Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-04-24
steerer invariably has only the monot-

steerer invariably has only the monot-
ony of tramping alongside and watch
ing the logs glide along. This was the
case during the late cold weather, and
Sweetwood, evidently tired with so
much tramping, determined to use the
| logs as n means of more easily getting
up the mountain. With the driver OF
| the team away back out of sight. Sweet
wood climbed on the foremost log and
| congratulated himself how much nicer
il was than trudging along in the snow.
In this pleasant mood he either for
got that when the logs reached the top
of the incline and began to descend the
grade their transit suddenly increased,
or else he was so absorbed in the pleas
ures of his ride that he forgot where he
was. BE that as it may, however, when
the first log went over the incline and
/ began going down Sweetwood was still
on It, and before he could dismount the
log was going at such speed that to
even try to get off meant death.
In this dilemma all that could be done
was to hold on like grim death and await
! the worst, which to all intents seemed
death in some form or other, and most
likely most horrible death. Talk of
express trains, electricity or rapid tran
sit in any of its various forms, they ure
not in it with the way that log trail
went down the mountain side. From
the summit to the west branch of the
Susuuehanna, where the drive ended,
was at least six miles, and in most places
the drive was quite steep. Gathering
momentum with every foot of its de-
scent, the log with Sweetwood on it
sped on as if shot from some great gun.
Trees and rocks were passed with such
startling rapidity that they seemed as
enc solid blurred wall; the snow was
only glare of white, the log drive itself
seemed only diminutive line, only
family discernible, winding in and out
like a huge snake. Sweetwood early
in the ride lost his hat, and his hair
strcamed out behind like the tail of n
hobtail horse; the wind sang deafen-
ing tunes in his ears and almost blinded
him with its velocity. while the frost
IN the air seemed like hail pellets StrIk-
ing him in the face. There was little
time for thought but even in the few
seconds there was, Sweetwood won
dered what the end would be.
Fortunately for Sweetwood, and the
only reason that he is alive to relate
his experience, the log on which he was
perched was large, smooth one, and
glided along comparatively easy, with
little turning, and never once snagging
on any protruding substance. Down,
down went log and rider, and in less
time than it takes to tell it the glimmer-
ing eXpanse of the Susquehanna burst
into view Although nearly uncon-
scious, Sweetwood remembers giving
one hasty glance toward the river and
noted the fact that it was comparatively
clear of logs at that point, and the next
| thing he knew he was plunged into
about eight feet of water. Contrary to
his expectation of being crushed to
| death, he was unhurt, save the sicken-
ing sensation of the thrilling ride and
the shock sustained by his sudden
plunge into the river
When he struck the water he was
still or top of the log, and went under
with it, but when he arose to the sur
face he was alone and within a few
yards of the opposite shore. With some
little difficulty he pulled himself out of
the water, and after recovering to some
extent the use of his faculties viewed
with wonderment the scene of his ride
and shudderingly thought of his mar
row escape. In his descent he supposed
the entrie trail of logs was following
swiftly after the one he was on, and
when plunged into the river he expect
ed to be ground to pieces with the logs.
Now, as he stood on the bank of the