The record-union., 1896-01-27

SACh.AM-EI
The voyagers kept on the opposite
side Of the river to avoid being drawn
through the break by the current, which
was running like a mill-raee Mr..
Price had come up with the intention
Of taking the levels of the water above
and below the break, as the difference
is so great as to be perceptible to the
eye. He had also come prepared to test
the rapidity of the current above and
below it. With this end in view the
boat crossed over to the Yolo side of
the river, about three hundred yards
above the break.
A POWERFUL CURRENT.
Here it encountered a tremendous
current, running with such force that
1t had to struggle to stem it. An at
tempt was made to land nearly a half
mile above, but even there the current
was so swift and strong that it proved
a difficult job to get to the levee, and
as the boat stuck fast before getting
close to it the party continued up the
river until Frank Ruhstaller's hop yard
was reached. For more chan a mile
they found the current of the river
much accelerated by the break, and
where they first struck it when they
crossed it must have been running be-
tween seven and eight miles an hour.
AL Ruhstallers hop yard they found
that under the pressure of the back
water from the Hershey break the newly
constructed levee on the Clark & Carr
place had given way and the hop yard
and fields were flooded.
AS this was about as high up the
river as the party had intended to go,
after lunch they made preparations to
return, but were confronted by the de-
elaration of the young man who had
piloted the boat up that he did not think
it would be prudent to return on ac-
count of the force of the wind and
waves He, therefore, declined to take
them back. Here was dilemma.
HOW TO GET HOME
Immediately became a burning ques-
tion The majority of the party were
not personally enthusiastic in wishing
to return, as it was evident that dark
ness would set in some time before they
could reach the city, and the wind was
blowing a gale. But the feelings of those
who had been left in Sacramento and
who would be filled with anxiety at
their non-appearance were to be consid-
cred. So Messrs. Leake and Price, ac-
companied by the owner of the boat,
went up to Vernon to try to procure
larger boat which was supposed to be
there. In the course Of an hour how
ever, they made their appearance, the
little launch almost throwing itself
clear of the water as it struck the big
waves. They brought dispiriting news.
The big boat was away up Feather
River, and for those who wished to re-
turn it was Hobson's choice-the little
beat or none. The young pilot relented
and said he would take them down to
the city.
OFF FOR HOME.
Each one of the voyagers strapped
round his body a couple of empty soda
bottles of the Buffalo brand as a life
preserver, gripped his neighbor's hand
and gave him a last message for the
dear ones at home in case anything
happened and he survived, and the
launch pushed off and commenced its
homeward journey. Fierce blew the
wind and high rolled the waves; the
twelve people in her steadied her and
she bounded along her course, seeking
the lea side of the river, where the
force of the wind was leSsened. When
she had accomplished about third Of
her journey the storm which had been
gathering burst and the rain poured
down in sheets so that it was at times
hard. to see far ahead, but in two hours
the gallant little craft landed her passen-
gers in the city thankful to be safe
again on terra firma, and vowing that
their next trip to investigate breaks
would be in fair weather.
WHAT IS EVIDENT.
Although Mr.. Price was unable on ac-
count of the weather to make the meas
urements he wished, he ascertained that
the river is securing out for some dis
tance above the Hershey break with a
tremendous current. He also found that
below the break the velocity of the cur
rent was checked very greatly. This
must inevitably lead to the deposit Of
the material-sand and slickens-which
is carried along by the current, forming
a bar below the break. The same state
Of affairs exists above and below the
Butcher breaks and will entail the same
result The fall in the river along there
is only few inches to the mile, and the
inevitable result must be the formation
of several bars, which will retard the
river, and it will wear the breaks wider
and deeper.
If such action is allowed to go on, it
is only question of time when the
river will have cut is way through to the
tule basin and have left its present
channel below those points, and Sacra-
mento will be left like Nachitoches,
La, was, an inland city several miles
from the river The Yolo farmers have
spent their substance in trying to pro-
tect their farms, and as they are get
ting no income from them are unable
to do more. IF this great waterway,
which, statistics show, carries as great
volume and value of freight as the
Mississippi River does, is to be saved to
the people, the United States Govern
ment, under whose control it is, must
take the matter in hand and do the
work of repairing the breaks and re-
moving the obstructions from the river.
Rifle Shooting.
Owing to the disagreeable weather