Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-04
Timber Rats OF the Black Forest.


The bauer Is primarily and by nature wood
man, and very large proportion OF the Black
Forest people, who number about 800, 900, are
road and water Of this CHIEF prodsct Of ehe
land Formerly all the timber was floated
down the various streams into the Rhine. Very
way; but fortunately for lovers Of the pic
tureSque the old method is not wholly out Of
use and rafting-holz-f l0sserei, as it is called
tractiye features of BLACK Forest life
The pines having been Sawn Off a little above
the roots, are slid down the mountain or hill
SIDE where they nave Grown d 9Eo dne ho
ders and amid rapids through the valley. Here
they are pierced at each end, and tled togetner
Wtn willow roots IN rows OF from dour 70 Ten Ten
roughly constructed raft similar one is
joined, also tied with willow roots. To this an
many as thirty lengths OF tall pine trees have
been joined. To the foremost q sort Of rough
boW.a hallowed tree TRUNKS usually fixed,
and the last section Of the raft is fitted with a
rudder formed OF STRIPPING pine.
The frail, extraordinary looking craft Is now
launched On its rapid voyage man stands at
tween the trees and drenching him at every
yard. Another is at the helm. All along the
raft. men furnished with poles or oars move
rapidly from section to section, guiding here,
restraining there, and at times having to use
all their strength to cling on. liable to be
swamped at every moment, as the raft rushes
ing over rapids. and through aarrows, and over
powders twisting and curving as 1t follows the
Intricate windings OF the stream, like thing
of ltfe; not precisely after the fashion in which
we ordinarily apply the term, but rather in the
form of huge, black, wriggling serpent, which
seems to swim rather through than upon the
surface OF the stream, sending a rolling wave
before it, which surges UP and through the tree
trunks In thousand Kissing eddies.
AS may Wen be believed the en-, navigation Of
Knowledge Of the locality; and the extreme
rap'dtty with which they are carried over the
seething water seems to the uninitiated on
locker simply mad career toward destruction.
AS matter OF fact, however, the streams are
so shallow that little real danger exists.
Where the narrow mountain stream flows out
into the scarcely less rapid river the RATS are
W1dened and joined to Others, until in time,
when the broad and stately Rhine is reached,
they are built up into those floating villages
which may so often be observed upon the river,
some of them, 1t is said, 700 feet long.
These constructions are very peculiar. They
are formed OF several layers Of trees placed one
on the other, and planked over with rough deal
so as to form deck. Upon this are erected va
rtous small huts and cabins, for the Rhine raft
carries often population of not less than three
or four hundred persons, the boatrnen being ac-
companied by their wives and families, while
COWS, fowls and pigs are also carried for the
use or the crew; and we are assured that the
domestic economy of an East Indiaman or an
plete. A well-suppled boiler is at work night
and day In the kitchen; the dinner hour is an
nOuIceu ny u UaSkeC SUuck on q pOle, at WHICH
signal the pilot gives the word OF command,
and the men run from all quarters to receive
their rationS; While the consumption of provi-
SfonS during the voyage Is stated to be aim 0St
incredible, it having been calculated that,
from the time OF the construction OF the raft
until it Is sold, no less than $4,000 pounds of
bread, 0.0GO pounds OF meat, 1900 pounds of
butter, 10000 pounds Of cheese 500 tuns of beer,
S butts Of wine and other provisions In proper
ton are disposed of.
The RATS are navlgated to Holland. where
they are sold, producing from e20 900 to 100000
each. The RATS are very frequently the prop
erty OF company known as the Schiller &C.
sellschaft which dates from the 10Th century
and which unites a vast number OF small forest
prOprietors. This company, together with the
government and the prince OF Furstenberg,
own the greater part Of the Black Forest. The
ferGesellschaft alone Is estimated at over
e1OO.00O yearly, and altogether Holland is a
consumer of Black Forest timber to the amount
of e110,ooO per annum-tH drper's Weekly.
THE MAN WHO HAD HIS POCKET Picked
On the fair grounds yesterday an honest-look-
ing old chap walked up to a policeman, and,
after passing few remarks on the weather, let
out with: See here-IVe had my pocket
picked" SIS that so?" asked the officer, Chow
didn't you report it?' 'No; this is the first I've
said about it." chow much did you lose?"
''Wall," slowly replied the visitor, 81 didn'tlose
much. ! believe 1t was only about 80 cents, or
long there. first thought wouldn't say any
thing, as folks might think l was green, but
concluded that justice must take her course, no
matter how bad 1T makes me feel. If you can
recover the money I'll divide even up with you,
and maybe we can scare the feller into paying
me so cents for my worry The pick pocket
still reJoices in his freedom Free Press