The Red Cloud chief., 1880-01-08

Sport on Q Nevada Log Plume.
At the summit of that cascade in
bondage the fiume begins. Its track is
a trough of heavy planks, ~converging in
an angle like that which is bounded by
the two sides Of a prism. Down this
canal, whose sides are worn very
smooth by the gentle but persistent fric-
ton Of water, and by the many rubs and
knocks of its freightage, the wood, the
stream flows sleekly and swiftly. with a
motion not dissimiiar TO the gliding Of a
snake. As the flume winds, the current
weaves this side and that, as If seeking
escape, like the Gagged power that il is.
Unremitting as the endless chain in
machinery, untiring as the natural
brooks by which il is fed, its capacity
for burden is unlimited, and the statis-
tics show that this little thread Of water
transports daily from the mountain top
TO the valley half a million feet Of min
ing timber, or 700 cords of wood. At
pieces along its route there are stations
of relay, or reinforcement rather, where
feeders pour in and compensate for the
waste incurred by leakage or overflow.
II follows no regular grade, but accom-
modates itself to the side of the noun
tain, however steep, and is swift &C
cordingly. What is the rate of speed /
do not know; but this / have noticed,
that it is SO rapid that a horse can not
drink from it, for if ne turns his head up
the hill the current floods his nOstrils,
and facing down stream the water falls
| ou,aU from his nantt.h nc - fttI from tho
lips of the doomed Tantalus.
Venturesome people have sailed down
it in boats, but such voyagers have been
too much occupied with the safe navi-
CATION of their cookie crafts to keep any
accurate log Of their journey. There is
a great deal of sporI and not a little
danger about this method of going to
sea, and so it is a favorite pastime with
the men of Lake Tahoe on a Sunday af-
ternoon. Indeed, its reputation as a
manly amusement has become more
than local, and travellers from abroad
feel that their our has been for naught
if they have not cOnsummated their add
ventures by a ride down the fume.
Looking across the valleys and seeing
the silver filament Of water hang
luz uOWH tuc Iloufltdlls tleS
feel their bosoms thrill with the de-
sire and ambition of Sam Patch, and
would rather forego their swim i'm Salt
Lake or a shot at a buffalo than to miss
this 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 timbers as they scud by,
ride till their heads swim, and ihen dis
embark as best they may. Or, more
timorous, the pleasure-seeker seats him.
self upon the narrow and uncertain deck
of a railroads.&c., clings to the same with
tenacious hands and feet, and launches
himself to his fate. AS his speed in
creases the spray flies, and his boat
wavers and threatens to capsize; he
thrusts his arms into the air. and with
frantic gesticulations endeavOrs to
preserve his balance. A little further
on she ships a sea into his boots, and
instinctively lifts them toward the sky.
Now he presents an example of that OBJ
Ject so repugnant to natural laws-a
very broad body on a very narrow base.
and in consequence he is speedily
brought To wreck and discontinue.
Better than these eXpcdients it is to
make a boat by mailing two short planks |
together in a shape like that Of the
fiume, but smaller, so that it will float
therein. Tack on a slat as a brace for
your feet, lay a short board across as a
seat, establish yoursel: thereon, and YOU
have a navicular toboggan which will
bear you safely to the end of the groove
i'll which it runs. Take in hand a lath
as y balance wand, unmoor yourself, |
and go. Now you are started you must
continue, at 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 at the sides of the
f1ume; they are o. splintery and I'M
p,aned boards, and will tear your hands
to pieces. Scylla and Charybdis are
very close TO you as you ride down the
narrow strait, and, moreover, they are
continuous as the journey is.long. You
will undoubtedly regret with sickness o.
the heart, and perhaps sickness OF the
stomach, that sou ever embarked on a
cascade ten miles i'm length, but bear
up. Though il be distress to you, vet
it is good amusement for the men at
who, walking patrol along the
flume. see you fit by, swift as the Fly
ing Dutchman, pale rs the phantom of
n lar dead with seasickness.-GOod
Company.