Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-07-03
A Peri1ous Trip.

Referring to the statement that Boise
City man was building IA boat 81 feet
long in which he would take his family
and household goods to the ocean by
way OF the Snake and Columbia rivers,
The Weiser Signal says
ii this is true the man is prepar-
ing watery grave for his lamily-delib-
erately setting about their murder. The
Norma with powerful engines could
barely save herself from destruction in
the great Snake Canyon, and had great
small boat controlled only by the weak
hand OF man can stem the sucking, seeth-
ing and roaring malstroms OF that awful
thasm. No small boat ever went through
taere unframed. I. A. Clark, former
/. =. engineer, now engaged IN the SeY-
en- Devils railroad survey, tackled itonce
and lost his boat and three men. Cop
per Creek falls and Box canyon hold
death IN their shadows and Whirl pools
and the weird echoes OF that wild place
can change in moment to the requiem
OF too yenturesome humans One OF the
places to be passed is thus described by
man who was on that eyentful trip OF
the Norma;
The river here runs through a chan
mel which at present is about l20 feet
MD, Tho Dra,v,,,# ,,1i,,4 boinr lo r,ra No,i1
ders and the Idaho side a perpendicular
cliff about 80 feet high. A large boulder
or reef, about 20 feet across and about Is
feet under water stands at the brink OF
the fall or run, about one-tnird Of the
way across the river from the Oregon
shore, making broken drop and throw
ing the current against the cliffs on the
Idaho side. When the captain told tie
crew it would be necessary to strike the
cliff some uneasiness was manifested.
Captain Gray called his men forward
and said 1 have made preparations to
strike her starboard bow on the lower
Tiff, but do not think she will st1he
Aard. Do not get excited; obey orders.
and don't jump overheard under any
circumstances as that is certain death
stick to the ship.
a few minutes later We dropped out
into midstream, shot through a swift
tapid that anywhere else would fe re-
garded as impossible, out into compar-
Qtiyely clear water, and moment later
we entered the draw Of the falls about -
feet from the Idaho cliff. Everyone ON
board was laboring under the most in
tense excitement. As she broke over
the falls her timbers creaked and groaned.
As she took the final plunge the captain
said: 'Starboard, and under the weight
of himself and his brother, Captain A.
Y. Gray, who was also at the wheel, the
spokes fairly flew. The engines were
backed, and when the cliff was reached
she struck 1t with her starhoard guard
and seemed to hang for moment. while
the waves broke over her deck. The surf
dying back from the cliff drenchen us in
the Wheelhouse. Her nosng was
smashed for about twoieet. Three deck
beams were raised few inches from The
huh and she bounded away 10 the mid
channel like hand ball, The engines
were theu stopped and she arifted down
the river with the crowd Yelling Ike
demons the happiest men in two states
and with an experience that will las,
them a lifetime,
THUS the second tine since the be-
ginning Of time, and no doubt the last
time for many generations 10 come, had
steamboat passed oyer Copper Creek
tails, and we had witnessed piece OF
steamboat handling that's not seen once
in a dozen liietimes."
What would hatboat with women
and children on board do in that place?
There is another place whore the whole
riyer strikes a solid Nall oirocl, rolls
right back over in a great white wave
that would become the shroua of tbosa
attempting to pass the SPOT, even n. the
spot above desegibed would for ANYTHING
smaller than the big steamer. Nba,
sas the Boise man against his family
taat hS wants to murder lAem2