The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-10-20


our feet drawn up under us, so that ou
bent bodies presented as little surface a!
possible for the rain 10 beat upon. Blu
we could not stand such an uncomforta
BILE position long. and as the daylight o
the Sabbath broke upon us, we were
polling down the stream in a drizzling
rain At o'clock we came down to q
place where the stream canoned-
over stony bed. down deep descent,
between high rocks on either bank. To
get our raft down this place we regarded
as hopeless. We tied up and examined
the shore. Here again we found unmis-
takeable evidences of lumbermen, as they
had evidently camped at this point, to be
handy by in the attempts they were
doubtless obliged to make to get the tim
Der down the canon. The rapids were
about third of mile long. and in all
the rapids of the Black River there is
nothing 80 wild or romantic as these.
We descended the bank, and thought it
best to try our luck on foot. After trav-
cling about mile, we found the banks
SO tangled and rugged, and ourselves SO
much exhausted, that locomotion was
impossible. So we concluded to 60 back,
and if we could get the raft down piece
at time, we would go on with her-if
not, we would build as good place as
possible to crawl into, and prepare for
death.
We went back, and after examining
the stream attentively, concluded to try
to get the raft down. We at once COM
menced, and I freely confess this was
the most trying and laborious work Of a
life of labor. The pieces would not 60
over rod at a time before they would
stick on some stone which the low water
left above the surface, and then you must
pry it over in some way and pass on to
the next obstruction. We were obliged
to get into the stream, often up to the
middle, and there I several times fell
headlong-completely using up our COM
pass, which now frantically pointed to
any direction its added head thought
desirable. The water had unglued the
case and it was ruined. After long hours
of such labor, we got the raft down, and
La Mountain again tied it together. Pass
ing on, in about an hour we came to a
large lake-ten miles long and six miles
broad. Around it we must of course pass
until we should find an outlet. So we
turned up 10 the right and pressed on
with as much resolution as could be ex-
pected. To-day we found one clam.
which insisted La Mountain should eat,
as he was weaker than myself, and had
ate little or nothing on the day he went
up. Around we went. into all the inden-
tations of the shore keeping always in
shallow water. AT last we stopped at a
place we thought least exposed to the
wind. We laid down upon the cold
ground, having lifted up the end of our
raft so that the wind might not drift il
away in the night. We were cold when
we laid down. and both of US trembled by
the hour like men suffering from severe
attack of the ague. The wind had risen
just at night, and the dismal surging Of
the waves upon the shore, formed. l
thought. fitting lullaby to slumbers SO
disturbed and dismal as ours. BY this
time our clothes were nearly torn off.
My pantaloons were slit up both legs and
the Wristbands nearly torn off, My boots
both leaked. and our mighty wrestlings
in the canon had torn the skin from ank-
les and hands. La Mountains hat was
gone the first day out he had thrown
away his woollen drawers and stockings.
as they dragged him down BY the weight
of water they absorbed We slept but
little. 1t really seemed as though, du-
ring the night. we passed through the
horrors OF q dozen deaths. At daylight
we got up. by degrees-6rst on one knee
and then on the other-so stiff and weak
that we could hardly stand.
Again upon the almost endless lake we
went-following round its shore for an
outlet. About 10 O'Clock we found a
broad. northern stream. which we thought
was the outlet we were seeking. and we
entered it with great JOY. believing il
would take US to our long sought Otta-
wa. Shortly after entering the stream ii
widened out and assumed the form of a
lake. We poled up the western shore
for about seven miles, but fonnd we were
again deceived. On our way up Mr.. La
NJ. sang these pretty lines
"Cheer up your hearts. my men.
Let nothing fright you.
eof gallant mind
Let that delight you."
| His voice was hardly above a whisper.