The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-02
la III ~
At WHITE HORSE RAPIDS.


AT WHITE HORSE RAPIDS.
Were doing WELL" observed Tim
! McCabe, when the raft with its load
and party OF gold-seekers~ reached the
end OF Lynx river, but be the same
token, we're drawing nigh the worst
part Of the voyage, and We'll be lucky
if We get through the same without
mishao."
What have we ahead?" asked Jeff.
Miles canyon; it's a little more than
half a mile long, and if this raft isn't
as strong as it should be, it'll be torn
| to pieces"
Fortunately, Jeff had given attention
from the first to the stability of the
structure upon which everything de-
/ pended. He was continually eXamin-
I ing It from stem to stern, and, where
there was the least suspicion of the
necessity, he drove nails and strength
ened the craft in every way that was
| possible.
The sail was used whenever possible,
hut since they were really among the
/ network of lakes which form the head
! waters Of the Yukon, the current car
ried them steadily to their destination,
and there were hours when they
scarcely lifted their hands except to
! keep the raft in proper position by
means of the poles. The weather grew
steadily milder, for summer was ap-
preaching. The snow and ice rapidly
melted, and now and then, when the
! sun Shone, the thick clothing felt IN
| comfortable during the middle of the
| day. Our friends were in advance of
the great multitude that were pushing
toward the Klondike from the south,
from Canada, and to St. Michaels,
whence they would start on the 1000
mile climb of the Yukon, as soon as it
| shook. off its icy bonds.
1t was impossible that the party
should not view with solicitude their
entrance into Miles canyon, though
Tim assured his friends that much
more dangerous rapids would remain
to be passed. The canyon is five
/ eighths of a mile long, with an angry
| and swift current. Although the raft
was tossed about like cockleshell,
it went through without injury, and
none of the goods were displaced or
| harmed.
Following this came the severest kind
! Of work. For three miles it seemed as
| if the river could be no worse and the
/ raft must be Wrenched aSunder The
current was not only very swift, but
the channel was filed with rocks. Each
man grasped one of the strong poles
with which the craft was provided. and
wrought with might and main to steer
clear OF the treacherous masses of
stone which thrust up their heads
/
escapes, and despite the utmost they
could do, the raft struck repeatedly.
! Sometimes it was a bump and sheer to
one side so suddenly that the party
were almost knocked off their feet
Once, owing to unintentional contrary
work, the raft banged against the head
of rock and stood still. While the
men were desperately plying their poles
| the current Slowed the craft around,
| and the voyage was resumed.
look outl'' shouted jeff; there's
another rock right ahead,'
! Unfortunately it was just below the
surface and there were so many rippleS
and eddies in the current that neither
Tim nor Hardman were sure of its ex-
act location. but taking their cue from
the leader they pushed with all their
strength to clear the obstruction.
They failed and the fiinty head swept
directly under the logs and gouged it's
course for the entire length of the
craft All felt the jar and those who
could look beneath the upper deck saw
the lower timbers rise from the i'm
pact. which was so severe that when
the raft at last swung free it was bare
" moving, but, like a wounded horse,
it shook itself clear and the next mo-
mant was pfunging forward as3lmpetu-
ously as ever The fears of the party
were intensified by sight of wreckage
along the banks, proving that more