Captain Jim from Tuna Camp missing at sea..

junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:44 pm

..just got the news.

Please send love and support..

http://www.kval.com/news/local/Fisherma ... bile=y&c=y

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:56 pm

Damn, hope they find him and he's ok.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:28 pm

Fuck and that water is damn cold.

knowmad · Post by **knowmad** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:02 pm

Been bumbed out all day...
We had a camp mate defect to them in 2010, She was so happy there, they took her in and even took her home with them all.
Aww. My heart goes out to the Crew. Famly and all.

In times like this our hearts sometime fail
And we fear we'll be lost in the stormy gale
Our thoughts go back to our friends on shore
And loved ones whom we'll probably see no more
~Keats

some seeing eye · Post by **some seeing eye** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:56 pm

A great loss for us.

But I think the Captain will be celebrating with us on high this burn....

Farewell, and Thanks!

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

-John Gillespie Magee, Jr

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:06 pm

Well damn.. That makes two his week.. And a third with his boat and car at the dock but he is missing..

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:09 pm

They were camped within 100 feet of BDC&WB. I wandered by and the good captain kind of pulled me aside and asked if I would like any freshly cooked tuna. Not being a dunderhead I said "Of course!!!" He gave me a rather large plate which I brought over to BDC (after taking a certain, uh, delivery "tax") which was devoured in nothing flat. That entire crew are some of the finest people I ever met. May the Good Lord protect the Captain and may he have all of the blessings of our fellow burners. Should things turn out for the worse, let it be known that he stood for whatever the true Burning Man spirit is. I should be so giving. Our prayers are with you.

Post by **Sham** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:45 pm

Doc, well said and amen.

ChefDave · Post by **ChefDave** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:51 pm

Dearest Brothers and Sisters,

It is with the greatest regret and sadness in my heart that I report that Captain Jim Peterson, the Original Tuna Guy, lost his life on December 12 when his boat capsized off the coast of Oregon while crab fishing. Although his two deckhands were rescued with only minor injuries, Jim has not been found as of this posting and is assumed to have been trapped in the wheelhouse and gone down with the ship.

11036_1150307605481_1461356032_30349654_6599274_n.jpg

Since 1988 Jim and his crew have blessed the lives and the taste buds of uncountable thousands of our fellow burners with their generosity and their culinary genius. As so many of us know, nothing tastes better than fresh Tuna after a week of eating Playa dust. Literally tons of Tuna have been thrown at anyone with the gumption to actually find the elusive Tuna Guy encampment year after year, and the reward so often indescribable.

Jim was the kind of guy who touched the lives of so many that he met, always with a huge genuine smile, always with the offer to share whatever he could with friends and strangers equally, always inviting them to return and visit again.

The Tuna Guys are thought to be rumor or legend by so many who would refuse to believe that anyone could make such an effort to bring the gift of fresh seafood to the desert, but we know that we are real. So many times I have seen people jump for the joy of finding Tuna Camp and sharing what they could with the crew who do so much for the Black Rock Family.

Of course the Monday night party has become an event of its own, with so many Burners straggling home and making that one final stop to share the love that Jim and his crew offered before heading home themselves, only to immediately begin planning for the following year.

The testimonies are piling up on our Tuna Guys Facebook page. Log on and leave your love and support for the Tuna Guys family if you can, we all appreciate what you have to say and are suffering an indescribable sadness.

Donation information will be posted here as soon as it is available and any donations collected will go expenses incurred by his family.

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:56 pm

Sorry to hear the news.
My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

maryanimal · Post by **maryanimal** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:02 pm

My prayers for all...

Post by **Savannah** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:29 pm

I'm so sorry.

Clar-i-ty · Post by **Clar-i-ty** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:31 pm

Will think of Captain Jim next year when I see those dust devils that come out of the Temple when it burns. I always imagine that that's where the spirits of some burners are released.

To Captain Jim's family both on and off Playa I send heartfelt condolences.

Best,
Clarity

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:29 pm

*moment of silence*

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:35 pm

awe damn..........damn the luck.

*stands, salutes, looking up and smiling*

Thanks, for the things you did...............

Minxy · Post by **Minxy** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:43 pm

I've been in a quiet, bummed space about this since yesterday.

Bless you, Cap'n Jim.

MyDearFriend · Post by **MyDearFriend** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:08 am

Clar-i-ty wrote:Will think of Captain Jim next year when I see those dust devils that come out of the Temple when it burns. I always imagine that that's where the spirits of some burners are released.

To Captain Jim's family both on and off Playa I send heartfelt condolences.

Best,
Clarity

Yes, exactly.

