Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-07-17

toTtatlon OF the heaviest articles The
most difficult task after all was to trans
port the windlass, the cooking range and
the water-casks to their place of destina-
ton. How greatly any practical man
could have assisted theml Had Brian only
had his father with him, or Garrett his,
they might have been saved from many
blunders; but Baxter. who was no mean
mechanic, displayed vast amount of zeal
and considerable skill, and was of great
assistance.
In short by the evening of the 2sth all
that remained Of the ''Sloughi'' had been
taken to the place of embarkation; and
with sigh of relief Gordon announced
that they could begin the construction Of
their raft on the following day.
Yes" replied Baxter, land to save our.
selves the trouble of launching it, L pro
pose that we build it in the river.
THAT will be difficult job" remarked
Donovan.
LET us try, nevertheless" replied Cor
don. Though it will cost US more labor
to build it, we shall be spared the trouble
of getting it into the water"
This mode of procedure was finally
adopted-and very sensibly-inasmuch as
the raft must needs be both large and
strong to transport such heavy and bulky
cargo.
The heavy timbers taken from the
schooner, the keel sawed into two pieces,
the foremost, the lower part Of the main
mast, the boom. had all been placed on a
spot on the river bank, which was under
water only at high tide. The boys waited
for that, then 1oated the timbers off, after
which all the long ones were fastened to-
gether, and the shorter ones were securely
bound across them.
In this way a substantial raft nearly
thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide was
formed. BY working hard all day they
managed to complete it Ivy night, after
which they .7ok the precautiOn TO tie it to
some trees on the Daok: then after hearty
| supper they slept soundly until morning
| came again.
The next thing to be done was to build
platform on the raft, and for this pur.
pose they used the planks taken from the
| deck and from the vessels sides. This
was a slower and more difficult task, as
| the importance of fastening this platform
| securely to the foundation of the raft was
| evident to all This work occupied three
| days, though everyone labored diligently,
| realizing that they had no time to lose.
| Every morning there was a heavy frost,
aud the shelter afforded by the tent yves
| becoming insufficient, in spite of the heat
| emitted by stove which was kept burn
| ing all night.
1--WE must make all possible haste" re-
marked Brian, mot only because we shall
| be much more comfortable in our new
quarters but also because it will not dc
for us to start any later than the 9th oil
May"
And Why" inquired Gordon.
Because day after tomorrow there will
be new moon, and the tides will be much
higher for several days following, and the
stronger they are the more they will assist
| us in our journey up the river. Think OF
it, Gordon! if we should be obliged to tow
this heavy load along with a rope, or pole
it to its destination, we should never sue.
coed in overcoming the currentr'
"YOu are right; and we must start in
three days at the very latest"
On the Sd of May they began to load
the raft, arranging the cargo with great
care as the equilibrium of the craft must
be carefully preserved Jenkins, Iverson,
Dole, and COstar brought down the small
articles anu UFStCeu ILeul Oh the plblIOFln
where Brian and Baxter arranged them
in the manner indicated by Gordon. The
transportation of the heavier articles, such
as the stoves. casks of water, boxes of
provisions, bales of clothing, copper
| sheathing, etc, etc, was inrusted to the
| older boys, who achieved wonders with
| the assistance of IA rude wndass fitted up
| under BaXter's superintendent.
In short, everyone worked with such
| prudence and zeal that every article was
| in its Place by the afternoon of the 9Th OF
| May, and there was nothing left to do but
| loose the raft from its moorings, which
was to be done the following morning
about eight o'clock, as the tide would
| change at that hour.
Perhaps the lads fancied they were to en-.
| Joy brief season of rest after their ardu-
Gus labors; but Gordon had still another
task for them.
Now, comrades, as we are about to
| leave the bay, If any vessel should come
| In sight of this side of the island we shall
be unable to signal it, so it would be well.
it seems to me, to raise pole on the cliff