Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-01
Madisc n. Aug. %.

Oue VI LHc mOSJ Interesting IeJteTS
descriptive of life in the new Ell Dora
do comes from Mrs. Mae Bennett
Edgren, Madison girl. Mrs. Edgren
writes with the facility of a trained
correspondent and what she says will
be OF more than ordinary interest In
a recent letter to her parents, Capt
and Mrs, James Bennett, she says
among other things;
Here we are in the great Mecca of
godseekers without any damage what
ever. We are well, happy as we can
be without the dear ones at home
and In good spirits. / had better be-
gin by telling you of our voyage down
the lakes and rivers.
II wrote card home from Tagish,
our first stopping place. From Tagish
we passed into Lake Marsh It's name
fits it. 1t is a broad expanse of mud
dy water not more than four feet
wide in any place. Boats on all sides
were stuck in the mud. Men had to
get out in hip rubber boots and push
the boats along. 1t did look funny to
see men wading about in the middle
of great lake. This empties into
the Tahepeena river, a very pretty
stream, with wild flowers growing up
on the banks.
Lake La Barge came next, very
rough bit of water, about thirty-fiye
miles long. Here we were allowed
to regain our breath, which was fairly
taken from us by the terrors of the
White Horse rapids. That was the
most terrible sight one can imagine.
We were sailing down the Tahpeena
river, when bend in the river showed
us the head of the canon, and great
jam of boats, scows and barges five
deep along the shore. We drew in
and Jesse and Mr.. Celene went ashore
to view the rapids before attempting
to run them. They soon returned
and Mr.. Celene concluded he could
steer down and save hiring a pilot,
for thirty dollars. So the dogs and
were set ashore. ia have liked to
run the rapids, but | had promised
you, in previous letter, that would
loL, 81 Whihtu
I'VE reached the head of the canon
about II a. m. The canon is about
three-quarters OF mile long, thirty
five feet wide, with rocky walls, rising
straight up two hundred feet. The
volume of water rushing through is
enormous. The overland trail lends
near the edge of these cliffs When
reached there a great shout was
going up from the hundreds of gazers
lining the cliffs. Some who knew
me, told me our boat had just passed
through, and safely. When | got
where | could see, the first tragedy
presented itself. There, in the middle
of the rushing torrent, were the
wrecked remains Of five boats hung up
high and dry on rock; all their
cargo in the bottom of the stream,
their living freight lost. Right below
this was a stretch of more quiet wa
ter for about an eighth Of a mile.
Here found our boat, safe and sound,
being prepared for her final dash
through the White Horse rapids. This
bit of water is like a calm before a
storm. Canvas was stretched over
the bow of the boat, and all the goods
protected with rubber sheets. Jesse
took out our fur robe, and some of
my clothing, so we shouldn't be des
titute if she went to the bottom. The
dogs and | then walked over to the
White Horse. God forbid that |
should ever pass another such an
afternoon. Just before ! reached
there, two men had gone down in the
boiling, seething waters. The first
boat saw come through lost her rud-
der oar and went crash. bang, upon
the rocks. and someone's outfit
sank. On an average Of every two
lnutes a boat or scow shot through.
The rapids proper are only ten feet
long, but the waves here are so strong
they crush an oar put down into the
water. Boats are completely hidden
right in the rapids. When they shoot
cut the pilots work comes in, to
guide them off the many rocks in
front. About four out OF every five
got through without loss; but the
others, 1t was a most awful yet fas-
chatting sight. You could not take
your eyes from the spot and imagine
my feelings when | expected our own
boat, the very next one. From about
u o'clock until in the evening,
waited for our boat. The wind blew
so hard, 1t cound not be faced, for the
sand hit ones face like hail. At 3
o'clock our bnt with our provisions,
came steadily down towards the rap
ids. | made my way through the
crowd to the edge of the bank. Would
she 30 through, or would she dash to
pieces on the rocks9
My heart stood still. Sho entered
the boiling waters-hraved them nobly
then | slw the flash of broken
oar, as the wave caught 1t and hurled
IL up But not two seconds passed
before another oar, snatched from tn
oar lock, was in its place, and the
boat righted just in time to miss by a
hairs breadth a jagged rock. In that
instant however | suffered agonieS