Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-09-15
DOWN THE RAPIDS.
THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF THE
JOURNEY TO MONTREAL.
Miss Leila Lindley's Comparison Between
Sansmer and Winter Life in Cana
da's City of Churches.

Miss Leila Lindley's Comparison Between
sunamer and Winter Life in Cana
da's City of Churches.
MONTREAL, August 26, 1889.
Once more are we in this beautiful city
The first time, it was white from one enc
&c the other, the snow being several feet
deep. But | wrote you of the carniva
last winter, and the Joyous time four o
Uncle Sans daughters had viewing the
ice palace and indulging generally in tn,
Canadian festivities characteristic of thi
country in the winter. Now the scene i.
wholly different. We drive in carriage
over the toboggan slide of last February
and could not realize there was such diff
ference between then and now. How
ever, as we came through the rapids to get
here, / will tell you of them, and speak Of
Montreal in its summer glory later on. We
are still on the go, and, l might also add
still on the rush-we have so little time to
spare. After having staid as long as posi-
ole at Alexandria Bay, We took the steamer
for the voyage down the rapids.
As the boat had stopped at Clayton and
several other places before getting to us,
the bow (the choice place, of course.) was
well filled with eager ones waiting to catch
a first glimpse of the rushing water,
though the first series of rapids is half a
day from Alexandria Bay We managed
to get very good places, and settled our
selves for that precipitous river trip. !
don't know just what else to call it, for the
descent is perpendicular enough at some
points along the way.
THE FIRST STOP
We made was at Prescott, small town on
the Canadian side and Immediately op-
posite the fiourishing town of Ogdensburg,
n. Y. Here passengers alight who are
bound for Ottawa. We staid some little
time at Prescott, and just as the boat was
leaving the pier, we witnessed most
laughabe incident, which was no more
nor less than the distressing plight in
which young English tourist found him.
self. He had evidently gone ashore to
inspect the town, and he got left. We
saw the little dandy in his gorgeous plaid
suit dashing wildly up and down the
wharf, screaming to the Captain to turn
the boat back. Some charitably-inclined
chap caught the irate disciple of Johnnie
Bull and told him to watch his chance as
the steamer swung round. While he
watched his chance, we watched him. AT
an opportune moment his prompter gave
him rousing slap and the signal to
jump. Amid shrieks and roars of laugh
ter from the upper deck, this frightened
summer youth sprang like deer into the
moving steamer. His pale face was a
study all morning as he sat in absolute
quiet, no doubt cogitating upon his mar
row escape, and perhaps tiny bit mad
because we all laughed, but we could not
help 1t, and we were too many to oiier
apologies to his 'imperial exquisiteness'
for the amusement he afforded. The good
natured crowd took no further notice OF
his embarrassment and the afternoon
found him an eager and interested tray
eler; his woes forgotten , his spirits rose
exceedingly.
All this time of which | have been
writing we were passing interesting places,
but making no landings Windmill Point
and Chimney Island are the chief objects
of interest on account of ruins, which can
be plainly seen from the steamer.
THE FIRST RAPID
Begins at Chimney Island and is called
Galop Rapid. But for the fact that the
steamer is carried along very fast there is
nothing very exciting just yet awhile
Still you have had some little preparation
for what is to follow. Next comes "Lone
Sault' pronounced Long Soo). This rapid
is nine miles. Here the boat goes along
at the rate of twenty miles an hour-ter.
rife speed for boat. All steam is shut
of, and she is carried along solely by the
force of the current Just here l saw two
gentlemen treated to an unceremonious
deluging. The boat gave an awful plunge
and water came up and over the deck Al
the end of this rapid is quite pretty
place called Cornwall, and from now or
We are exclusively in the dominion of heI
Majesty, the Queen.
Just after leaving Cornwall we get into
the Coteau Rapids, going fast and furious
but nothing wonderful. Seven miles on
We come TO Cedar Bapids, and here the fun
commences. There is such peculiar feel
ing as the vessel slides from one ledge to
another. And pretty soon you come in
sight of powders, and the situation looks a
triAe dubious, but the four pilots at the
helm have willing hands, stout hearts and
steady nerves, and we slip by the diaboli
cal black rocks that looked so destructive
And now we crane our necks and hold ouI
breath as We approach the world-renownet
"Lachine," considered the most formidable
and dangerous of all the rapids. Just be
fore getting to this rapid is little ole
Indian village where the celebrated Indiar
pilot Baptiste used to start out in hi
canoe and board the steamer for the pur
pose of plotting her down the Lachin,
Rapids. For the past two years Baptist,
has not done any plotting on account o
declining years. His place is filled by ;
trusty fellow who skillfully guides the boa
through the surging billows. A feeling o
WONDER AND rINuDITY
Immediately comes over you as your fascina
ted gaze takes in the mad and rushin,
water. For second the idea is, how fear
ful. Ere we can Danish the thought
plunge takes us out into the foaming greer
water and we are wonderingly looking
back at the precipice We have successful,
descended. No sane person would thinl
of encountering the whirlpool at Niagara
and yet this last rapid we have run seem
very like that turbulent pool. 1t is Ger
tainly grand and intensely exciting, but
think Running the Rapids" once vii
suffice.
The entire afternoon has been spent il
going through the various rapids Al
along we passed queer little towns tha
looked like deserted villages. The onl,
buildings of any kind of size being littl
churches, and these places of worship wer
most diminutive in size. The houses, with
out exception, we're meager and weather
worn habitations. There were no boat
visible, and the entire lot of burrough
looked forlorn in the extreme. After tn
excitement of going through Lachine
over you look around and see the lights c
tn. city of Montreal gffnmering in tn
distance, and soon the massive Nictori
Bridge is reached. The steamer sail
proudly under this magnificent bridge an
very soon lands the Quebec passenger
at the Quebec steamship, then goes on
her moorings and discharges her load c
precious freight at the wharf in Canada
"City of Churches" or the great Victori
Bridge | wrote last winter, but it may no
come amiss to repeat tha. it is the longes
and most expensive briage in the world
bavipn coat avar aiobf yoflIions IL is