River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-01-16
PRINCE PAUL.
How He Faithfully Won the Above
Title.

Did You ever see such a rain?-' asked
Jack Sanders Of the men in LOgan's
Camp. "a they sat around a big log fire
waiting for the heavy November storm
TO abate- Paul. bring in some wood
It's gettin' cold
''Ye-. and don't forget to bring some
pine. added another lumberman. I'VE
want lively blaze to keep up a light,
and pines cheaper'n Kerosene
The person to whom these men spoke
was the boy who built and kept up the
fires. carried the mems dinner 10 the
woods, helped the women about the
camp. and made himself generally use
full as chore-boy- lie was about fifteen
years old. strongly built. and his color
less face and clear earnest eyes indicat-
ed the GOODNESS and courage which he
had more than once displayed in times
Of peril
Iiy his strength and intrepidity he
had more than once saved the life Of a
man caught in one Of the great log Jams
which sometimes formed on Kettle
,reek during the spring floating season,
and this act had firmly established him
n tho good opinion Of the crew he
served. lie wUuld make good lumber
nan. the men said, and a good jam
breaker, which was a. high praise as
hey could give, for in every lumber
amp a good jam-breaker is held in high
esteem.
The skiIlful breaker or the dangerous
.og Jams which block the rauid-ilOating
streams must b. "a man Of high courage
and faultless nerve; a man quick TO see
and quick to act. and one who. in every
oerilOus situation. is cool. agile and self
possessed. Ore who has such qualities.
.hOugh he live unnoted in the Pennsyl-
7ania forests, represents a high type of
manhood. and deserves the esteem he
obtains frsm his fellows. To be credited
With the courage and manliness neces-
,arv for a iam-breaker was a compliment
hat Paul was honestly proud of, an he
vas resolved that it should never be
aid "a be undeserved-
After he had brought in the wood. and
made the fire in the large fireplace
,laze and roar in cheerful defiance OF
he storm outside. the boy sat down
.nong the men and listened 70 their
rtOries of remarkable days work done.
II the astonishing Of logs trailed
Il one time by old Bill and Jenny. the
heaviest team at the camp: of tho sur
lrising skill Of Jim Hamilton in fellin-
recs 50 that they would strike the
ground exactly where he wanted them.
md of other achievements dear 20 the
umberman's heart With stories, songs
and games the evening passed. and nine
,'clock, the woOdmen's bedtime. came.
The men were talking OF turning in"
and some had gone mp 10 their hunks,
when a man came rushing in 10 tell them
hat the big dam was in danger
Some one has shut down the gates
20 said. IAN the water Is pourin over
he top o the dam awful, don't believe
tn stand half an hour. an ! shouldn't
wonder If twas ont afore this The
bridges are all gone now, an if the dam
breaks it'll Just sweep things
Hurriedly suatching some axes. levers
snd saws, the men started for the threat
eueJ and threatening dam. old Tom
DUlan. more thoughtful than the other
mon. took along a lantern. a bag OF
Vitch-pinc knots and can Of oil
Il kaTclate.- he said 10 the cook. as
oe started out, ''that some kind of
l;ghtu come pretty handy. an there
won't uothin' hrt pitch-pine an kerO-
sene make a good one in this ere rain
Toms precautiOn was a wise one. for
when h, reached the dam he found the
men standing IN the darkness and the
storm. unable 20 see any thing or do any
thing. He quickly emPtied his bag of
pine knots on the bank near the turbu-
lent stream. and after pouring two or
three Quarts of oil over the wood, light
cd il. \ bright blaze that illumined the
darkness for many yards around was the
result. lnl by its light the danger 20 the
dam became apparent. a did also the
difficulty Of relieving il
The great double gates were closed.
and the pond was full 70 OveriiSwing.
Over the top 81 the dam the water
poured in many places. and logs and
trees, dislOdged by the unusual food
were battering iercely against its solid
tinhers and masonry. The big struct-
ure trembIed under the weight OF the
struggling food
Below the dam the waters foamed
and seethed. the great waves breaking
thunderingly against one another The
grinding and humping Of the logs and
the roaring of the flood drowned all
other sounds. and the men had 70 shout
70 each other at close range 20 make
themselves heard at all. The rain fell
not in drops. but in sheets OF water,
and was driven in the mems faces by an
angry wind
Before the fury Of the storm and
food tho men stood awed and helpless,
as jewellers by the sea might stand 20
watch a vessel in the rentleSs grasp oil
q tempest All Of them fe,t the hope
lessness Of the situation, and for few
moments no one spoke