The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-04-28


ice. Then huge pieces would break away
and float down. These were soon follow
ed by logs from above, and these mixed
with the broken ice rushed down. Thick
er and thicker came the logs, and we
knew that the whole of the winters cut
was on the move. Huge jams would form.
Logs and ice would form and pile them
selves up higher than house top, and
after a while the jam would break with d
heavy crash, and down they would rush
with a noise like thunder, and a momen-
tum that would have carried all obstacles
before it. Crash! crash, roar and rush!
Day and night, for three days and nights,
still they came, until we begin to wonder
II all the trees in the woods have not been
transformed into logs, and are coming
down. 1t scarcely, seems possible that 50
many logs can have been cut in single
season.
About the close Of the third day the
river began to clear of logs and ice, and
though still very high, and dashing along
with foam-capped pillows, the roar and
rush had in measure ceased, and al
though the stream was not quite clear Of
ice for several days, still the main body
had gone down. A few of these logs were
caught in the booms at Lake Pepin and
other points but many of them, doubtless,
fioated out into the ocean and were lost to
man. The most of the mills in the upper
regions were destitute of logs that sea-
son, and were forced to remain idle, while
few had supply of logs of the last sea-
sons cut, which furnished them with
work. Some were ruined by the loss, but
the genuine lumberman is not easily dis
couraged by misfortunes, and the MAORI
ity of them went to work again with un.
diminished courage.
COURAGE OF THE PIONEER LUMBERMEN.
The following example is illustrative of
the pluck and energy of the pioneer lum-
bermen Of our Northwestern pineries:
Mr.. Manahan had built a saw mill on
the Yellow River, a tributary of the Chip
pewa. Twice had he built dam at great
expense, and as often had high water
broken and washed it away. The third
time it was built in different way and at
still greater expense, and this time it
some, and somewhat to be feared, but
they did no real damage. At length after
unexpected delays, the mill was at last
completed. and put in operation. The
trouble with the dam, added to other de-
lays, had exhausted all the means Mr..
Mammalian possessed, and he now found
himself heavily in debt.
Tha -
and in June, had been in operation about
a month, when one night it accidentally
took fire, and was burned to the ground.
The next morning, it being Sunday, the
timbers were still smouldering, and the
owner was out viewing the ruins. A RATS
crew, who had spent the night near there,
came over for the same purpose. The
raft was composed of square timber, and
when the crew went back, Mr.. Manahan
accompanied them, and in a short time a
bargain was effected, and the raft became
the property of Mr.. Manahan. This was
to be used in the framework of another
mill, to take the place of the one destroyed
by fire, and the next morning workmen
were at work on its construction.
1t was rushed through to completion,
and got to work as speedily as possible
But the accumulation of misfortunes was
too much for the proprietor, and although
he put forth every effort to retrieve his
his losses, he was never quite successful,
and the mill at last passed into other
hands, and Mr.. Manahan was obliged to
seek his fortune elsewhere-a fate unde-
Hx, 10 &C.
with 80 much perseverance.
LUMBERMEN's FARE.
The lumbermen's shanty has already
been described-a few words with regard
to their fare. VIM. H. Price, Familiarity
known as "Bill Price," lumberman on
the Black River, was won't to say that in
supplying lumber camp, in early times
he usually cent in a bushel of beans and
barrel Of whisky, and considered that
sufficient for all purposes. Without &C
cepting this statement as strictly true, it
is not to be denied that these two articles,
beans and whisky, were important articles
in camp supplies. For the rest, the fare
was the coarsest, and consisted principally
Of bread and meat; potatoes and other
vegetables being out of the question on &C
count of the difficulty of transportation
But On this coarse, hearty fare, the lum-
herman lived and prospered, and perform
ed feats of industry and endurance,
which would seem well-nigh impossible
to city born and bred laborers Of the pres
ent day.
In sharp contrast TO Prices statement
was that Of another lumberman. who said
when employing his laborers: "Come on
boys! Go with mel I always feed my
men well. When loading up for the woods
the first thing that roll on my sled is .
box Of Ca n-n-e-d peaches" draw
ing out the words by way of emphasis,
she next thing roll on my sled is box
COVE OYSTERS" and so on enumera-
ting various delicacies, ~ always feed
my men well. After these statements he
usually obtained goodly crew, although
help was sometimes scarce.
In couple Of weeks, members Of this
camp would be seen struggling back to-