Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-26
II HE HERALD.
Running Rapid in a Birch Canoe.

Running Rapid in a Birch Canoe.
Incidentally to his narrative Of 'Sea-Trout
Fishing, in Scri6ner for May, Mr.. A. r. Mac
donough gives the following description of a
necessary experience on the rivers that feed
the st. Lawrence
In this sort OF surf, half stone, half
water, common wooden boat would
be bumped to pieces in five minutes.
The only thing that can feat In it.,
The birch canoe, is one OF these mar
vels of clever adaptation that look
like genius. Such canoe is really
nothing but basket with pointed
ends aud stiffened sides. You sit,
foat, and toss.in her as you would
in basket, and without most watch
fnl. perpendicuIarity aud tiresome
tension of the norVes in baiauoe, you
lip cut of her as you would out OF a
basket She is mere siogle skin OF
bark sewed tcget her with deer-siI :
ewe, trimmed with slight ash or birch
stripe, and connected aeioss at the
top by FIVE slender ,hwarts, or
"bords,' model d 10 all her lines so
that the deepest poinsis slongthe mid
die bottom, and she turns in the water
every way as on pivot. The draft,
wi.h two men aboard, is three to
four inches. Buoyani, of elastic
frame, ursteady TO the lightest
touch, end ways or sideways, she an
swers to skllful control ike sen
lient thing, and throws clumsy RI
der like mustang. With her light
grace and delicate color she is the
lady OF water craft. The skill Of
these csnne-men is wonderful, only
gained by long practice from early
childhood, Nearing tho foot of the
rapid, while yet in still water, the
guide drops The paddle, stands erect
with his setting pole 10 the extreme
stern, his boy in the same attitude
at The point of the DOW, and studies
the eddIes aud stones intently. In a
moment she is swung alongside a
rock, her peak thrust just round it
across the slream-then with q
mighty drive from the poles she
darts diag0nally through the torrent
aud whirls her tail down stream, IN
der the lee of ano ther rock few feet
higher up She is again held hug
giug the granite by main force, and
edging forward till the beat ct the
water boiling mp astern of her cen
ter helps to lift her on, and with ar
other powerful send she shoots
Gcrcss upward again to the next
covering point She threads her in-
tricate way among the powders By
repetition Of these zigzag dashes,
sometimes missing the aim and
crashing back against rock. some
times baiten aside by the pole Slip
ping on tbs bottom with the guide's
eye quick at every turn, and bis
muscles steadily braced. The mems
pose, aiertress and strength form q
study At tues she must be thrust
up by sheer power against the dead
rush of the torrent, gaining inch by
iLch. David's cries to his boy rise
above the noise of the water
"PouSse drretei lance l'edui hale
reau autre bord pousse, pouSSe an
IoiH I" Accidents occur, but seldom
from INSTRUMENTATION If a pole should
snap while the stress Of the flood
beats on her, the canoe may be
whirled broadside on. and capsiZed.
Then there is rolling and tumblirg
among the rocks, struggling for a
footing, sometimes with hard bruises,
or if near the foot of the rapid,
one may b, swept into deep water
and must keep clutch on the point
of the canoe till she drifts into shall
lows. Except in the larger rivers.
there is not much danger Of drown
ing. The guides prefer ascending to
going down a rapid, as the risk OF
tho canoe getting beyond their COR
troll is much less when the water
drives against her in sight. They
are very cautious too, to avoid
straining or bruising the boat. lyon
act as if this canoe belonged to you, .
David would reproach his boy at q
careless movement.