The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-06-09

Difficulties of Navigation On the
Wonderful River.

Wonderful River.
The morning of departure was perfect.
No air was stirring, save the slight breeze
induced by the motion of the boat, the sky
was clear and the atmosphere most inyigor-
ating. Indeed, it would almost tempt one
to forswear travel by the dusty railroad
train.
The river seemed n labyrinth of sondbars,
and to passenger it appeared marvellous
that it could be navigated at all. The course
the steamer took was most intricate. Now
shooting to one side, now to the other, ever
following the deep water. To me the crew
were most interesting Indians with painted
faces and bare legs squatting around the
lower deck, oil happy, and playing like
children among themselves. 1t was an
amusing scene to see them sitting peacefully
around the steam capstan. some engaged in
the highly instructive and entertaining oc-
cupation of plastering their long black hair
with mud others singing in low, mono
toaous undertone the lovesiek Indian bal
lad, keeping time with slow mot on of
their bodies. Suddenly would come sharp,
quick growl from the Mexican mate on the
forecastle desk, then there would be hur.
rying and scurrying and tumbling over
each other to execute the order.
We had left Uuma only about six hours
when there took place what to me was II
most interesting performance, but which, ms
| afterward learned from one of the Off ers
of tho hoot 10 n varv oo,n,,on ono on xvilv
Colorado-that of heaving over bar. We
had arrived at a portion of the river where
it was at least mile and hal WIDE and,
as this whole space was covered with water.
the depth in any one place was exceedingly
scant We had been going very slowly fol-
the half hour preceding the climax, but at
last we came to standstill, md were stuck
last and firm. First came an order from
the pilot house: "Throw three men and an
anchor overheard on port side !" l was
aghast, but was con iderably relieved when
three stalwart sons of Yuma jumped, o.
their own accord, over the guard and stood
knee deep ON the bar. An anchor was
thrown overheard and picked up by two of
them, who commenced striding with it
across the bar Meanwhile the third Indian
followed with two shovels.
l thought the Indians never would stop
thinking that they had misunderstood the
order. trembled for them at the Thought
of the avalanche of profanity that would
descend on their devoted heads when seen
by the mate. He, however, was nowhere
to be seen. To my intense satisfaction the
Indians with the anchor Mt lest stopped and
were roosting on il Mt least 500 yards ahead
on the bar. Suddenly there shot out from
the side of the steamer n skill, propelled by
three of the muscular aborigines. The skiff
was loaded to the gunwales with rope, and
on top of that WIS wooden platform about
six feet square. l afterward learned that
this wooden arrangement was technically
termed hatch'
The boat made directly for the Indians
with the anchor. and, after attaching the
line to the anchor, they placed this plat
foril. oven The anchor, commenced ~ heap
sand upon it and in short time had n
miniature mountain erected there. The
skill lneu Ieturileu 10 inc hleuInef, bringing
one end of the hawser with it, This rope
was placed with few turns around the
steam capstan and the performance be-
gan. inquired from one of the men and
ascertained that the hatch " was placed
over the anchor MS weight to keep it from
dragging. Every thing seemed ready, when
suddenly bell rang with short, quicl
snap, and imme lately the whole steamer
shook as though she were afflicted with some
mammoth type of ague.
Then such grooming, and putting, and
shaking | never heard. In few minutes
the hawser frightened, and then the steamer
gave lurch forward. Then more shaking
and grooming of the boats timbers, accom-
panied by shouts of the Indians and dis
cordant kissing of the escaping steam.
In few minutes l could feel the strain
perceptibly slacken; and the putting of the
capstan grew less labored, and the throb-
bling of the engines of the steamer grew
more regular, and soon she stepped easily
over the bar. The difference Of the engines
exhaust through the mighty smokestack
seemed to my sharpened imagination almost
like sigh of relief