The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-05-16
what . soene 4 rs. "a how hop.less II

6ucn nl8nJy ru6n OI W0teT69 n1u eo0'
jam on which three hundred men ha'
worked for three weeks before breaking 1t
but this looked worse: the now-distende'
river, hemmsd il between precipices thlrt.
| feet high, and still further obstructed b,
the huge mass Of timber piled up level will
the banks was boiling with impetuous rage
The timber itself was matted and interlacet
in every conceivable manner; some piece
reared right on end, and the whole forming
mass fully thirty feet above the ordinary
level of the water, but which was now pour
ing over it. To make the matter worse,
found that only about ten men had arrived
the rest, having lost their way, did NO
make their appearance until evening.
After careful examination, found thu
the mischief was caused by one stick lying
across the channel, and thought il thai
could be cut, the jam would break; but THU
was an operation Of such extreme danger
that all the men hung back, and refused L
attempt it. The only portion Of the sticl
visible was in the oentre Of the stream, fol
the water, though pouring in masses ovel
the sides Of the jam, did not overtop thu
middle. My idea was to fasten rope Il
the stick, and then cut it nearly through
then, by means Of the rope, all hands could
break it, and all might be we'll.
At length one Of tho men agreed to &
down with me; but after working . shor
time, he became frightened. and went or
shore. All at once, the stick broke, and
the jam began slowly TO move. My 6rs
feeling was that Of JOY, for I remember
thinking had made one thousand pounds
by that operation; and even after I had
attained the summit Of tho jam, did mol
spprehend any great danger.
had noticed one place above the rapid
where the water eddied into shore, and
felt sure that by jumping in there, should
be able to catch some overhanging branches,
and be all right; but when reached the
spot, it was changed, and the water on both
sides was running like Q mill-rate. sill
ran on, now thoroughly alarmed, jumping
from stick to stick, hoping to find some
chance to get ashore. But | soon saw that
though was going very fast up the timber,
| was also going fast into The rapid. I i'm.
mediately turned, and ran down, hoping
that perhaps the timber might 60 through
without breaking up; but before me, as
opened the rapid, saw . sight that at once
took away from mo all hope Of going
through alive.
The banks, IS have said before, were
about thirty feet high, and in tho stream
were here and there hugh rocks, which
broke the straight line Of the channel: the
whole ravine,on which, now gased, elevated
above, and about to make the fatal pludge
into it, WAS one tumultuous heaving mass
of timber; hardly any water could be seen;
but the huge sticks were thrown in ell
directions, many Of them turning end over
end. knew no man could 60 through that
and live.
Hoping that at least should be killed at
once, 1 sat down on stick, and distinctly
remember seeing one Of the men who had
run down the the rapid as soon % the jam
broke, and managed to chamber down the
rocks, making motions for me to seize his
pole. shouted to him: "It 10 NO use, "
for knew should have pulled him in.
An instant afterwards, Was struck in the
back with piece Of timber, and this, which
was the danger most dreaded, proved the
means Of saving my life.
was thrown forward. and where fell,
the timber opened little, and I slipped
through. This was an extraordinary es-
cape; for perhaps-so tightly was the tim
Der packed-in no other part Of the jam
could have done SO, and it is to this owe
my life. From boyhood, had been accus-
toned to diving, and it at once occurred to
me, that though I must be killed ON the
surface, might perhaps live through, if
could keep below the timber; and found
had just hit the channel, which formed q
sort Of canal perhaps six feet deeper than
the main floor Of the rapid.
The timber not being able to fill this up,
the water was rushing along in an unbrok-
en- mass; but l question whether I should
have been able to keep down, if had not
fallen in with q small stick Of red pine,
which, from its weight, had sunk below the
main body Of timber. / grasped this,
placing my arm round it, but even in the
fearful position was in, was cool enough
to remember, that probably % we passed
along my arm would be broken by contact
with the rocks, SO changed the arm, mere
~ putting my elbow on it.
How anxiously I looked for light over
head! the noise was deafening, but all
was dark. have since calculated, by
watching timber going through. that was
about one and . quarter minutes under
water, but to me it seemed never-ending.
had at last made up my mind that though
it was certain death, up must 60, when |
saw daylight overhead. and knew that We
we're through; ! let 60 my stick, and struck
out Tor the surface.
don't know how, in my disabled state,
/ managed to do il, but soon found myself
lying on . stick r. timber, and whirling
round in An eddy ct tho foot Of the rapid.
My situation Was still full Of danger, for 1
now found could not move; I felt paralys-
ed with the blow ] had received when
knocked into the water; was also fear
fully bruised by scraping against the rocks
under water.
The same man Who had offered me his
pole rs went into the rapid, and, indeed,
the only one who saw me 60 down-for the
rest seeing me run up the jam, had gone up
10 help me-here nobly came to my assis-
tance. and 1t the imminant risk Of his life,
succeeded in gaining the stick was on
lie said: 81 need not AK you If you are
hurt, for you would not lie there if you
were not; can help youi" ! said: mo +;
but If ! fall Of, you must jump In on the
other side Of the stick, and hold me up"
told him he would likely be hurt, but he
said he would stay BY me until the men
came up. We went spinning round for
some, for the men, whom they did come,
seemed afraid but 1T length they succeed
ed in catching hold Of the stick I Was on,
and was saved.
For three days, lay on the bank, unable
to be moved; but thanks to constitution
that seems to defy bodily injury, am now
all right. excepting that my knee.cap was
broken under water, and still pains me now
and then and this winter again sees me In
with better result through the same