Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-10-07
A PERILOUS VOYAGE.
BY CHARLES E. HURD.


THOSE familiar with the lumber regions
not only of the United States, but of Can
ada, know that the great streams which
float the huge RATS of timber down to the
various ports and mills along their
course are often made serviceable for 9th.
er purposes. Sometimes the lumberman
or shingle-maker takes his family with
him to the scene of his winters labors
and in the spring, when the seasons work
is ended, places them-Women and chill.
dren, sometimes round dozen-on a raft
of logs or shingles, and, keeping close to
the shore, floats down ten, twenty or thirty
miles to his home. The hunter who has
for weeks hunted and trapped in the vast
forests along those streams binds his
packages of furs together, makes himself
a conveyance by flashing half a dozen logs
firmly to each other, and accomplishes
his journey of hundred or more miles in
twenty-four hours
AS general thing there is little risk in
such q journey. If the weather is fair and
the river CT ear of floating lumber there is
hardly more danger than there would be
in making the distance behind a pair OF
farm-horses in a country wagon. People,
however, if they live in constant contact
with danger, grow careless in time, and
often risk their own lives and those of 9th
ers where there is no apparent necessity
And SO it happened in the instance am
about to relate.
John Allen was weli-to-do farmer OF
Woodstock, on the st. John River, and
besides the income derived from his land
and dairy, he owned, in connection with
his son, a tract OF wild timber, some
dozen miles up the river. Beginning to
turn its advantages to account in small
way, the two had erected small single.
mill near the shore and kept half-dozen
men at work during the winter The re
suit the first year was so satisfactory thai
it was resolved to increase the faciIi
ties of the manufacture, and, that it NIGH
be done understandingly, they deter
mined to visit the mill for personal ex
animation.
They were to have one of the farm
hands drive them up as far as they coulC
get with a team; and from that point i
was hardly more than mile to the mill
More than half the way the road was mere
3y rough carttrack through the woods
making the journey rather tedious one
but by starting very early in the morning
they calculated to make all the necessary
Investigations and get back early in tn,
afternoon.
This was the plan agreed upon and th,
time set was the following Saturday. A.
soon as 1t became known IN the house thu
two youngest boys, Harry and Jack, were
wild with excitement
Mayn't we go, too?" they shouted il
concert Please let US go. We neversav
shingle-mill.'
A shingle-mill isn't much to see y an
swered their father "And, besides
you'll be getting into all sorts Of danger
30 no!we won't. Wen be so careful i
you'll let us go. Itwould be such a mic,
ride!'
Why don't you let them go, father?'
said Mrs. Allen. They won't take Il,
much room and they'll enjoy it so much. )
Well, WE'LL" said the farmer. good
naturally, " let 'em go, then; let ,em 90
snail have to take the double wagon i
they do, though; and that's big enough
Tor the whole family"
=" Why not take the whole family
then ?" asked Mrs. Allen, half in earnest
I've hardly been out of doors the Who'll
winter and spring, and [ should eniov tn
ride as well as the boys"
Farmer Allen laughed.
Any more of you want to go? VIVA
would you do with the baby?"
lake her, OF course. You don't sur
pose weather like this would hurt her
She needs the air as much as anybody"
Are you really in earnest, mother ?n