Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-12-12
THE LOG FLUME.
An Excl ing Place for Amusement in
the Sierra Neyadd.- Dangerous Rides.
Good Company.

/ .
Good Company.
At the summit of that cascade in
bondage the fume begins. It's track is
trough Of heavy planks, convergiag
in an angle like that which il bounded
by the two sides of a prism. Down this
canal, whose sides are worn very smooth
by the gentle yet persistent friction of
| the water, and the many rubs and
knocks of the freightage, the wood, the
stream flows sleekly and swiftly, with a
motion not dissimilar to the gliding of
a snake. AS the fiume winds the cur.
rent weaves, this side and that, as if
seeking TO escape, like the Gagged power
that il is. Unremitting as the endless
chain in machinery, untiripg as the
natural brooks by which it is fed, its
capacity for burden is unlimited, and
statistics show that this little thread of
water transports daily from the noun
tam top to the valley 100000 feet Of
mining timber, or 700 cords of wood.
At places along It's route there are sta
tons of relay, or reinforcement, rather,
where feeders pour in and compensate
for the waste incurred by leakage and
overflow. II follows no regular grade,
Ebut accommodates itself to the side of
the mountain, however steep, and is
swift accordingly. What is its rate Of
speed | do not know; but this | have
noticed, that it is so rapid that horse
cannot drink from it, for if he turns his
head up the hill the torrent fills his
nostris, and facing down stream the
/ ~, cnl /. fro h ~
did from the lips Of the doomed
| Tantalus.
Venturesome people have sailed
down it in boats, but such q voyage has
been too much occupied with the safe
navigation of their cookie crafts to keep
any accurate log of their journey. There
is great deal of sport and not little
danger about this method of going to
sea, and so it is favorite pastime with
the men of Lake Tahoe on Sunday
afternoon. Indeed, its reputation as u
manly amusement has become more
than local, and travellers from abroad
feel that their tour has been for naught
if they have not consumated their
advantages by q ride down the flume.
Looking across the valley and seeing
the silver iilament of water hanging
down the mountains they feel their
bosoms thrill with the desire and ambi-
ton of Sam Patch, and would rather
forego their swim in Salt Lake, or their
shot ut u buffalo than to miss the latest
episode Of American travel.
Persons practiced in the art, those
who hold cool heads and the equipoise
of accomplished skaters, will step on
the floating tlmbers as they scud by,
ride till their heads swim, and then dis
embark rs best they may. Or, more
timorous, the pleasure-seeker seats him
self upon the narrow and uncertain
deck OF railroad tie, clings to the same
with tenacious hands and feet, and
launches himself to his fate. AS his
speed increases the spray flies, and his
boat wavers and threatens to capsze;
he thrusts his arms into the air, and
with frantic gesticulation, endeavors to
preserve his balance. A little further on
he ships sea into his boots and in
stnctively lifts them toward the sky.
Now he presents an example OF that
object 80 repugnant to natural laws, u
very broad body on u very rarrow base,
and in consequence he is speedily
brought to wreck and discontinue.
Better than these expedients it is to
make u boat by mailing two short panks
together in shape like that of the
llnme, but smaller, so that it will float
therein. Tack on slat as brace for
your feet, lay short board as u seat,
establish yourself thereon, and you have
II nnvicular tobaggan which Will bear
safely to the end Of the grooyein which
il runs. Take IN hand a Hath as bal
ancing wand, unmoor yourself and 60
Now you are started you must contin-
ue, ut least until you reach some stretch
of level ground ON which the current
Stacks its pace. Beware lest YOU lose
your head and topple over TO this side
or that; you will be sadly bruised and
perhaps killed if you do. Beware lest
you become frightened and foolish, and
grasp ut the sides of the ilume; they
are Of splintry and unplaned boards
and will tear your hands to pieces. Sc
villa and Charybdis are very close To
you as you ride down the narrow strait,
and, moreover, they are as continuous
as the journey is long. You will UNI
doubtedly regret, with sickness of heart,
and perhaps sickness of the stomach,
that you ever embarked on n cascade
ten miles in length, but bear up.
Though it may be distress to you, yet
il is good amusement for the men at
Luke Tahoe, who, walking patrol along
the Ilumc, see you fit by, swift AS the
FLYING Dutchmon, pale rs the phantom
of man dead with seaslckness.
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l.. n......., 20 n l,.,.,,,i,,Ir I,.,mnh