The story of Billy Vincent

On Feb. 7, 1940, Skokomish Valley neighbors of 70-year-old Billy Vincent feared the worst when they discovered that the cable on which he would have propelled his "basketlike contrivance" across the north fork of the rain-swollen Skokomish River was broken and Vincent could not be located.

He had crossed the river in the morning, picked up a sack of feed at the John Garrison place, then started back home. Early in the afternoon, Garrison discovered the broken cable, and finding no trace of Vincent or the sack of feed, immediately notified Sheriff Gene Martin. The sheriff and a deputy went to V...