The state herald., 1891-01-23
zleplAo DOWN rHt PLUMB,
4 Thrilling and Remarkable Voyage from
the Snow Lilac OF the BisrrAs.

After slow and wearisome climb,
and as It began to grow dusk. our
team, tired and dusty, drove Into Camp
Sequoia. The fume extends from the
high snoy line In the Sierras to tho
plains. fifty.two miles distant. II ID
built Of inch and quarter planks, and
~ the start where the grade 10 the steep
est. IL forty-three inches across. This
width Is increased. however. when the
decrease In the grade necessitates
larger volume Of water TO doat the
lumber, and at the lower end reaches
an extreme width Of sixty-four inches.
At each increase In the size Of the
nume 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 between tho mill and
Kings River. To preserve fairly
regular grade In constructing this
nuIne enormously high trostles were
found necessary to carry the fumes
across canons. chasms. and around
sharp spurs Of mountains. The first
twenty-seven miles built took over s.
900, 900 feet OF lumber to construct, tho
most Of this lumber had to DO packed on
tho shoulders of mon. II has taken about
plet0 tho hume.
But to return TO the head Of the
hume, around which our little party
OF four was clustered, our spirits drop
ping Us rapidly Us the mercury during
q cold snap. and our hearts seeking
the seclusion OF our boots. Coming
down the hume when you are at tho
bottom and look up Is a very different
proposition to going down fume
when you are ut the top and look
down. Stories Of former trips that re-
suited most disastrously flashed through
our minds. II 1t had not been for tho
p, crowd OF onlookers that stood around
to cheer II We started. or joer II wa
didn't. we would have backed out. one
and all. There was no help for 1t. and
with last dospairing look ut the
beautiful bright world around us that
We were lcaving-perhaps forever-we
solemnly climbed into the humo boat
and shook hands sadly with those that
were not going.
The boat that was to carry us down
the aumc resembles nothing so much
| 10 IVY WIN OuS Nhu
The ilume being built V shape and at n
right angle, the boat Is constructed
likewise. but ut what would DO tho bow
end Of M ordinary boat there Is no end
ut all. it being loft open in order to
provide means for the water that backs
up into the boat to escape. On exami-
nation We found our boat to be l6 feet
long with l4-inch plank running the
length OF the boat. thus making false
bottom. to raise us from reach Of the
water. On this plank rested four
small wooden stools, one for each Of
the party.
Alter taking seats. with many mis-
givings aud balancing ourselves the
order to east of was given; the spikes
holding our frail craft to the ilume
side were pulled out and our craft shot
on with the current on its journey TO
the plains. The sensation was exactly
as II tho bottom had dropped out of the
universe and We had dropped with IL.
Watch out!m yelled the man In
front. throwing himself back on the
man behind him.
1t was just in time. Tho Sudden
shock threw us all fiat ON our backs.
and tho boat "zipped' under II project
ing beam that would have dccapitatcd
tho whole outfit. Cautiously rcgaihing
an upright position we took look nj
the scenery around us. As far ahead
rs one could see stretched the lume.
looking thin, spidery thread stretched
down tho mountain side. On either
side gloomy rocks and forest trees
flashed past in mn indistinguishabls
blur when tho ilume lay near the
ground. but when II rose on trcstlcs to
cross some canon or ravinc we seemed
suspended. like Mohanmcds coffin.
"twixt heaven md earth"
In the mean time our speed had been
increasing. Not member OF the party
spoke word. but In dumb amazement
held firm grip TO the seat. Our boat
had proceeded but half mile when
immediately before us could be seen
what we subsequently learned TO be
ops OF the steepcst inclines of the
whole course OF the hnme-n drop Of
$50 yards. with grade Of !. 200 feet to
the milo. 1t wns but few moments
when our boat was at the head Of this
incline. Pieces Of timber could be
soon on the mountain side below. these
pieces having been hurled out Of the
Hume during their couree. Tho sight
was not very assuring to us, but there
was no such thing as stopping or turn
Ing back At this stage Of tho journey.
Holding our respective breNths and
Offering mental prayers for our own
safety. we consigned ourselves to our
fate. The boat stopped for an instant
nj tho head OF tho chute pitched over
the curve. and shot out into what
seemed to us mere space.
A dim perception Of fleeing forests.
dashing wildly past n wall Of rocks for
n few seconds. the noisy wash Of tho
waters behind IL. after all Of which
we found ourselves Mt the bottom OF
the incline trying to regain our breath.
II was short. and luckily too. Human
nerves could hardly have stood the
strain much longer Going on at
slightly reduced rate Of speed. we were
treated to n constant change OF mount
ain scenery. now closely hugging tho
| perpendicular wall Of u rocky gorge,
| agnin being swept around tho sharp
point OF mountain on our way across
wide canons. up as high ms 100 feet.
with only tho knowledge Of tho frail
trestlcwork between us and-whatp
No grnnder view Of tho lower Sicrrns
could DO experienced than that which
we Ind ms we swept on through space.
Tho alternating Views Of deep gorgcs.
high ellis, ,imbcr-clad mountain
heights. combined with tho novel
means Of transportation. robbed the
Journey OF all WEAKNESS.
Finally we reached Kings River. aud
our course now lay parallel with the
stream aud ut about thu same grade.
Our boat proceeded steadily. but with
mono Of the occasional rapidIty we had
rxnnrlonnnl La thu HIGHER ninnninln