The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-01-03
PRIMITIVE FERRIES.
How Travellers In the Ozark Country Cross
tho White River.

How Travellers In the Ozark Country Cros.
tho White River.
The ~navigators of the White river
have no quarrel with the bridge build
ers. From Newport, below Batesville,
for 200 miles, not a pier profanes the
channel. Transportation from side to
side is by ferry. There is a crossing ev-
cry mile or two. Quaint and primitive
some of the methods are. Most of the
ferryboats are small, fat bottomed
craft, without ratings on the sides or
gates at the ends. At a few of the most
frequented north and south roads a ca.
BILE has been stretched from the tree tops
high enough to escape the steamboat
chlmneys. The boat is attached by
ropes. bow and stern, to a pulley run
ming on this cable. When one line is
heightened to give the boat an angling
direction with the stream, the current
slowly carries the load over to the OPP
posite bank. Such a labor saving appli-
ance, however, is in use very sparingly.
Most OF the %ferrying is done by hand
with the pole and sweep. AS the Ozark
country traveller approaches within hail
ing distance Of the bank he begins to
let his voice out with:
"O-o-ov-err'
In the course of time there is an an
swering:
"Whoop-ee!'
The ferryman M slowly down the
bank, with his brother, or his son, or
with somebody else's son whom he has
persuaded it is great fun to help run a
ferryboat. Travellers in the Ozark coun-
try have often commented on the dis
proportionate frequency with which the
boat is at the bank opposite to that
approached. And ferrymen all agree
that by a strange perversity the travel
is from the direction necessitating a
trip across and back to collect one fare.
There is time enough to mediate on
this problem while the ferryman slowly
poles his frail craft along the bank for
some distance up stream.
Then, as he grasps the sweep and
pulls out for the other side with much
putting and perspiration, there is not
time to think Of anything else but the
inch Of pine between. dry shoe leather
and a current which means a long, hard
swim if the boat goes amiss. Accidents
are very few. The White river ferry
man knows his business and earns his
quarter.
George" said Mr.. Wcbber TO the
Harvey who was directing the curse Of
the boat, lis that your brother helping
you with the boat:'
eyes," said George; "he's my broth.
err
HE resembles yOu.' c0mmcntel Mr..
"ebher, "hut | think he's rather better
looking than You are.'
"Ihat's because he's weller feG,"
said George. His wife's & good cook"
No Faith In the Instrument.
One Of the first things the observant
trained nurse does when a new patient
enters the hospital and is put in bed is
to place a delicately constructed Their
mometer under the sick ones tongue
and get the temperature. A chamber
maid from n of the down town hotels
was taken to II of the city hospitals
not long ago, and the above described
operation was performed at once.
what in the wurruld are yez doing
that for?" she asked after the nurse got
through.
I'm merely taking your tempera-
ture," responded the maid with the
muslin CAP.
"Rats!" said the occupant of the sick
souch. How are yez going to tell by
that little thing whether I've got a
temper or not;"-Washington Star.