Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-05-28
The Riyernen.
"REMINISCENCES OF OLD TIMES.

The advent OF company of Rivermen
in this place last week, was novelty to
most of our population, while the older
residents declared that it reminded them
of old times. They were at work here
! just week, having closed out the last of
their logs and left on Monday with their
fiat boat at about ten o'clock in the fore
noon, most of the company having al
ready preceded it down the river.
The men were daring and courageous,
and occasionally some exciting scenes oc-
CURED while they were getting the tim
Der over the Falls and through the rap
ids below. One man was swept into the
swift rapids about opposite the old facto-
ny foundation, and for an instant he was
thought to be lost, but he soon recovered
himself without injury, even throwing
an axe he had in his hand at the time
on to some timber so that it was saved.
The men are in the water large portion
of the time and some Of them had not
had dry feet for weeks. 1t was current
ly reported that two Of them went over
the dam in boat just above the Sulli-
van Railroad bridge, but the facts were
they risked themselves to the falling
point and then jumped upon some rocks,
hung to their boat and swung it round,
and got aboard again below, feat quite
daring enough as twas. Atanother place
the men would form file each clasping
the other, the last one occupying dan
gerous point low down ON the rocks to
the swift water, and there, at the "post
of honor" held by his line of comrads
above, he would push the timber into a
floating current, and it was surprising to
see how quick they would sometimes dig
out a clam with their hooks Their
boots were shod with iron spikes or corks,
and if any Of the logs were inclined to
turn or roll as they stood upon them,
they travelled like horse in threshing
machine and universally kept themselves
right side up" They were all from
old Kennebec County, way down in
Maine" and most of them experienced
boatmen. One man among them was
fifty-nine years of age. and had followed
the business for over thirty years, and
was apparently good for many more.
The contractor for running this tim
Der down is Mr. OF. Richardson, of
Clinton, Maine, and his company was
composed of thirty-six men, who live
mainly camp life, the supplies being
drawn from their " ark" or fat-boat in
which were their stores, and which was
covered with canvas and board Sides
Two men do the cooking by fires on the
beach, and attend to that department
only, and just here we will testify cor
dial word for them, as superior cooks, as
we accepted an invitation from the con-
tractor to dine, and did partake of a
farewell lunch with them at the " wharf"
which was good enough for festival or
banquet. The men eat four meals day,
work from daylight till dark, and while
drawing out of the eddy, two squads
worked alternately through the night
During the week. of their stay here the
conduct Of the men was excellent and
made very favorable impression. If
these are specimen of the lumbermen
of Maine, we heartily congratulate the
old Pine Tree State, on the manner in
which she brings up her rivermen. Hav-
ing been on the river pretty closely for
three weeks, they were a little thirsty for
news, especially from Maine. A cautious
inquiry indicated variety of political
sentiment among them, especially as to
the public men of their State, and partic-
ularly the Washburne family" such as
might be expected in any community
Much of the time while here, they had a
good audience from among our people,
who were attracted by the novelty of
their doings, so that it formed quite an
exhibition.
These logs are to be used, as stated
last week, in the building of the new dam
at Holyoke, and Mr. Richardson is also
the contractor for putting them in when
he gets them there. His contract allows
him one hundred days to get the timber
to Holyoke, and as they had occupied
but about thirty when they arrived here,
he will doubtless get in on good time,
and perhaps have some to spare.
1t is calculated that they passed about
one million and seven hundred thousand
feet of lumber through the Falls at this
place.
Their presence here last week brought
out many "reminiscences of former days
from the older residents, who say that
forty years ago occasionally two hundred
rivermen would concentrate at this point
at one time, their RATS accommodating
above the dam and waiting their turn to