The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-09-06

> b4o bIau5A6L u JalooC4s5OAo AS--- e-'
Corinthian to the old Banshee for
warned us that more serious WorE
was before us. The Corinthian hac
descended as far as possible with
safety, except through the canals
and thence forward our reliance is
upon the stanchness and the for
tunes Of the Banshee which has
made the descent of the Rapids so
many hundreds of times. The
breakers Of the Coteau Rapids more
potentous by far than those Of the
Long Sault are soon in sight. As
the bow Of the Bonshee densely
packed with humanity shoots its ar
rowy fight down among them by the
force Of the rapids alone, and settles
from ledge to ledge, lashed by the
furious waters, we begin to feel
that although this is excitement it is
not unalloyed pleasure. Out of the
Coteau into the more perilous Ce-
dars. The shelving rocks are dis
tinctly visible on the right. On the
left is a stranded steamboat fast
upon the rocks to remind us of the
possibilities Of this passage. It is
pleasant to know that no lives were
lost upon her. Fortune has always
favored the Banshee, nevertheless,
as she sweeps over the Cascades,
and, three miles of stormy breakers
passed, enters upon the still waters
Of Lake st. Louis, an unavoidable
feeling ofreief ereeps over US.
One Of our party, who retired to
the cabin during the passage of the
last rapids came forth fully persua-
ded Of the folly of such risks by the
creeking and the groaning Of the
timbers of the Banshee as she
wrestled in her descent. It is said
the women generally enjoy the excite
ment Of the rapids best, the men less
and the captain and pilot not at all.
Is this because the women knowing
they can't swim feel none ofthe anx-
ieties which result from a sense Of
responsibility, or is it because when
occasion demands they have more
nerve? We remember to have
heard a story connected with the La
Chine Rapids which are yet ahead of
US, how the local pilot once failed to
reach the boat, and how whilst the
captain was paralyzed with fear a
lady from among the terrified passen-
gers, mounted to the pilot house.
and suggested that she might be Of
assistance, gave the word Of com
mand and brought the vessel safely
through, amidst the grateful accla-
nations of all on board. In her
younger days she had, with her IA
ther, a river captain, frequently
watched from the pilot house, the
passage Of the boat through these
rapids and had the nerve and self
possession to put her knowledge in
to practical use.
We are not aware Of any serious
accidents having happened in the
passage of the rapids since Gen. Am
herst the Commander-in chief Of
Wolf, lost 300 men in the descent Of
the Cedars. The Indians were ae-
customed to shoot them with impu-
nifty in their birchen canoes.
In 1911 Champiain saw whole
fleet of birch canoes filed with HUI
ron Indians, come dancing down oY-
er the white foam of the La Chine
Rapids to the rendezvous at Montre-
al.
These daring canoemen took
Champlain himself down through
them a few days afterwards, in their
barker egg shells, somewhat he SAYS
to the discomposure of his nerves.
he was the third white man that ev-
er made their descent, two of his
men having previously essayed it,
one Of whom was drowned.
There is no hilarity on board our
boat as we approach the rapids of
| La Chine. The consideration thai
it is Sunday may have its bearing.
A gentleman by our side connected
with the Quebec line Of steamers
says: "The La Chine are the worst
Of all. I wish we were through with
Them" Thus do men feel who cor
rectly appreciate the character of
this kind Of navigation. just as
they flash into sight in the dim dis
tanee, line of carriages from Mon
treal dashes down the distant shores
on our left to observe the passage.
! The old Indian pilot who has done
service here for nearly 40 years pulls
toward us from the little Indian VII
lage on our right. Accompanied by
, his two sons he is soon on board,
exchanges congratulatory smiles
and salutatiOns with the captains OF
the Corinthian and the Banshee and
then settles graYely to his work.
Whilst, with three others he tugs at
the wheel, he scans with ca5like
watchfulness the narrow throat down
which the roaring rushing torrents
of the st. Lawrence, like those above
Niagara, are surging, and with the
quick movement ofthe wheel guards
against the sunken rocks which
threaten to gore the vessels side.
To appreciate the danger one should
stand on the vessels side and look
down into the narrow channel in the
sunken rock through which, down
rushing, the vessel Writhes and
twists obedient to the pilots skill
We hail the moment we are safely
through-happiest one in all sucf
ventures. The rapids passed, the
noble city Of Montreal is in full
view. As we sweep between the
piers Of Victoria Bridge, the setting
sun sheds his parting light on the
ocean and river shipping that crowd
the harbOr, gilds for a moment with
rosy light the twin towers Of Notre
Dame and then sinks behind that
grand old wooded summit which
forms the city's magnificent back
ground and which jacques Cartier
nearly 800 years ago named the Roy
81 Mountain.
Shopping for Testament.
"Say, Mister, viii you sWop a test
ament for some sugar% said a little