River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-01-16

| woods, and started for the dam.
Hold on there, Paul hold ont" sal,
Bill Logan. Il don't think oughter lie
| you go out there. It's too dangerous.
But don't you see," Paul replied
I quickly I'm going to save my mothe
and the children. and if | do that it'll
be a great gain even if I'm lost.
I couldn't live and always think of M
mother and Sam and the girls all swep
away without my making an effort 70
them. No. I'll try it.
We'll, Paul, perhaps you're right,
was Logan's answer; anyhow / sham
stand in your way no longer. If you
keep cooI-an' know you wiil-may b,
( YOU can do it."
With this encouragement Paul started
I toward the water, and moment late
he was on the dangerous dam. Slowll
and carefully he walked along tn,
heavy beam that spanned the piers un
| til ne reached a spot where the ~~ate
poured over it, making his progress.
more difficult and hazardous. He dared
not try to walk through the water, bu
sat down astride the beam and cautious
" worked his way along until he hat
passed the dangerous place.
When the boy at last reached the pos
which held the gates. Tom Dollar
poured more oil on the fire, which
blazed up brightly and gave Paul all th'
light he needed for the perilous work
whice he began at once.
lie could not stand to chop the post
which he had 10 cut foot or more be
low the beam, but was obliged to WELD
the heavy axe as he sat. This was nj
light task for an ordinary boy of Paul:
years, but he managed it more easily
than many full-grown man would have
done.
Strongly and steadily the sharp axe
was vie lded against the solid oakeT
post. and rapidly the firm chips fell with
noiseless plash into the raging flood
From the shore the men watched eager
" the sure. swift blows of the flash.
ing ave. and waited, breathlessly, to see
the post fall and the gates fly open.
They had not long to wait. The heavy
pressure OF the water assisted the boy s
work, and when the post was little more
than half-cut through the mighty force
pushing at the gates broke il. With a
heavy crash the timber fell, the pent-uI
water surged through the open gates,
and the dam was safe.
Paul hal saved his mother and the
children in the little home which few
minutes before had been in such peril,
and the men gave a little encouraging
cheer as, his dangerous work done, he
turned toward the shore and safety.
Hell come it all right, don't you
never fear" said Phil Kipp. confidently.
Yes, of course, he will" was Jack
Sanders comment. Hes clear grit, he
is. and Providence alters kind o looks
out for that sort
Tom Dolan and Logan, the camps
boss, said nothing. They only watched
and hoped for the moment when Paul
should be safe on shore again.
He had passed the middle of the dam
when DOlan. whhwatched every move
ment with intense anxiety, suddenly
exclaimed: Look
Borne swiftly along on the current
that set toward the gates was an uproot-
ed tree with long limbs, and it came
directly in Paul's path, while he, watch
ing the beam he was walking, did not
notice il.
The men saw his peril and shouted TO
him: but the roar of the flood drowned
their voices, and the boy walked on I'M
conscious of the danger, until he was
struck by one of the long limbs and
hurled into the mad. swirling, thunder
ing flood. below the dam where the vast
pond vas struggling n empty itself
through the gates
In that wild water the most expert
swimmer would have been overwhelmed,
and the men knew that unless they
could in some way help Paul there was
no hope for him.
With one impulse they sprang TO the
waters edge and eagerly scanned the
flood for some sign of the heroic boy
who, they knew, was hidden among the
foaming waves. by some freak of the
uncertain currents he was thrown near
the shore, and with spring Tom DOlan
seized him by his heavy wooden shirt
and pulled him upon the bank.
He = unconscious, and the first eff
forts OF the men to revive him failed to
reveal any sign of life in the limp, help
less form.
sHe couldn't a drowned, there want
time" Logan said: ''he must "a been
hit by some of the logs, or else banged
agin the rocks"
Yes. AMIN afeard he's gone,
Dolan replied. ''Such work as he's
done deserves somethin' better'n dyin'. "
Paul was carried TO the camp. and in
their rude but kindly way the men did
what they could for him. His clothes
were loOsened. he was rubbed with hot
wOOlens 10 stimulate circulation. and the
other simple methods which they knew
were tried to bring back the brave young
spirit
After working upon him an hour or
more their efforts we're rewarded by a
slight show of life in the boy, and hope
sprasr up in the hearts of the anxious
watchers.
Hes a-comin' to-" Tom Dolan said,
Thankfully: stand back. boys, and give
him a better show for breathin-"
The men stood back and awaited re
suits. For a few moments thought
struggled with Inconsistencies with
Paul. and then. recognizing the lumber
man who bent over him. he said, in q
faint whisper: What's the matter,
TOm2'
.-Oh. nothin', Paul. nothin' muck.
You got knocked of o the dam, bus We
got you out. an you're all right now,
safe ere in camp"
'-Oh. yes, remember; but what
makes il so dark and cold, Tom? Didn'i
bring in enough wOod?'
why, certainly you did, an Wei
have more light an fire in jest min
ute. You keep quiet an it'll all be fixed
in no time"
Something cold like keeps pressing
me here" he said, Indicating his breast
with his hand, and it's hard u
breathe"