The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-03-31
THRILLING STORY OF THE NORMAS TRIP.
Navigation Projects
Fepubltslled E8ecan~c
pts ~
Int


From the weiser SIGNAL, June 27s1ss5,
A short time ago the owners OF the !,
Steamer Norma. which was built to run
between Huntington bridge and Seven
Devils landing, to transport the ores OF
that camp, after finding the river not
navigabe and the scheme not practicable. |
decided 10 take her through the weird |
canyon of the Snake to the upper Column
bia. where il could be used in river traffic |
with advantage to the owners. knowing |
that the particulars of this adventurous
trip would be deeply interesting to the
SIGNAL readers, we here endeavor, from
the miscellaneous and irregular letters OF
a newspaper correspondent who was on
hoard. to give full particulars of the
voyage:
When Washington Irving wrote his
good book Astoria" describing the trials
and privations of John Jacob Astor's pio-
neer's of 1912 west of the Rocky noun
tains. he gave the Snake river "A pretty
rough reputation. and since that time the
river itself has managed to keep up its
REPUTATION, and that apparently without
half trying.
| The movements of the Norma are told
| by the correspondent as follows:
I'VE went aboard the Norma at $3.50
p. m. May 10, and finding that the boat
| was ready for trial the captain decided
TO run down MS far rs Eagle rocks. in or
der to see how she WAS working after
having laid idle SO long. So at p. m.
the whistle announced To the surround
ings and the people of Huntington that
the Norma still lived; moment later The
big gong sounded. her engines moved, and
with culors flying the Norma steamed
slowly down the river AS soon MS we
rounded the first bend, the rough and
rapid water which came in sight told us
that we were nearing Whisky rapids. and
although her course was kept true To the
government channel. when we were about
three and a half miles below Huntington
and within n mile of our proposed land
ing place. the boat touched IA sharp jut-
ting point which had not been blasted out.
and The pieces of floating plank told us
we had n hole in her bottom. After land
ing Mt the point where the government
scows Idaho and Oregon are lnid up
further examination OF the boat showed a
broken rudder and some OF the wheel
buckets slightly damaged.
During the night these things were
repaired aud at O'Clock on the follow
ing morning we dropped down to Gray's
Landing. running '.Shoo Fly rapids.
.Blacksmith Bar" and Bay Horse Rap
ids without any trouble. and tied up te
allow Mr. Gray to remove such of hi
property AS he had accum ulated on thu
boat during his three years and MIN
months residence on her while she wa
laid up.
AT lO:4o a. M. on saturday the iotn
we lett Gray Landing ana mace III
time for 20 miles, passing several Deauti
ful fruit ranches on our way; when near
ly opposite the Trilby mine. ana VIM
we were running along III apparently sH'
water with not rifle 10 lnuicaie lh
presence OF danger, sudden shock wa
felt and a moment later the report cam
to the wheelhouse that large hole wa
stove in her starooard sloe aoreast ne
boiler and three oulk-heaos had nile
with water.
This rendered 1t necessary 10 Tie up
Sturgil bar where IL was iouho tnai
would require a day or Two 10 repair III
damage that had been done.
Tins (Monday) morning OAPtain Ura
informs me that ne VIII oe reaoy 10 NOV
in AN hour. ana this is practicaily Inc en-
of CIVILIZATION. TINS VIII oe sent oy coul
ier 10 the nearest telegraph oince-
take morse ABOARD here- VINO WI
accompany US 10 the entrance OF 80
canyon and the courier, aiIer watch'ne
pass over Copper creek fa'ls-proVlue
we pass-wili return on horseback VIII
further report or our progress.
III we meet Win no misnhps Passin
through the GahN on we sIiou'u ,eao'' l' re
ist"n before he can reach telegraph
= nee. out MS All OF our information rtSar'
ing the canyon is OF mature 70 cause
good deal or apprehension. . tnoueh.
wise TO take TINS prechution