The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-25
PERlL0US STEAMB0ATlNG.
An EXCITING RUN DOWN THE
UPPER SNAKE RIVER,

The Most Dangerous stretch of In
land Water in the Wcst-RnpIds,
Falls, and WhirIpOOIs I'm COntin-
GUS succession-The TerrOrs of box
Canon.
From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Portland, Ore.-A steamboat trip which
for excitement, peril and display of skill
has seldom ever been equalled in the his
tory of river navigation in the United
States has just been concluded on the
Upper Snake river. The Norma, a small,
sternwheef boat, has made the run from
Huntington, Ore, to Lewiston, Idaho, over
about the worst stretch of inland water
to be found in the west.
The Norma was built seven years ago
by Jacob Kamm of this city, at Hunting
ton, and was intended for the trade be-
tween that point and the Seven Devils
mining country. The mining boom soon
played out and the boat was tied up at
Huntington after making only two trips.
During the past few months it has become
evident that there would not be enough
boats on the Lower Snake to handle this
years crops. and Mr.. Kamm determined
to bring the steamer down to what is go
ing to be a profitable field. The Norma
was absolutely useless at Huntington, and
he argued that he would not be out any
thing if she were wrecked on the down
trip. 1t was not particularly an owners
risk, but it was a hazardous one for the
officers and crew to undertake.
But men were found who were willing to
make the journey, and preparations were
begun. The steamers hull was bulk
nY1l lat , e,,st- I,4 r,e md
her cabin and upper works thoroughly
braced.
Early on the morning Of May 16 the Nor
ma cast off her lines from the Huntington
landing and, in command OF Capt. W. =.
Gray, with Capt. A. w. Gray as pilot and
Charles Jennings as engineer, started on a
trip the like of which will in all probability
never be undertaken again. For the first
few miles the river was smooth, but small
rapids soon began to appear, and before
the steamer had gone six miles she ran
on submerged rock and tore her ruddef
off 1t was necessary to beach her and
two days We're consumed in making re-
pairs. With a fresh supply of cordwoOd the
voyage was resumed through a barren
country and q cranky current. At Brown
lie Ferry a stop had to be made as the
wire which holds the ferry boat had to be
lowered in order TO let the steamer pass
over II. The Norma remained at that point
one night, and Capt Gray obtained some
valuable information concerning the Great
Box Canon, through which the boat was
SOOH TO pass. lIDHi tllt lew SlOthliltAA WIN
inhabited the lonely region.
At daybreak the start was made. A run
of three miles brought the vessel 10 the
mouth of Wild Horse Creek, and as she
rounded a bend Wild Horse Rapids came
in sight. The river at this point narrows to
about two-fifths of its former width, the
fall is very rapid and to make matters
much worse, the stream has three abrupt
curves, its contour forming letter Il. The
Norma shot into the rapids, and the surg
ing, twisting, fOaming water washed over
her deck. She missed the rocks win whlch
the stream abOunds, and was soon in clear
water.
The next rough place was Lookout Rap
ids The river was narrow, but its course
was tolerably straight, and the little craft
shot through without trouble. lmmedi-
ately below was Horseshoe Bend, where
the river doubles itself within LIDO feet,
and the peninsula thus formed stands 5gt
feet above the level of the water Round
ing the bend the Voyagers passed Eagle
Island, where the government survey
ends, and he who would navigate Snake
river further must depend entirely on his
knowledge Of swift waters.
A few miles into the unknown region
and Black Point was passed, where the
river takes drop of feet in 100 a mile
or two further and the frail boat enter
ed the famous Box.
The scenery here is unsurpassed on the
continent. AS the stream enters through
the mouth of the canon the banks begin
to narrow until the water is compressed
between walls of solid rock not over 100
lcGl dHdIAs WHICH rise Bti ptllulEd4dItS Oul
of the water to a hight Of perhaps 50(
feet, and then slope backward and upward
until their snow-clad SUBMITS seem almost
to pierce the sky. Towering above the
river, the crags take most fantastic
shapes. At one point there appeared "a
be a castle ruin, while reaching down
/ ward toward the river, though several
hundred feet above was terrace above
terrace covered with beautiful grasses
and MOSES, row after row Of apparently
well-trimmed trees and exqusitely curved
roadWays laid with solid granite, all as
true to Reometrical lines as the skill OF
any civil engineer could possibly make
them Again, across the face Of a gigantic
precipice was seen q perfect stone fence
and were it not known that IL was i'm
possible for man to scale these mountains
one would fan believe the fence was
fresh from the hands of the stone ma
SON. At each turn of the river a new
panorama presented itself, each apparent
ly striving TO Guido its neighbor In point
Of grandeur.
The river from its entrance in the canon
for a distance of twenty miles is a sue
cession Of rapids and sharp bends, Jutting
rocks and protruding boulders. where for
miles a a stretch even small boat could
not effect a landing, and where the current
is so rapid that p steamer backing hard
still makes good Roadway. a landing was
finally made a Steamboat Bar. Capt
Gray went around the hills and, with the
aid of powerful glasses, made a thorough
inspection Of Copper Creek falls the most
terrible part Of the whole wicked stretch
Of rapids. WhrlpOols and cataracts. on his
return he set the crew at work and the