50 years ago today...'Duck' goes awry on Lake Winnisquam NH
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:49 pm
I do not know what these guys are complaining about. I bet they wish they still had it 
....
$100
'Duck' goes awry on Lake Winnisquam outing
By Warren D. Huse Laconia (NH) Citizen paper
Article Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008
LACONIA — Two city firefighters, 50 years ago this week, wanted no more to do with the amphibious Army surplus Dukw — or "Duck" — purchased by the city for $100 a few weeks before.
The Citizen's 1958 report explained:
"Firemen gave the duck its first tryout on land and water," Oct. 6, 1958, "after casting lots to see who would be first in the trial runs.
"Chief Merle Sargent and Drivers Aime Martel and Bud Wool took a nice spin, or cruise, in the Autumn sunshine on Lake Winnisquam and brought the landing craft back to the Central Fire station without incident.
"Next two Navy veterans, Drivers Leo Sasseville and Norman Laurent had their chance. Only a little way out on the lake they bogged down on an uncharted sand bar. The more they tried to move the deeper the duck dug down into the sandbar. And, to their dismay, they found one of the ten 'plugs' in the bottom of the craft had become dislodged and water was spurting over them like a geyser.
"The two firemen ran up distress signals and waited for help. Residents of the area called the fire station and reported the duck was in difficulty but the men at the desk paid no heed at first, thinking it was the work of practical jokers.
"At last they went to investigate and found their companions marooned on the sand bar. Chief Sargent, Capt. Omer Fortin and Driver Wool shouted words of encouragement and advice across the waves.
"George Poire proved to be the hero of the day. He went out in his boat, took the cable from the duck and then wrapped it around a big tree on the shore. Sasseville and Laurent then put the winch on the duck into operation, pulled themselves off the bar and the big craft lumbered ashore.
"There has been some friendly rivalry between city departments, it is reported, as to who should have custody of the duck.
"'Let the Public Works crew have it if they want it,' muttered the two firemen."
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /710109806
....$100
'Duck' goes awry on Lake Winnisquam outing
By Warren D. Huse Laconia (NH) Citizen paper
Article Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008
LACONIA — Two city firefighters, 50 years ago this week, wanted no more to do with the amphibious Army surplus Dukw — or "Duck" — purchased by the city for $100 a few weeks before.
The Citizen's 1958 report explained:
"Firemen gave the duck its first tryout on land and water," Oct. 6, 1958, "after casting lots to see who would be first in the trial runs.
"Chief Merle Sargent and Drivers Aime Martel and Bud Wool took a nice spin, or cruise, in the Autumn sunshine on Lake Winnisquam and brought the landing craft back to the Central Fire station without incident.
"Next two Navy veterans, Drivers Leo Sasseville and Norman Laurent had their chance. Only a little way out on the lake they bogged down on an uncharted sand bar. The more they tried to move the deeper the duck dug down into the sandbar. And, to their dismay, they found one of the ten 'plugs' in the bottom of the craft had become dislodged and water was spurting over them like a geyser.
"The two firemen ran up distress signals and waited for help. Residents of the area called the fire station and reported the duck was in difficulty but the men at the desk paid no heed at first, thinking it was the work of practical jokers.
"At last they went to investigate and found their companions marooned on the sand bar. Chief Sargent, Capt. Omer Fortin and Driver Wool shouted words of encouragement and advice across the waves.
"George Poire proved to be the hero of the day. He went out in his boat, took the cable from the duck and then wrapped it around a big tree on the shore. Sasseville and Laurent then put the winch on the duck into operation, pulled themselves off the bar and the big craft lumbered ashore.
"There has been some friendly rivalry between city departments, it is reported, as to who should have custody of the duck.
"'Let the Public Works crew have it if they want it,' muttered the two firemen."
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /710109806