Blue Crab Boulevard

Babe Loses Head

The Associated Press is quick to clear Paul Bunyan of the dirty deed, but Babe the Blue Ox has been decapitated.

KLAMATH, Calif. - Babe the Blue Ox has lost his head. Ax-wielding Paul Bunyan is not a suspect. The head fell off the 35-foot-tall statue of giant lumberjack Bunyan's mythical sidekick Tuesday, landing snout down on the pavement in the northern California town of Klamath.

Jeff LaForest, manager of the gift shop where the statue stands, says water was seeping inside the statue. That weakened the wood inside the structure and caused the collapse.

But was it really dry rot or did Paul Bunyan finally have enough of Babe's constant kibitzing? After all, the pair has stood in the same spot for more than 50 years. Tensions can build in that amount of time.

Giant statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox guard the entrance of Trees of Mystery, as a midmorning crowd pours off the coast highway to embrace freaky Redwood hooha. Paul's right hand gives a continual sluggish wave as his breast-pocket loudspeaker greets all who enter in cheery lumberjack fashion. "Hiya, kids. Hi, folks."

Most of Paul's banter involves describing the clothes that people at his feet are wearing, so they don't think he's a recording. "Hello, there…you're wearing a blue sweatshirt! And the lady next to you is wearing a green jacket!" He'll also answer your size questions (Paul is 49 ft. tall, has a 24 ft. long ax, and 10 ft. high boots).

We suspect that the ox pushed his luck once too often and the large lumberjack snapped and swung his ax.

Weird Stuff | Gaius Saturday, 24 November , 2007

By NortonPete, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 5:29 pm

I realize this is in Kalifornia and not Brainerd ND. Thank God that the Paul Bunyon statue, immortalized in Fargo didn’t go on a rampage as I couldn’t sleep well tonight.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 6:57 pm

The vast majority of these cases involve the “significant other”. Mr. Bunyan better retain a good lawyer. Look for Greta to interview him next week…..
By Gaius, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 7:03 pm

Well, that is certainly true, Mwalimu. For instance:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071124/ap_on_en_tv/reality_show_arrest;_ylt=Am3Z5xMloeBPV.aWjaLLh_us0NUE

SEMINOLE, Fla. - A former cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who was proposed to on the reality TV show “The Bachelor” was accused of punching a man she lives with in the mouth, authorities said.

Mary Delgado was taken into custody just after midnight Wednesday on a battery charge and was under the influence of alcohol when she was arrested, according to a police affidavit.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 8:21 pm

Bunyan is a celebrity - and juries luuuuuuuv celebrities! For that reason Delgado might skate by as well. What worked for OJ can work for anyone famous.

I wonder if Bunyan (and Delgado) will use the Lorena Bobbit defense (link deliberately not provided). It’s hard to see an OJ-style defense gainging any traction in either case.
By RazMaTaz, Sunday, 25 November , 2007 @ 7:29 am

Regarding Babe and Paul Bunyan: I refuse to travel the Northcoast and patronize business’ there until Babe gets head.