The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-11-11
DOWN THE FLUME.
Thrilling VOYAGE FROM THE SNOW
LINE Or THE SIERRAS.

After slow and weari5ome climb, and
IS i began to grow dusk, our team, tired |
sad dusty, drove into Camp Sequoia.
Illa iiume extends from the high snow
fine IN the Sieiras to the plains, 90 miles
distant, IL is built of inch and quarter
trlanlSs, aad at the start, where the grade
IS sicepes5, is 43 inches across the top.
.iia width is increased, however, when
f;t,e decrease in the grade necessitates u
lkirGer volume of water to float the lum-
Der, and at the lower end reaches an ex-
t,'eme width of GA 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 aug
mented by small streams at four diff
ferent places between the mill and Kings
River. Topreservea fairly regular grade
IN constructing this flume enormously
high trestles were found necessary to
carry the fumes across canons. chasms,
and around sharp spurs of mountains.
The first q miles built took over 5,O0O,-
600 feet of lumber to construct, and most
Of this lumber had to be packed on the
shoulders of men. It has taken about
5000, 600 feet of lumber, all told, to COM
plete the fiume.
But to return to the head of the flumc,
ground which our little party of four
was clustered, our spirits dropping as
rapidly as the mercury during cold
snap, and our hearts seeking the seclu-
zion of our boots. Coming down tiume
when you are at the bottom and look up
is very different proposition to going
down tlume when you are at the top
and look down. Stories of former trips
chat resulted most disastrously flashed
through our minds. If it had not beer
Cor the crowd of onlookers that stood
around ready to cheer if we started, OF
ieer 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 neutrality-suspicious. forever-we
solemnly climbed into the flume boat
and shook hands sadly with those that
were not going.
The boat that was to carry us down
the tiume resembles nothing SO much As
hog trough with one end missing.
The iiume being built V shape and at a
right angle, the boat is constructed like
wise, but at what would be the bow end
of an ordinary boat there is no end at all.
it being purposely left open in order to
provide means for the water that backs
up into the boat to escape. On eXamina-
ton we found our boat to be IS feet long
with "a inch plank running the length
Of the boat, thus making false bottom,
70 raise us from reach of the water.
On this plank rested four small wooden
Gtoois, one for each of the party.
After taking seats, with many misgiv-
,iags and balancing ourselves, the order
TO cast off was given, the spikes holding
lalr frail craft to the fume side were
INilGd out, and our craft shot on with the
anapnt on its journey to the plains. The
|aeutation was exactly as if the bottom
f1ad dropped out of the universe and we
Rad dropped with it.
swatch out. !" yelled the MIN in 'front.'
kiln,w inc himself back on the man be-
!siind him.
it was just in time. The sudden shoci,
threw us all fiat on our backs and tho
boat "zipped" under projecting beam
chat would have decapitated the wholo
outfit. Cautiously regaining an upright
position we took look at the scenery
around us. As far ahead as one could
see stretched the flume, looking thin,
spidery thread stretching down the
mountain side On either side gloomy
yTeks and forest trees flashed past in an
tndistinglishable blur when the fiumo
lay near the ground, but when it rose on
tfeStles to cross some canon or ravine
sc seemed suspended, like Mohammcd's
coffin. "'twixt heaven and earth.
In the meantime our speed had been
increasing. Not a member of the party
:7ooke word, but in dumb amazement
ael& a firm grip to the seat. Our boat
had proceeded but half mile when i'm
nediatelv before us could be seen what
se subsequently learned to be one of the
secpest irciines Of the whole course of
the fiume--a drop of $50 yards, with a
grade of 1900 feet to the mile. 1t was
h3t few moments when our boat was
1t she head of this incline. Pieces of
timber could be seen on the mountain
3aa below us, these pieces having been
nusLed out of the flume during their
sourse. The sight was not very assuring
q us, but there was no such thing as
Stopping OF turning back at this stage of
.hs- journey. Holding our respective
sreatls, and offering mental prayers for
our own safety, we consigned ourselves
b, 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 be mere space.
Il dim perception of fleeing forests.
iashing wildly past wall of rocks for a
NFw seconds, the noisy wash of the waters
seaSud us, after all of which we found
1uretTes at the bottom of the incline
aging to. regain our breath. 1t was
siart, and luckily, too. Human nerves
could hardly have stood the strain much
longer. Going on at slightly reduced
rue OF speed. we were treated to a con.
ssanr change of mountain scenery, now
csosely hugging the perpendicular wal