulback off of it I smashed the forefinger on my left hand. I walked to camp and had it done up. Will lay off a couple days and go to Seattle.

Nov. 26: Thanksgiving, worked all day as usual. At noon, got drunk on whiskey and cider. Had a h___ of a good day in the cookhouse. Going out on the Mulligan we were fighting all the time. Got my shirt tore up and lost my hat. Sure had a glorious time, tho. When I got to the brush I could barely stand up on the logs. Worked like h___, as I sure was ambitious for a while. Began to sober down about 3:00 and then got as lazy as the dickens. Could hardly work when the slack off whistle blew. Came to camp, got dressed up in new suit and then took Z. R. to the show. "Iron Horse" showing, a good log show.

George quit his job at Camp 1 at the end of November, partly because his courtship of Z. R. wasn't going well. He arrived in Seattle on the evening of Dec. 5.

On Dec. 14, he bought a $10.50 gold pen and pencil set for Z.R. "Will have to send them to her regardless of circumstances as I had her initials engraved on them."

On Monday, Dec. 18, he got a job at a lunch counter. They have not started business yet but will be going full blast Tuesday. Am helping cleaning up till they get started and then will wash dishes or wait on counter or something, as the cook and his wife and I are the only 3 going to work there.

Dec. 28: Received a letter from Z.R. saying she had received the present. She sent xxxx-oooo. Well, it's patched up again. For how long? I answered right away. Asked her advice on whether to go back to camp or not.

Oct. 4, 1926: Working in new Camp One now. Got hit on the forehead with the shackle while guiding the transfer. Bled like the dickens but I put some iodine on it and it stopped. Will have a nice scar right in the center of my forehead. Went to Strickland's after supper. Got lit up - celebrated my 19th birthday.

Nov. 8: Got my time this morning and went to town to get it cashed. Drank some moon that Butler got for me. Strickland came and got me. Will start cutting wood for him tomorrow.

Wednesday, Nov. 24: Cut my head with the axe. Did not bleed much.

George's last diary entry was Thursday, Nov. 25, 1926: Thanksgiving - Did not work today. A young couple came up from Monty. Had chicken for supper, good feed. A lot different from a year ago. None of the old bunch around now - Stan, Walker, White, Guy Evans, Frank Mako, Leland and others are gone. If I quit here, it's California next.

George Clifton died of a heart attack in Shelton on Dec. 4, 1957, at age 50, leaving his wife, Cecelia, (so probably not Z.R.), two sons and a daughter. At the time, he was secretary of the Mason County Democratic Committee and a former business agent of Local 38, International Woodworkers of America.

Jan Parker is a researcher for the Mason County Historical Museum. She can be reached at [email protected]. Membership in the Mason County Historical Society is $25 per year. For a limited time, new members will receive a free copy of the book "Shelton, the First Century Plus Ten."