Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-03-10

without bad blood, row, and bloody
faces. On the whole, Farnham felt
that he had pursued the wisest course
after all.
The little bookkeeper left River Dan
at the Dam and finished bis journey to
Oxbow alone. -. -:
. Mr.. Lyon made no mention of the
trouble at the dance to his bookkeeper.
His daughter gave an account of her es-
cort's cowardice, but the lumberman
failed to take that interest his daughter
desired.
Matters went on after the old fashion.
Mark Farnham had been frequent Wis
itor at the Lyon house, but since the
dance at Maple Top he had held him
self aloof. The little bookkeeper had
been hurt in tender spot, and he could
not forget how Janet looked when she
uttered the word coward.
The foreman came often to Oxbow,
and Janet and the handsome Apollo
were much together. The loggers
coupled the names of the two, and init
mated that Dick would feather his nest
before long. The little bookkeeper
heard, but remained silent. He could
not discuss a subject that was of the
most painful nature to him. He be-
lieved Janet cared something for him,
until that affair at the Maple Top dance
From that time she had cut him effect
ually. He had pride as well as the belle
of the Muskegon, and from that fatal
night they met as strangers.
The pallor on the little bookkeeper's
face seemed 10 deepen. His eyes were
hollow, and his cheeks sunken. He at
tended business devotedly, and no one
noticed any change in little Mark Farm
ham.
The wi inter- passed. Late in March
the ice in the river began to move.
Soon q tremendous roaring filled the
ears of the citizens of Oxbow. People
gathered on the bank to see the ice 20
out. 1t was grand sight, as the huge
cake, nearly foot in thickness, went
crashing down over the dam with a
mighty seething, grinding roar.
On with irresistible fury swept the
mighty mass, hurled with tremendous
fury by the rapidly rising waters, which
the warm spring rains had augmented
to a mighty food. Close behind the
ice came a mighty jam of pine logs.
The river was fast clogging, and huge
jam was formed against the dam which
had lately been built across the river.
"A jam must not be permitted to form
there,'' cried John Lyon, as he saw the
rolling and tumbling masses of logs
hating, choking the river on the brink
of the dam.
Among those gathered on the bank
was River Dan from the Dam.
sect yer pick-levers, boys!' he cried
in loud voice.
The logs had already formed jam,
and men in red shirts with picks and
peevies, were hocking to the danger
Gus jam, working with might and main
to keep the mighty mass of pine NOV
ing.
The female portion of Oxbow was
out watching the movements of the red
shirts. Rig in the center of the river
not far from where the water boiled
and seethed over the dam, was Dick
wellington, giving orders in stentorian
voice. 1t was dan ger place, and Janet
Lyon face blanched as she saw him.
The logs on the further shore we're
kept moving, and the current of the
river swept that way with the fury of
the avalanche. The red shirts had
been working an hour with desperate
energy and many of them were ex-
hausted.
''Go ashore, boys, and get lunch;
the greatest danger is past; Wellington
and will hold the fort until you re-.
turn"
1t was Mr.. Lyon who spoke. He
had gone to the center of the river
with the GOODNESS of an old log
driver. The men obeyed. The
greater part OF the logs had passed, the
principal danger was over. Half the
river was yet blocked with logs piled
to great height forming jam that
looked impregnable.
Scarcely had the last man reached
the shore, when a wild cry rose above
| the roar of the foaming water:
my God! the whole jam is going!'
Then came loud cracking, terrific
roar, the logs went with mighty
rush over the dam on the Oxbow shore.
"Good heaven! they are lost!''
This cry went up, as all eyes were
turned upon Mr.. Lyon and his foreman
now the only occupants of the jam. It
did seem as though they were doomed,
but they were saved for the time..as by
miracle. In the center of the dam a
few logs held firm, and soon all had
swept through but this bit of jam in
the middle of the stream. An expanse
of foaming water on either side and
the narrow jam swayed and trembled
as it hung suspended over the dam.
Below. ten feet, was sea of foam,
where the water, in pouring over the
dam, was dashed to Wild fury on rocks
and stones.
Both men felt the awful danger, al
most certain death, that stared them in
the face.
There's no chance for them fellers;
thew as good as gone, that's sartin,'
uttered River Dan.
'Swaying and grooming, the floating
island seemed every moment ready to
60 over into the boiling waters below.
A dumb horror rested over the crowd
of startled loggers on shore.
A pallid-cheeked girl, with stream
ing hair, reached the waters edge and
stood with outstretched hands appeal
lns " VIC s'ions Anen Aoi ne1P' No
one moyed.
care you all cowards?' she cried,
facing the multitude. Brawny men
with red shirts were there, but none
moved at the appeal from the girls
blanched lips. mo use, Miss" said
River Dan. "That ar jam won't last
many minnits. Nobody can help 'em;
they re goners, sure"
take yonder canoe and 60 to the
rescue"
Janet would have rushed to the
rescue herself had not strong arms
held her back. Weak, moaning,
almost faintlng, the girl pleaded in
| vain.''
mo use; a boat would 90 over in q
iiffy. Them fellers can't be saved"