, 1890-11-20
DRAWING TO A CLOSE.
A Long Canoe Trip Almost
Finished.
The vOYAGER At COLvILLE
He Talks of His Long and Often
Dangerous Trip Across the
Continent

Elbert Rappleyer, the canoelst
who was sent out early last spring
by the New York Mail and Express
to cross the continent by water,
reached Colvllle last Monday, and
to Miner reporter gave the follow
Ing account Of his long and often
times perilous trip:
~ left New York on April TO-"
he said, ''going up the Hudson
through the Erie canal, and across
Lake Erie when landed at Dun
kirk, where l made a short portage
over into Chautauqua lake. From
there / was not out of the water
until reached the Rocky mount
aims. In some parts of my journey
I made very good time, having
travelled 1850 miles on the Ohio in
fifty days, which was in vast con-
trast to my time up the Mississippi,
where l consumed fourteen days in
going 200 miles. The trip up stream
l found TO be very difficult, the
water being decidedly swifter than
had anticipated. Leaving st. Louis
passed the mouth of the Missouri
six miles before l had discovered
my mistake. The river there Is
very deceptive and one not ac-
quainted is liable to repeat the mis-
take.
az spent July, August and Sep
tember on the Missouri. My prog
ress was slow, scarcely ever max
Ing over twenty miles n day. The
current Is swift and IL bad navigat-
ing up stream. Five or six days
were spent on the Sioux Indian res
ervation with Sitting Bull, where
] enjoyed myself immensely.
"During the first week I'm October
] left Missoula. Everybody warned
me that the river down to Paradise,
100 miles, no white man had ever
been over, aud that 1t would be
hazardous In the extreme for me to
attempt the trip In small parer
boat alone. 1 made the trip, how
ever, i'm twenty-one days. The river
for the entire length through this
region Is nothing but series of
rapids and canyons.
"During this part of my trip en-
OUiN OIlt
while 1t lasted only moment, came
near causing the loss of my life and
destruction of my boat. 1t was
while my boat was being sent for
ward by the force Of the waters that
II struck rock and dumped me
headlong into the water. My cam
era and about $50 photographs were
lost, and my boat, found, had a
large hole Knocked In the bottom.
This forced me to lay up and make
repairs.
II finally reached the Northern
Pnclfic surveying party near where
the Flathead aud Missoula rivers
Join to form the Clarke. l stayed
there three days in vain endeavor
to get my toilet In more becoming
shape. Here also was Joined by
my companion, Dave Lowe, who |
has made the trip thus far with
me.
''For awhile we used two boats,
my friend having u big Indian dug |
out. After we left the Missoula we /
found the Clarke much better. We
could shoot the rapids easily, aud |
the river In most places we found to |
be wide aud deep. We made good |
speed until Thompson Falls were
reached, when we had to make
portage.
"By this time we found two boats
too much trouble, 80 / gave my
paper canoe, which L had travelled
In over $3.50 miles, rest by ship
ping it ahead to Bonneville, where
will get 1t on my trip down the
Columbia. We came out on the
Pend d'Oreille lake from Clarke
river, which we crossed ten days
ago. Was very much impressed
with the lake, which / consider the
most beautiful on the continent.
i saw nothing between Pittsburg
and Helena to compare with the
scenery surrounding the beautiful
waters of this little inland sea.
"One week ago last Friday we left
Hope. The river we found had
good current, and the mountain
scenery was worth making the trip
for in my canoe. When we reached
Little falls the question was how
were we to ever get over them. We
upon bluff to see If there
was any possible way of getting over
when our attention was attracted by
some Indians coming down the river
and pulling in behind the island.
Soon afterward we saw them cross.
ing the center of it, when we deter
mined to follow suit. We did 80 and
found most excellent portage.
Those Little falls / consider much
finer than Thompson falls. They
are far ahead in scenery and have
a greater water power than at any
place / had been between them and
"Below there and we passed
through the Callspel valley, and
one night near lot of In
dians, where we had mutual mis-
on account of being
with the language,
and we sat up all night Watching
the Indians, while they showed US
the same considerate attention. 1t
wasn't with regret that we next
bade each other parting
adieu.
"Tbere is much more interesting
scenery between Little Falls and
Metaline than between Pittsburg
and Helena. That Box canyon in
the Metaline is the most beau
tiful on the Pend d'Oreille.
The river before is very wide,
but there the mountains close
right down, forming canyon where
the waters dash through at dread.
full rate, yet kept in such constant
boil that there is no perceptible cur
rent On account of the surging of