The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-05
SAILING DOWN A FLUME
SPORT ON WATER THAT DISTANCES
TOBoGGAN SLIDE.

top. 1nlS WluIn Is increased, however,
when the decrease in the grade necessitates
larger volume of water to float the lum-
ber and at the lower end reaches an ex-
IRENE width of sixty-four inches At each
increase in the size of the fume more water
must be added TO the stream.
The first head Of water comes from Lake
Sequoia, and the supply is augmented by
small streams at four different places be-
tween the mill and Kings river. To pre-
serve fairly regular grade in constructing
this fiume enormously high trestles were
found necessary to carry the fumes across
canyons, chasms and around sharp spurs
of mountains. The first twenty-seven miles
built took over 5,OO0,0 600 feet of lumber to
construct, and most OF this lumber had to
be packed on the shoulders of men. 1t has
taken about 5000 600 feet of lumber all told
to complete the flume.
But to return to the head of the fume
around which our little party of four was
clustered, our spirits dropping as rapidly
as the mercury during cold snap, and our
hearts seeking the aclusion of our boots
/ Coming down a fume when you are at the
bottom and look up is a very different
/ proposition to going down fiume when
you are at the top and look down.
THE START.
Stories of former trips that resulted most
disastrously flashed through our minds.
! If it had not been for the crowd of onlook-
! ers that stood around ready to cheer if we
! started, or jeer if we didn't, we would have
/ backed out, one and all. There was no
! help for it, and with last despairing look
at the beautiful bright world around US
that we were leaving-perhaps forever-we
solemnly climbed into the fume boat and
shook hands sadly with those that were
not going.
The boat that was to carry us down the
fume resembles nothing so much as hog
trough with one end missing. The flume
being built shape and at right angle,
the boat is constructed likewise, but at
what would be the bow end of an ordinary
boat there is no end at all, it being pur-
posely left open in order to provide means
for the water that backs up into the boat
to escape. On examination we found our
boat to be sixteen feet long with fourteen
inch plank running the length of the boat,
thus making a false bottom to raise US
from reach of Che water. On this plank
rested four small wooden stools, one for
each of the party.
After taking seats with many misgiv-
ings, and balancing ourselves, the order to
cast off was given, the spikes holding our
frail craft to the fume side were pulled
out, and our craft shot on with the current
on its journey to the plains. The sensation
was exactly as if the bottom had dropped
out of the universe and we had dropped
with it.
Tipping DOWN HILL.
"Watch out!' yelled the man in front,
throwing himself back on the man behind
him
1t was just in time The sudden shock
threw us all fat on our backs, and the
boat tipped" under projecting beam
that would have decapitated the whole
outfit. Cautiously regaining an upright
position we took look at the scenery
around us. As far ahead as one could see
stretched the fume, looking a thin, spi-
derry thread stretched down the mountain
side. On either side gloomy rocks and
forest trees flashed past in an indistin-
guishable blur when the hume lay near |
the ground, but when it rose on trestles (
to cross some canyon or ravine we seem |
ed suspended, like MOhammeds coffin /
"'twiXt heaven and earth"
In the mean time our speed had been in /
creasing Not a member of the party |
spoke a word but in dumb amazement |
held firm grip to the seat. Our boat had .
proceeded but half mile when immedi- /
ately before US could he seen what we sub /
sequently learned to be one of the steepest /
inclines of the whole course of the fume-
drop of go yards, with a grade of ! 200 /
feet to the mile. 1t was but few mo-
mentS when our boat was at the head of
this incline.
Pieces of timber could be seen on the
mountain side below us, these pieces hav-
ing been hurled out of the flume during
their course. The sight was not very as
surfing to us, but there wassio such thing
as stopping or turning back at this stage
of the journey. Holding our respective
breaths and Offering mental prayers for
our own safety, we consigned ourselves TO
our fate. The boat stopped for an instant
at the head of the chute, pitched over the
curve, and shot out into what seemed TO
us mere space.
FLYING THROUGH THE AIR.
A dim perception of fleeing forests, dash
ing wildly past a wall of rocks for a few
seconds, the noisy wash OF the waters be-
hind US, after all of which we found our
selves at the bottom of the incline trying
to regain our breath. 1t was short, and
luckily. too. Human nerves could hardly
have stood the strain much longer. Going
on at a slightly reduced rate of speed we
were treated to = constant change of noun
tain scenery, now closely hugging the per
pendicular wall of a rocky gorge. again
being swept around the sharp point of
mountain on our way across wide canyons,
up as high as $50 feet. with only the knowl-
edge of the frail trestlework between Us
No grander view of the lower Serras
could be experienced than that which we
had as we swept on through space. The
alternating views of deep COrges. high
cliffs, timber clad mountain heights, com
bined with the novel means Of transporta-
ton. robbed the journey Of all WEAKNESS
Finally we reached Kings river, and our
course now lay parallel with the stream
and at about the same grade. Our boat
proceeded steadily, but with none Of the
occasional rapidity we had experienced in
the higher mountains left behind After
having TUNED" about tventy-Seven miles
we came 70 the suspension bridge across .
King river. But even ffty-two miles Of
fuue come TO an end at last and the / !
speed becoming tame and slow in compar- /
isCn with the early part OF the trip. with /
the aid of several men II work "herding'
on the iume. our frsjl craft was safely ,
brought 10 q standstiil. and we climbed
out on the trestie aud stretched our .
legs 4 few moments later with (
the aid Of 4 thirty foot ladder. we reached
terra lrlla, our Strap ge cruise ended.-SaF |
Francisco Examiner.
A Movable Attraction