The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-11

Colonel Taylor, and others, to witness
the attempt to get the Nile over the
first cataract. A sheik, with $50 men, was
also in readiness to assist Having got under
way the vessel steamed for about three miles
against strong adverse current, sometimes
scarcely able to make any progress At length
a small creek on the starboard side of
the river was reached, where water was compar-
while preparations were completed for ascending
the cataract the full force of which would be
felt Immediately on leaving the point that then
sheltered us. For this purpose hawser was
made fast to the bow Of the steamer led round
the point and along the side of the cataract, and
manned by the sheik and his $50 men All be-
ing ready, the steamer was poled out of the shet
tered creek and allowed to drift until she III
emerged into the boiling and foam {,
water from the cataract At the ~
Of command the hawser was tigh q :
and the men ran away with it. sh 81 So
and screaming in the indescribable Manners
liar to the natives. The engines went full spec.
ahead and little by little the steamer breasted
the surging current, running at a speed of four
teen or sixteen knots. The current caught her
on the starboard bow and she sheered with
alarming force over to the port side of the river
The noise of the waters and the shouts of the
men formed babel of sounds not easily for
gotten. Another sheer in the opposite direc-
tion, and the steamer with great force struck
against rock on the same side as the friendly
creek. 1t was a critical moment, but. having
reached quiet water, it was evidently necessary
that increased efforts should be used if a
second attempt was to succeed. Accordingly fifty
additional men were procured The bow hawser
was led along the side of the cataract as before
while another hawser was secured amidships
and all was in readiness for the second attempt
1t may be mentioned that within few yards on
the port side of the cataract the stream ran
with terrible violence over hundreds Of rocks
and it was all importTnt to avoid these. All
being ready, the sheltering creek was left be-
hind, the engines went full speed ahead. and
the two hawsers were hauled on by the
natives on shore. Unfortunately the mid
ship hawser was from some cause sackened,
and it fouled the paddle, resulting in
fracture of the paddle shaft. The engine ceased
working, the stream bore us backward with
frightful rapidity. There was nothing on shore
to take a turn with the bow hawser and the
men let go Like flash we passed a rock that
stood in our way, and an effort was made to
drop the anchor. The cable, as was to be ex-
pected, snapped like piece Of thread, and the
steamer, broadside, was rushing on to a rock
that barred the way, and round which the
water was foaming and tossing with alarming
force. To strike this rock would newt
ably have caused the steamer to turn turtle and
break up into match wood. The moment was
critical in the extreme, and some on board were
preparing to swim for it, when the presence of
mind of Captain Bedford hit upon happy expe-
dent A fve-inch hawser was secured In an in
stant to ten coils of tough wire, and the whole
were thrown overheard. An ANXIOUS minute
was passed. and to the relief of all it was found
that the steamer was brought up and actually
only about thirty yards above the dreaded rock
Under Providence, we owe to Captain Bedford
and his men the fact that the vessel escaped
destruction. The soldiers behaved we'll and
gave material assistance to the sailors Help
being telegraphed for, We were extricated from
our difficulties, and reached Assouan in safety.