Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-11-07

they were not drownded" before the
honey moon was half over
In an hour or two reached the cascades
of st. Louis, which are interesting but not
formidable; passing on the way, St. Louis
lake, reach of the river ten miles wide,
and from which, in the dim, hazy distance
in front, there seemed to be no egress un-
til We were close upon the narrow outlet.
The next rapids were the Cedars," an
hour from the last, and taking their name
doubtless from the thick forest of cedar
trees on the islands and main land, that
came down close to the waters edge
These foaming rapids are rocky and I'M
petuous, and the strong body Of plungIng
waters looks dangerous enough, yet there
arc several safe channels for steamboats,,
and the passage was made without special
incident or risk.
1t was here that Gen. Amherst, while
on his way in boats during the Last War,
to capture Montreal, lost his entire brigade
of over 800 men, through the ignorance
or unskilfulness of the pilot; and the first
/ tidings of the intended invasion was con-
veyed to the astonished people of Montreal,
by the dead bodies of the soldiers floating
past their city.
/ About one o'clock p NJ. we reached
Lachine Rapids, nine miles above Montreal,
between which points there is railroad of
seven miles The river here narrows to
mile in width, deep and smooth; with the
village of Lachne on the left bank above
the Ottawa river, and an Indian village of
one storey log huts, with stecproofed
stone church and parsonage, directly oPpo-
site on the right bank; and Montreal
mountain, and the spires and roofs OF part
of the city, in full view across the low
land to the left of large wooded island
aud point at the mouth of the Ottawa
but to reach our destination we had yet to
make wide circuit Of nine miles around
the semi circular bend Of the river to the
south taking in our way the Lachine
rapids, which are emphatically the rapids
more intricate, terrific and perilous than
all the rest on the river.
On the river bank at Lachine village a
plain little two storey store, with pyramid
xac ,l.oo ,r;nlor- - .bo eocor1 ctnrev
and two windows below with the door be-
tween, was pointed out to me as the resi-
dencc of Sir George Simpson, Governor of
the Hudson's Bay Company, who has, for
years, exercised more extensive and abso
lutte authority, than any other Governor
on the Continent. This is the point from
which the Company's great trading and
trapping expeditions are annually fitted
out and take their departure for the far
interior of the British North American
possessions.
We ran in by the Indian village on the
right bank, and reversing the paddles,
hoated slowly past; ringing the bell for
the Indian pilot, without whose presence I
and services through the rapids, the insu-
rance on boat aud cargo would have been
forfeited, in case of accident But no In
dan made his appeaIauce-whether drunk
or absent could only be conjectured--so
after ten minutes delay, the Captain de-
termined to 90 on without him; and in
few moments were speeding down cur
rent as strong and full as the Mississippi
in a June food. A mile took US around
the wooded point on the left, aud brought
US in full view of the tossing breakers still
a mile Misunderstanding in awhile line
of foam far along from one bank to the
other, two miles in extent and as it rap
idly came nearer, and thurdered louder, .
he unpractised eye vainly tried TO locate
he narrow and only schute thro' which
he boat could pass in safety. !
A narrow, forest covered island was in
he middle of the rapids, directly in front
# US, and We steadily bore down upon it, '
i'll so close that misgivings were felt for .
as to the soberness or skill of the {
,ilot. Just then the PROV veered point t
r two to the right, as if to strike on t
ouple of rocky islets, just off the large a
slaud. a hurried glance up to the wheel r
ouse, showed the four Lelmsmen standing \
5 fixed aud impossible, in muscle and t
,ature, as brouzes tie forward glance of "
heir eager eyes alone showing their earn a
st, intense consciousness of responsibility.
he next instant, the wheel flew around in il
leir hands ike lightning, and with cord 81
ed veins and flushed countsnances, they C,
lrew their utmost weight and strength CO
pom it; to hold it to their purposes ; and tt
he boat turned as suddenly forty five de- d
rees to the right, careening over till the re
anwale dipped to the water, while the pI
,ssengers sprang to their feet with excite fir
en,, aud shot like an arrow Of light is
rough the oblique sluice-way, with low re
.ecipice of rock close on the left and ru