Argus can’t be lost to scrap

Regarding Peter Buffa’s “Comments & Curiosities” about the Argus on May 2: To many tourists, boat parade attendees and Boy Scouts on their Catalina excursions, the Argus could evoke the aura and romance of a pirate ship. However, to many Newport Beach residents the Argus has served as a reminder of their city’s heritage. The participation of the Argus in last year’s centennial celebrations brought a tangible and visual reminder of the founding of this city. Visitors from all over the world participated in the centennial celebrations including two Danish Scouts from Marstal, Denmark, who were able to sail aboard the Argus in the Tall Ship Parade.

Thirty-six years ago W. H. Spurgeon’s last scouting activity before his death was to convince George Hoag and Ed Crane to purchase the Argus to be used as a training ship. Years before that he convinced the Scout council to keep and improve the Sea Scout Base. Both of those efforts proved beneficial to Newport Harbor. Has it come to pass that we’ll now celebrate the “Wake of the Argus,” or can we do as Spurgeon did and find a way to preserve this pirate ship and continue to provide its rich history to thousands of people, especially our children?

RALPH WHITFORD

Costa Mesa