Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-05-24
Hazardous Fun.


A correspondent of Good Company
describes the mode of riding down
the log fumes in the Sierra Nevadas /:
At the summit that cascade in bondage,
the flume, begins. Its track is 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 friction of
the water, and by the many rubs and
knocks of its freightage-the wood
the stream flows sleekly and swiftly,
with q motion not dissimilar to the
gliding of a snake. AS the hume winds,
the current weaves this side and that,
as if seeking escape, like the Gagged
power that it is. Unremitting as the
endless chain in machinery, untiring as
the natural brooks, by which it is fed,
its capacity for burden is almost UNI
limited, and the statistics tell us that
this one little thread of water trans
ports daily from the mountain top to
the valley, half a million feet of min
ing timber, or 700 cords of wood. AT
places along its route, there arc stations
Of relay,or reinforcement, rather, where
feeders pour in, and compensate for the
waste incurred by leakage or overflow.
1t follows no regular grade, but accom-
modates itself to the side of the noun
tain, however steep, and is swift accor-
dinghy. 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 floods his nostrils, and
facing down stream, then the water falls
away from his mouth, as it did from
the lips Of the doomed Tantalus.
Venturesome people have sailed down
it in boats, but such voyagers have
been too much occupied with the safe
navigation Of their cookie crafts to
keep any accurate log of the journey.
There is great deal of sport, and not
q little danger, about this method of
going to sea, and so il is favorite pas
time with the men of Lake Tahoe OH q
Sunday afternoon. Indeed, its reputa-
ton as 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 adventures by ride down the
hume. Looking across the valley and
seeing the silent filament of water hang
ing down the mountain side, they feel
their bosoms thrill with a desire and
ambition Of Sam Patch, and would
rather forego their swim in Salt Lake or
their shot at q buffalo than to miss this
latest episode of American travel.
Persons practised in the art, those
who hold cool heads and the equipoise
of accomplished skaters, will step OIL
the floating timbers as they scud by,
ride till their heads swim, and then dis
embark as best they may. Or, more
timerous, the pleasure seeker seats him
self upon the narrow and uncertain
deck of a 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 waivers and threatens to cap
size, he thrusts his arms into the air,
and, with frantic gesticulation, endea-
vors to preserve his balance. A lit
tie farther on he ships sea into
his boots, and instinctively lifts them
toward the sky. Now he presents an
example of that object so repugnant to
natural laws, very broad body on a
very narrow base, and in consequence
he is speedily brought to wreck and
discontinue.
Better than these expedients is to
make boat by mailing two short planks
together in a shape like that Of the
nume, but smaller, so that it will float
therein. Tack on a slat as brace for
your feet, lay short board across as a
seat, establish yourself thereon, and
you have navicular toboggan which
will bear you safely to the end of the
groove in which it runs. Take in your
hand q lath as o balancing wand, un-
moor yourself, and 60. Now you are
started you must continue, at least un-
til 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 be-
come frightened and foolish, and grasp
at the sides of the fumc they are Of
splintery and unplaned boards, and will
tear your hands to pieces. Scylla and
Charybdis are very close to you rs you
ride down the narrow strait, and, more
over, they are as continuous as the
journey is long. You will undoubted-
ly regret, with sickness of the heart,
and perhaps sickness of the stomach,
that you ever embarked OH cascade
10 miles in length, but bear up
Though it be distress to you, yet it is
good amusement to the men Of Lake
Tahoe, who, walking patrol along the
fume, see you fit by, swift as the Fly
ing Dutchman, pale as the phantom OF
a man dead with sca-sickness.
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