St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-02
A PERILOUS TRIP.
Exciting Ride Over the Kootenai
Rapids En u Eateau.


From the WaIla Walla Statesman.
The following story was told Statesman
reporter byW. H. TOles, who had lust made
the run of the Columbia river from the line Of
the Canadian Pacific to the Little Dalles: The
party consisted of Mr.. Toles, James Bowen,
Archie and Paul Mcdonald and II. L.
Wright. They struck the Columbia at
Farwell, the second crossing Of the river OIL
the Canadian Pacific going west. At that
point a bateau So feet in length, feet
wide and 6-foot beam was constructed of
split cedar, and when completed and laden
with worldly goods the voyage was
begun.
The first twenty-five miles was passed
without any event worth mentioning As
the boat was gliding along rapidly in COM
paratively smooth but swift water, a Snag
was suddenly encountered, which upset the
bateau i'll a twinkling, throwing the five
voyagers iutO the ice-c0ld water and fore
ing them to swim for dear life. All hands
landed safely on shore, but the bateau and
its contents was gone, but fortunately
was captured again q few miles below
stranded on a rock in the rapids. BY this
accident the party lost about $500 in cur
reucy, their matches, clothing, blankets,
provisions, etc, and out of the entire out
nit only one sack OF flour was saved
Nothing daunted the party relaunched on
the tireSOme journey. trusting to luck for
provisions, which they happily obtained
from others who Were more successful III
their journey. The Arrowhead lakes were
reached, and there with fair wind they
made over sixty miles q day
Once through the lakes the Kootenai
rapids We're reached, and there the fun
commenced. The immense body of water
flowing down the Columbia was here COM
pressed through 4 narrow and rocky gorge
and the seething waters boiled and threw
up mist so heavy that the banks could
hardly be distinguished. The waves rolled
twelve and fourteen feet high and broke
over projecting rocks with a roar that deaf
ened the Silent On-lOOkerS, who gaZed upon
the scene with feeling Of awe, mingled
with fear. Everything ready, the bateau
plunged into the great uninterrupted wave,
and for an instant was lost to sight, then
again emerging into view it was shot like
an arrow down stream, narrowly escaping
being thrown on an misunderstanding bowl
der projecting from the water in mid
awaiting the approach of the enemy
to launch forth his messenger
of death. Then the boat was
suddenly drawn into a calm, where the ex-
hauSted bOatmen hoped for rest, but were
to be disappointed, for the water begins to
describe circle. The whirlpool is filling
and moments delay ON the spot means
death. The bateau and its precious cargo
will be sucked into the now troublesome
vortex and all will be lost. With the energy
of desperation the four oars beat the water
and suddenly the craft shoots forth and
leaves the whirlpool behind, which by this
time, as if maddened by the escape of its
prey, boiled and seethed and whirIed in It's
seemingly frantic attempts to swamp its
prey.
The entire fOrty-two miles of the KOot-
enai rapids was q repetition of such scenes,
but the gallant crew, destined to an acct
dent on the first day. were also destined to
pass safely by the rapids, which means al
most death to pass over in a frail bateau.
The journey of 22O miles was thus made
in five days. From that on the jour
ney was made i'll comparative comfort
and safety. A boat containing four
Swedes passed down ahead and attempted
to make the Little Dalles rapids but being
unacQuainted with them they werS
drawn into whirlpool as it was filling
and were sucked beneath the water, and
boat or men were never seen again. Since
last fall eighteen deaths by drowning on
this river are known, and how many
have passed away to the unknown through
this watery gate will never be discovered.