GORDON GIBSON used to say that apart from owning a whorehouse or running liquor, he had been in every kind of business. And so he had. He owned and sailed sailing ships that should have sunk. In the depression, he fought his way through the woods to prosperity when all around him were losing theirs. And in tie Fifties he humbled an arrogant government. ft may be a cliche to state that his like will never be seen again, but it’s true. The dity of the bull of the woods has gone, to be replaced by the board man in the gray flannel suit. But Gordon couldn't stand boards, unless they were in board feet. He was pretty rough in his tine, but was a gentleman and a square sheoter and an amiable toper who at the height of his powers knock- ed back two bottles of rye a day. He was at pains to point our, though, that he never touched the stuff before 1] a.m. Not unless he was continuing a party that had started the night before, that is. He also sent up smoke signals from his 20 cigars a day. That sort of thing got him in the end, even though he stopped puft- ing and drinking years age. But Jast week, when he feft, the call coming on account of throat caneer, you can bet he wasn't complaining. He'd seen 81 sum- mers and packed more fun into most of them than other men sce in a lifetime. He quit school at 12 and would joke that the only bit of paper he ever got for academic achieve- ment was a diploma for two years’ regular attendance at school. And he couldn’t spell. But little things like that never worried him. When he was testifying before the Sloan Forestry Com- mission, the clerk of the court asked him how to spell a word he had used. “I'm making this speech," he roared. ‘‘It’s your job to do the God-damned spelling.” In all of B.C. there was never a merrier fellow, In the 1960s, when he was an MLA and | was doing TV shows out of the legislature, we always went looking for Gor- doen when things were dull, The bull of the woods would toss his opponents up on his horns and, laughing, catch them on their way down. Only trouble was, it was hard to get the government on the program if they knew he wus to appear. He even gave Flying Phil Gaglardi the shakes. His most gutsy achievement Sunday ¢ @ get this straight @ The vovernment twisted and turned for two years, with Gor- don and a small band of other brave souls in) hot) pursuit. Premier W.A.C. Bennett and At- torney General Bob Bonner tried to ignore the chase, but couldn't, “Vote for Honest Bob,’ old Wacky told) Forest) Minister Robert Sommers’ constituents at election time. And they did. But in the end Honest Bob became a guest of Her Majesty. ft must be admitted that Gor- don was sometimes strange, however. He thought it was OK to go on Slaughtering the whates, his view being that when they were too scarce to find, the hunt would be abandoned und they would regenerate themselves. He was the same on forests. A ‘tcut-out-and- get-oul’’ operaior, he believed reforestation was a waste of time. The trees would grow back naturally, He was @ 19th) Century man, really. In the Thirties, he ran his somewhat unseaworthy — five- masted sailing barque Malahat out of harbor in defiance of the regulations, When the fuzz caught up with him, he was stopped on the high seas and told to ‘‘stand by in the name of the King’. A strong believer in justice, he engaged in fisticuffs with the guy who had shopped him to the marine officials. A Sunshine Girl enthusiast, he explained in his memoirs how he once watched a nudists’ tennis match. “There was a man and a woman on each side of the net. [ watched in amazement. | had never before seen four tits and five balls flying in the air at the | same time.”’ For reasons | could never quite comprehend, he wus a lifelong Liberal. He always struck me as being what a true Tory should be. Goodbye, Gordon. Thanks for all the fun. You were a joy to know, and may the logging be good up there. was his ‘‘money talks’ speech on | bribery. Money talked, he said, in the issuance of forest manage- ment licences. Thurs. July 24 7:15 PM 2 Antique woodstoves, Kroehler sofa & chair, maple crib/mattress, folding picnic tables, chest freezer, washer/dryers, fridges, stoves, teak wail unit, Belgian carpets, larnps, mirrors, pictures, etc. atc. Preview all day Thursday 9 - Wednesday, July 23, 1986 - Se, NV evacuation p> =” /Doug Collins details released THE FIRST police-ordered evacuation in North V ancouver District commenced after a July 7 train derailment, in which about 14,000 gallons of caustic soda spilled west of Second Narrows Bridge. North Vancouver RCMP lifted the partial evacuation of the in- dustrial area after half an hour because the initial concern regur- ding the spill was no longer there. Mayor Marilyn Baker said North Vancouver District Fire Department requested police issue an evacuation because 2 saporous cloud was in the area. She said while the cloud was nat toxic, mist from the cloud could cause irritation to eyes and mucus membranes. She stressed the evacuation was not ordered because some of che derailed cars contained — liquid chlorine. “The evacuation for a short period was for caustic fumes — there was no fear of chlorine,” she said. “The suggestion that a similar accident involving chlorine cars would have created the same pro- vz a Oforl = blems is highly unlikely, as) the valve is on the top of the car and the tank cars are double walled and insulated."* The caustic soda car ruptured after its unloading valve, located on the bottom, was sheared off in the derailment. Baker said once the contents of the car had completely emptied, the cloud no longer persisted and the evacuation of the area was called of f. “What's important to know is the emergency response team of the municipality is aware and is prepared for emergency situations, including the unlikely event that there’s a need to evacuate,” said Baker. “Our staff is constantly involved in ongoing training and exercises.” ‘Bennington’s The Seafood House Bennington’s Seafood House invites you and your guest to receive one complimen- tary Entree when one Entree of equal or greater value is purchased on presenta- tion of this coupon. This coupon not valid unless signed 2 for 1 Lunch 11:30-3 Max. value $5 2 for 1 Dinner from 5 pm Max value $10 Valid until duly 30/86 Live music Thurs. to Sun. MW North Vancouver's newest meeting place. Great food,} ® great prices, great music, great fun. Burgers from 82. 50. AT THE LONSDALE QUAY Noe VAN, NEXT 10 SEABUS _ RESERVATIONS 986-5274 WATERFRONT u . tomcl Ni ice bend El. Seasus } i ‘Al (reg. priced merchandise) North Shore News FRESH CHICKEN BREAST *2°m. BONED & SKINNED FREE!! BABY PORK, BACK RIBS. fF Bar-B-Que - GRADE “A” 1 BEEF *2'2 CUT, WRAPPED, FROZEN & GUARANTEED (July 23-July 29) CORDON BLEU 52995 (FOR 12 PIECES) MIX AND MATCH MANY VARIETIES (REG, $34-$38 PER 12)