The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1874-02-12
VOLCANO. WEST VAr THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1874.

down almost to the edge Of the water,
while Just above, through 4 break in
the cliffs, a stream Of considerable
magnitude emptled itself into the river.
Such briefly was the aspect OF the
place with which we have to do.
About half way between the land
ing and the falls, one Of those black,
Jagged rocks showed itself above the
water in nearly the centre Of the
stream, and against this pile of logs,
perhaps a hundred in number, mad
iammed. and as the river had already
commenced to fall, there was 70 pros
pect oftheir starting OF, Of their own
accord. Consequently it was necessa-
nv for some one to endeavor to reach
it and dislodge them This was no easy
task to do, for they had no boat at this
point. The only way to reach it was
bv means Of logs, upon which some
one well skilled in riding them might
pass over in safety. But to return to
the bank would be the most dangerous
part OF the undertaking, for the cliffs
that formed them were so steep that
10 ascend them from the waters edge
was next to impossible. This jam and
the prospect Of dislodging it, kept run
ming in the minds of all, as the logs
were rolled in, with the exception Of
half a dozen that had been retained to
form raft for those who should under
take the dangerous enterprise.
The cooks horn sounded for dinner
at this point OF the operations, and be
fore the meal was through, two men
had announced their willingness 20
dislodge the jam. They were the foes
Of the evening before, Brown and Cor
don. Something was said in a joking
manner to the former, that he waS
used 10 going over falls, and that it
was his duty tc 90 on the jam; and he
had declared his willingness to do 50,
providing that Gordon would accom-
pany him, upon another and single
iog. This the latter had 1t once agreed
10 do, AID as the boss knew them both
to be good river men, and smart agile
fellows, he made 70 objection 10 their
going, thinking, perhaps, that it might
be the means o! healing the i!i-wi!i
that existed between them.
As soon as dinner wGs over the men
gathered upon The banks, 10 witness
the breaking Of the jam. The boss, in
company with the volunteers, went
down to the edge Of the falls ana saw
that there was 10 difficulty in bringing
their logs to the bank at that place, SO
they were quietly TO allow themselves
10 float down to this place before at
tempting to land.
This important matter decided upon
they returned to the landing, and each
selecting a log to his mind, sprang upon
it, pike-pole in hand, ard pushed out
into the stream.
"Be careful, boys" shouted the boss
after them. Keep close to this shore
afrer YOU break the jam. The water
draws hard over the falls, and the
further out YOU are the more trouble
you'll have in getting ashore
| Once in the current, the Grail logs
upon which the two men stood, sprang
from wave to wave like a thing Of life
threatening each moment to throw
them into the boiling food beneath
them; but both had long been used 10
this mode OF locomotion, and they kept
their balance in a manner that was
perfectly wonderful to those who never
had ventured ahoat on so lrail bark.
With the sweep OF their pike poles
they guided the logs in the direction
they wished, and in a few moments,
Brown, who was in the advance sprang
upon the jam. lie WAS followed in
a moment b. Gordon, and while their
logs, no longer wanted, fcated down
towards the falls, they fell to work
upon the pile beneath them with 4
will.
They had hoped to have been able
| 10 find the key log that held the Jam
and so start the logs altogether, after a
few moments labor; but this .hcy
soon found was impossible, so closely
were they wedged against the rock,
and SO great was the force Of the wa
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