The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-04-07
"A RIVER TRAGEDY.
Robert Duncan Milne in the Argonaut.

Robert Duncan Milne in the Argonaut.
The Mendocino redwood country is
not the pleassntest place 10 the world to
be in during rainy weather. Once the
vet season has regularly get in the belt
that stretches for miles north of the Gu.
alala River along the coast presents about
as cheerless and dismal prospect as a
depressed Imagination would care to
picture. Life, however, is stirring at
such times The freshets which then
occur upon the rivers carry down i'm
nsnse quantities Of timber to the coast.
where it is collected, assorted, and held
feady for transport to San Francisco or
other commercial centers. THIS, Of
course, entails activity commensurate
with the fall of the rain and the extent
Of the freshet.
The Gualala River is the natural drain
for the great basin of the Mendocino
! red woods, though it's actual course is
short compared with other California
rivers its north, middle and south forks
together form very respectable aggre.
gate Of water highway, the logging bu-
siness on which 10 by no means the least
Of the industries OF the State. Two or
three years ago ! CHANGED to be 10 this
section Of the country during the early
part oil January, just as the first heavy
rains we're setting in and, as luck would
have it, got caught in the. district lying
between the middle and south forks OF
the Gualala River When heavy rains
set 10 1t is no uncommon thing for the
dwellers between the forks to be kept
wster.bound for several days ct time.
with the alternative OF either crossing
the swollen torrent or making difficult
passage over the plashing, sogsy noun
tain divides to the stage ro.d in the In
terror Of the county. Such was the
state Of affairs when found myself IN.
expectedly caught at small logging
camp near the banks of the creek, thank.
ful enough, however, under the circum-
stances, to have shelter over nv head, a
roaring 6re to sit at, and bunk to turn
into when got ready.
"Rain's s.comin' down purity lively"
remarked one OF the three woodsmen
who occupied the cabin as he finished
cleaning the supper dishes and lit his
pipe. "Startin' in purity airly amt it,
Jim7"
"Waal, no." replied the party address
ed from the bunk where he was lying
stretched upon his blankets, reading some
old papers by the light OF candle. IL
reck' lect It comm down heavier nor this
afore January. Seventy-six warn't 1t.
Bill, when the forks was hoomin', an
We cuddent make the Point for nigh onto
two weeks 2" f
Tue third parsonage addressed as Bill
assented with nod OF the head from q
stool before the FIRE, where he sat with
bis chin upon his hands.
mo, nor wouldn't keer to make the
Point on sncb q night as this" observed
the first personage Who spoke as he drew
up q stool beside Bill and myself and
puffed swav at his pipe.
"It's matter OF some difficulty, then.
crossing the river, is iti" asked with
q tinge OF anxiety. as I knew very we'll
that the "Point" alluded to was the SET
Element of Stewsrt's PoiLt,toward which
was then travelling, and to get there j,
was necessary to cross the fork OF !he
river We we're now on.
swell, stranger, / should remark
said Bill, who had hitherto said nothing
locking up. "The fords is all up, the
crick hez riz morn Eve feet sense NOR.
min, and there's nary bridge 'cept ye
take the logs, n'it's a mighty dang 'rous
thing 10 do, ev'n fur experienced hand
let alone atenderfoot. Why. fust thing
We know'd. the hull pile might break ur
an ye'd find yerself at the Point quicker
ye had use fur, even s'posin' ye didn'
get crushed to sawdust or drowuded
afore ye wss 6fty feet on yer wsy." Aui
the old logger relapsed into meditation
With cough in which thought could
detect tinge OF pity. q ~
The slight smatiering which I had o
woodcrsft was enough to tell me that th
remarks just made related to an eror
nous pile Of heterogeneous logs ant
: trunks OF trees, that formed compac
mass bridging the stream some quartz
OF q mile above. the slippery and treach
erous nature Of which might we'll prov
fatal to tyro in the redwoods shoul,
be attempt to cross that rude and peril
Gus causeway. which noticed on pass
log it that afternoon constituted thel
the only practicable connection betwee
shore and shore.
The company had relspsed into silenc
only broken by the swish of the drivin
rain upon the cabin walls, when suddenl
1.-THE door was thrown open and fourt
woodsman stepped unseremoniously in
: Hell, Dan Higginsp exclaimed tn
trio. almost in breath, as the new.come
brought mis- dripping, oil-skin clad figur
nearer the fire.
whats brought We out In such
/. night as this ?" said B.ll making root
, for him I'D a thought you'd rathe
ha' STAYED in doors wi the old woman
l shud iD your place, you bet"
81 came down to horrer yer hook.
returned the person addressed as Da
.. Higgins shaking the rain from hi
clothes. "Mine's broke"
"What We want With hook t.nIght !
: chorused the crowd.
"Gwine ter cross the creek an git mei
cine for the little gal" replied Dal
. "She's took awful bad with the newmo,
!, ny, an nothin'll do the old woman br
to git med'cin from the Point right awal
. Whar's yer hookP Oh. thar it is in t.
, corner" be continued walking TO or
end Of the cabin and taking up Ion
pole tipped with steel, something like
), boat. hook, used occasionally by logger
4 to steady themselves upon such passage
:. as Dan now proposed to make.
: "How we're the logs lookin' as y
come along, Dan ?" asked Bill redec
: lively.
"rhe water was lappin' 'em purity liv
ly," replied Dan; "but that there b
trunks layin' right cross stream belo'
ID an it'll take mighty big push to sta
ii her. Guess she's all right for day
lie two vet, any ways"