I found the Monday night party at Tuna Camp last year (my first Burn) and want to say that it totally summed up, for me, what Burning Man is all about. Not that a wide-eyed newb can figure it all out first go

but, Cap'n Jim's Tuna Camp wast just it.

There is talk on the Tuna Guys FB page of building and burning a boat, next year on the playa, as a tribute to Captain Jim. I'm sure there will be plenty of "tuna" at the temple. too...

MisaBlue · Post by **MisaBlue** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:06 am

Sorry

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:51 pm

I recorded this interview with Jim in 2004 at Tuna Camp. He talks about tuna and his activism. It starts out with a short piece with one of his crew, a guy named Wally.

This is a pic of Jim cooking up a fantastic batch of elk steaks he hunted with a bow. It was a great feast. Thank you Jim.

mp3 http://brightpathvideo.com/MP3/JD.mp3

maryanimal · Post by **maryanimal** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:04 pm

The coast guard suspended the search for Capn Jim.

http://www.kcby.com/news/Search-for-a-m ... 43758.html

bigdane · Post by **bigdane** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:03 pm

I didn't have the pleasure of ever meeting Capt Jim. To his friends and family my sympathies.
I'm reminded of something one of my teachers shared with me after a loss - when someones life ends we each have responsibility to live our own life a little bigger.
We have to put in just a little more for that person who cannot add any more to this world.
So we're responsible... to laugh a little more, eat a little more, drink a little more, give a little more and love a little more.

moonrise · Post by **moonrise** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:57 pm

Oh dear, so sorry...bless Capt'n Jim, bless them all.

dj_john69 · Post by **dj_john69** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:54 am

http://www.rgj.com/article/20111215/EVE ... |FRONTPAGE

COOS BAY, Ore.— The Coast Guard is investigating what caused a crab fishing boat to capsize this week, leaving one of the three crewmen missing.

Coast Guard spokesman Nate Littlejohn said Wednesday the investigation will be done by the Marine Safety Unit in Portland.

The (Coos Bay, Ore.) World newspaper reported that that the fishing vessel Randi was loaded with crab pots when it went over Monday about three miles north of the entrance to Coos Bay.

Jim Peterson of Coos Bay was in the wheelhouse. Two other crewman were saved, but he was not found.

Peterson was known at Burning Man for bringing seafood he caught to the playa for people to enjoy.

Crab fishermen have been putting out their pots all week in anticipation of the opening of crab season on Thursday.

dj_john69 · Post by **dj_john69** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:54 am

Very sad news =/

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:43 pm

The Or. coast waters are rough and unforgiving..
And rarely gives up it missing fishermen..

wh..sh · Post by **wh..sh** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:39 pm

Shucks! Never had the opportunity to meet Captain Jim, but looks like he lived a good life. My condolences

buckycat · Post by **buckycat** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:57 pm

That mp3 that cowbowangel posted is excellent, thanks for posting it. I didn't know Jim, but I did stop by that camp during a big fish fry one year. My condolences.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:27 pm

Wow, as a sailor, this hits home much more intimately. I know firsthand how unforgiving the waters can be. I have seen and lived through the ferociousness.

RIP Captain, knowing that your crew made it home safely. To that end you fulfilled your duty. I doff my hat to you.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:33 pm

buckycat wrote:That mp3 that cowbowangel posted is excellent, thanks for posting it. I didn't know Jim, but I did stop by that camp during a big fish fry one year. My condolences.

Yes, thanks for this cowboy... Love Wally......

Sadness pours out for the Family and Friends of Capt. Jim...

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:31 am

There are gold ships
There are silver ships
There are no ships
Like friendships

Jim always greeted me like a lost relative found.

It was a little embarrassing.

I always wanted to see him on his boat.
I can't help feeling I knew all I needed to know about him though, by the way everyone listened to him.
People twice his size cringed when he was unhappy with them.
He really was the captain.

He told me about how he came to be at burning man.

I asked him once about the fishermen on cape cod.
There was a colony of artists on the cape.
They would do well in the summer, but had very hard times in the winter.
Everyone said that the portuguese fishermen would give you a fish if you asked.

I asked some of the artists if this was true.
A woman told me, with great emotion, of being so hungry one winter that she went to the dock and asked for a fish.
She waited with great trepidation.

They brought out a great fish, so large she could barely carry it.
She fed all her friends for a week with that astonishing fish.

You should understand that this was no casual gift.
Ocean fishing is costly, and the good fish are too.

No one is really sure why they do this.
Most believe it has to do with some religious tradition.

I asked Jim about this and he wasn't surprised.
He said it just had to do with being fishermen.
He said that fishermen understand the strength of a community working together.
And that was why they found burning man so natural once they were there.

He is too great a loss.