, 1884-10-25
Fight with a whirlpool.

Colville, which ended in complete
and dire disaster: On Tuesday, Sept. |
8Oth, our party numbering three
men, our names being, Oswald john
son, Alfred Tyrell, and Henry
owens, left McCauley's ferry in a
small four-oar cedar plaEk keel boat
with provisions enough to last about
Ave days, our information leading us
estray on this point and which we
afterwards bitterly realized. We
sailed down stream leisurely enough
and made the Columbia lakes In
about two days, sighting parties OF
Indians frequently, busily employed
corking and dressing carlboo and
bear meat, and from whom We might
have obtained a plentiful supply of
the needful had we thought it requi-
site. But not to further prolOng the
story,we encountered our first adver-
sary on Thursday morning, the wind
rising to a gale and dead against us,
with of course very rough water and
all we could do was to pull along close
in shore, making poor headway
merely a few miles for that days
work. 1t now flashed across our
minds that the journey waS1nOt go
ing to be the pleasure ufp we had
anticipated, so we theD'and there cut
down the little grub I'VE HI I'D to very
small rations, at the same time
thinking we might come across more
Indian parties. Delusive dream. We
saw not even a solitary Indian until
we arrived at Fort Sheppard, eight
or night days later. The remaining
part of the voyage across the lakes
was time of hardship, hunger and
exhaustion. On Thursday we were
pulling against heavy wind and sea
for what we rightly cOnjectured to be
the mouth Of the river, and about
ten miles away, when suddenly our
hearts leaped with joy. We saw on
the opposite shore a number OF men
moving about We were not long
crossing the lake and discovering
who they were. They had tale to
tell as well as we, having come down
from the second crossing on raft.
They had run out of food and had
lost the raft during the previous
night, leaving them in a somewhat
helpless condition.
They however acted very kindly
toward us, sharing a small supply Of
bear meat which proved real boon,
The next morning, Friday, our par
ty proceeded again In the boat, tax
with us one of the raft party, a mar
by the name OF VIM. Jones, also the
whole Of their luggage, blankets etc
Leaving them to make the best o.
their way unencumbered, and thai
night we all made the river as far as
the Kootnai. Making Fort Shepard
, on Saturday, we were well entertain
ed by Mr.. Moore, the British Gus
toms officer there, who furnished u
with all we required and with whom
we remained until Monday morn
, ing. Then feeling good and strong
= we started again in our boat, still
!. including VIM. Jones in our party
A passing notice Of this man ma,
not be amiss here. He was a sailo
by profession, and was making hi
way down to the Pacific coast; wa
singular looking, with only one eye
and claimed to speak seven differer
languages fluently. He had gres
10 confidence in his ability to navigat
any rapids or rough water that "
might have to contend with. W
= arrived at the "Dells" about two
: the afternoon and took dinner wit
: Peter Ellison, who resides ther,
n and who particularly warned us a
- to how we went through the "Dells
:, which is very narrow, dee
"A canyon with a large, high roc
n placed at the entrance and nearly
~ the center, making two channel
In and having a fearful whirlpool
~ the right-hand passage.
ne Previous to going through tn
ne place we went and surveyed 1t vel
Is thoroughly and knew exactly whe
no the danger was Alfred Tyrrel ho'
tal fever could not be prevailed upon
on 90 through the canyon, preferring
n walk on mile or so and then to
en- picked up, thus leaving only thr
v, Of us together.
We We babe good bye to Mr.. Allis
ng and took our position in the boat
Jones steering and saying that
hit was all right. Although, no dOu
ie- we felt little timid, we pushed
1. and headed for the canyon, whi
ter was only few yards of, but in a
to tai impulse, Jones steered us straig
iir- for the whirlpool. The man on t
en- bank cried out to us but 1t did l
ed help us. We had to take it quiC
nd er time than 1t takes to write 1t. '
ed. were in a death struggle in the
ng lentless whirl, which just played a
BILE sported with us as If we were bits
It straw. Swimming was Of no
dr. count there. managed to get hal
ice dozen grips on the boat but as of
got hurled off again and finally g.
ngs IL up as a bad Job. Just then
M boat seemed to be suddenly caui
ear by some sort of under current, &C
ing up about twenty yards below
pool, and gringing me with her.
was then knew had a chance,
to though remote one, being aim
INK overcome with exhaustion.
un- next instant l was hurled against
du- rocks and grasped friendly pro
the tion which managed to climb
Trg | rounofnad fhara uuffl I had sol