The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-11-11
Survey of the Ouachita River Completed.

having completed their difficult and
laborious undertaking of determining
the rise and fall of water in the river,
distance between Trinity and Camden
and between all Intermediate points,
and all such other facts as are ncccSsa-
ry to fix the cost of making the Qua
chita navigable the year round.
The work has been completed in I,
very short time, considering that near
ly three hundred miles have been
measured with the chain and lcvcled
with the instrument, and that the
party furnished the motive power for
its own transportation, two large flats
rooted over and the ends and sides en-
closed, drawing respectively 10 and Ii
inches water. These boats were pulled
through to Camden and there sold but
at times it seemed impossible to carry
them further. At Pcriquc Shoals, Col.
Smith had to construct dam of brush.
At two or three other places, the entire
muscular power of the party was called
into service; one party pulling line
on one bank and another party on the
opposite bank while the capstan pulled
on Il line at the bow. The boats were
built here; then dropped down to
Trinity, and thence carried to Camden.
The people of Camden gave the party
an elegant entertainment upon their
arrival in that city.
An incident or two of the expedition
will doubtless amuse the reader. Two
of the party, while passing through
the great overflow, concluded to take
fire-hunt, and accordingly sailed forth
with tire-pan and gun. After going
forward for u while their light became
dim. More pine wood was added, and
the Goals thrown out. Proceeding Il
short distance and sscircling" Il little,
the torch-bearcr eNcitedly announced
ga pair of eyes" He received the gun
from his companion, and, aiming de-
liberately, fired at the eyes. But the
eyes remained. Again he fired, and
again, with no better luck. Then the
other hunter claimed a shot. 1t must
OF Brighten away. He fred with mark
cd precision, and the eyes scattered in
twenty directions. lie had scattered
the burning Goals left on the ground
when the fire was replcnisllcd!
Two other members of the party set
out one morning to find Il knife one of
them had left below on the river the
day before. AS they were at the head
of a bend, they concluded to go across
the neck of the peninsula.
Late in the afternoon the men had
not returned to tho boats. \ party
went out from the boats in search of
their comrades; but nothing could be
heard of them. 1t was clear that tho
men were lost, and in that wild swamp
where cane and briars and dense I'M
dergrowth grow in bcwildcring contu-
sion, to be lost is a fearful condition to
be in. The whole party turned out at
nightfall, with guns and torches to
search for the lost men. Tho torches
blazcd along the river, and guns were
discharged, the echoes rcvcrbcrating
far Off through tho dense woods. But
no response came, and the nj ght passed
without intelligence from the lost
twain. What was next to be done .
The men were in their shirt sleeves,
and tho night had been quite cool.
They might roam for days in the
swamp without seeing II human face
or hearing Il sound bctokening the hui
man presence. Discussing all tho pos
sible chances Of success and the awful
fate which seemed to be awaiting the
lost men, their comrades We're eating
melancholy breakfast at the boats
and preparing to continue the search.
At this juncturc all further cmbarrass-
mcnt and distress We're dispcllcd, by
the appearance of the lost men them
selves, who at that moment had
found, not the knife, but what gave
them greater joy, their comrades and
the boats. There was no wandering
from the river after this.
Col. Cox has found that the fall of
the river from Camden to Trinity is
seventy feet. lie says that five dams
and locks, at an average cost of $780,
900, will secure good navigation to
Camden at the lowest stage of water.
These improvements he thinks should
be located at Catahoula Shoals, Taylor
Bar, Rock Row, Juder Island and
Buffalo Flats, each dam to be fourteen
feet high. Some of the party obtained
and have preserved several Interesting
geological specimens. Signs of the
beaver were plentiful in the overflow,