The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-20

we decided to make Peach Springs our
starting point. From Peach Springs we
would have to convey our outfit overland
a distance of only twenty-five miles. We
would then be in the Colorado Canyon
but 100 miles above the point from which
We were directed to commence our inves-
legations.
This 100 miles was decidedly an I'M
known quantity. We could ascertain al
most nothing about it from the residents
of Peach Springs. Only two parties had
ever succeeded in passing through it. The
first of these was under the command OF
Major Powell. He made the trip at a
season of the year when the water was
more favorable than when we started, but
still not without the loss of two of his
boats. Three of his men deserted en- route,
declaring it was practical suicide to con-
tinue. This expedition was accomplished
in 1869. In 1890 the Stanton surveying
party, seeking out route for proposed
railroad through the canyon, made the
trip. The president of the company which
proposed to build the road and two other
men were killed, but the remainder of the
party came through all righu.
1--WE were disappointed at the very out
set. We had expected to procure Indian
boatmen without any difficulty, but in
this we were mistaken. The Indians
would follow the faint trails along the
lodges of the Black Canyon in pursuit OF
the much-prized bighorn, but for no con-
sideration would they brave the cruel
rapids of the treacherous river. At last
we procured two old trappers who for S. a
day were willing to undertake the risk.
They were experienced water men and
cool headed, SO we had cause to congratu-
late ourselves.
1.-THE residents of Peach Springs declared
Stanton had said there were very bad
rapids right at the start of our journey,
and the next bad ones were Seventy-five
miles further on. We thought if there
were only two dangerous places we could
risk it; and, providing 200 feet of bow line
and an equal length of stern line with
which to work through the swift waters,
we started out. With considerable diff
Guilty we got through the first rapids. In
order to do this we had to send the men
up on cliffs 100 feet high, from which, By
the aid of the lines, they would 'snub' the
boat around the lodges of the canyon
walls. We breathed easier when we passed
| this place, and prepared for seventy-flve
miles of comparative ease. Our comfort
was feeting; for half a mile further the
river was nothing but seething, boiling
mass of foam. 1t was desperate sltua-
ton. Before US seemed almost certain de-
struction and turning back was impos-
sible. There was nothing to do but to
risk it, and, pluhging, tumbling and
whirling, we went safely through. That
whole day was one of danger and vexa-
ton. We proceeded just six and half
miles before nightfall, and in that distance
we shot fifteen rapids.
1.-THE second day our experience was
little better. The further we went the
deeper and blacker became the canyon.
There were no longer any rocky Lodges
along the shore, and our tow lines We're
useless. We had only to trust to the skill
of our boatmen, which availed little against
the impetuous waters, and to luck. Attic
end of the second day we had made be-
tween four and five miles progress. The
third day we struck q stretch of quiet
water. For four or five miles we found
only two rapids, which we shot. Then we
came to rapid No. 81 was recording them
for map purposes.
"Here on both sides lowered the steep
black walls 1000 feet high. Between these
walls for a mile there was nothing but
angry, kissing foam. We examined first
one side and then the other for lodges along
which we might climb and draw the boat.
It.was useless, and to attempt to run that
frightful place would have been madness
1t was at this point that Major Powell's
men abandoned him. We searched for the
trail by which they escaped from the
prisonlike Enclosure, but in vain. In our
explorations l had sprained my ankle,
and we were compelled to lie over a couple
OF days until | could walk.
"In the meantime Lieutenant Potter in