The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-29
TRYING TRIP TO DAWSON.
A Winnipegger's Experience or
the YOukOn River-Dangers
OF the Five Finger
RAPIDS.
(From the Manitoba Free Press.

A returned hlOnulkeT tells the 1Ol-
lowing story, illustrating the trials Of
those who were among the first to 60
into the country:
"When We arrived at the Five Finger
rapids, we found that we could drive
our cattle no further, and that 1t would
be necessary to build a raft, kill the
animals, and putting them aboard en-
deavor to to navigate the river for the
remaining distance. Fortunately, we
were partially prepared for this by hav
ing in our very small kit a couple Of
axes and half-inch bit. 1t was no
small task to collect the timber for the
raft, as it had to be dry, and much OF it
had in consequence to be hauled a con-
siderable distance. The OK which had
been brought to lead ahead of the herd,
wherever a decoy was necessary en-
route, now became our most valued pos
session. Logs were located as near the
river as possible, and above the point
where the raft was to be constructed,
cut into suitable lengths and drawn to
wv "'tSi . SNSS. INV W oiO WY
were floated down and stranded at a
point convenient to the intended scene
of our ship-bulding operations. On
the fourth day the OK having been left
to pasture about the camp, strayed
away and two days were spent in search
ing for him. NV companion at last dis
covered him, at least his remains, in
the hands of party pushing down the
river IN boats, no longer an OK, but beef.
They had seen our beast of burden
wandering about without an owner and
beIn. very short of provisions. had on
advice OF d lawyer who was one of the
party, and on the strength OF the axiom
that possession is nine points of the
law, shot the animal and added his
carcass to their larder The owner was
furious and re used with scorn an offer
of 81 600 for the deceased bovine. He
had wanted the animal to haul logs and
the only terms of settlement to which
he would agree, and he was hard man
to argue with when he talked oyer the
barrel of Winchester, was that the
party should accompany him and COM
plete the ox's duty 10y hauling those
logs to the river. FIVE hundred dollars
was all lie would ask in addition for the
beef, which the party might keep. In
anticipation of their acceptance Of his
security that his commands would be
carried out. The party were forced to
admit the Justice of these demands,
whether they would or not, and for the
seen dragging logs through the under
brush, If not as patiently, quite as effect
lively as the OK could have done. The
contract having been carried out and
the five hundred paid over. they were
allowed to 90 on their way. The con-
structlon of the taft was truly "cold
DEAL" for it necessitated standing in
water up to the waist half OF the day
and the temperature of the water, not
considering its penetrating powers, was
anything but comfortable, as ice was be-
ginning to form each night on the edge
| of the stream. Holes were bored IN
the ends of the logs and through
these thongs of rawhide passed until
the whole was firmly bound together
Then the cattle were killed, cut into
quarters with the hide still on and
placed on the raft, where the beef was
soon coated with a layer of ice. Half a
mile down the river the descent of the
Five Finger rapids began, and out OF
| the whirling. boiling water here and
there stuck the huge boulders of gran
tie from which the place has taken its
name. Having withstood the swish of
| that current Of water for ages they GER
tainly would not give way however hard
raft of logs tied together with rawhide
mi ght strike them. Once in the grasp
of that current raft becomes a play
thing and mans efforts at guidance a
! mockery. But it must be run, SO boldly
| showing out into mdstream we waited
with hearts rhrobbing with excitement,
| the result. Gradually we could feel our
speed increase until we were in full ca
reer down the swirling flood. The raft
| bent like rubber as the adverse cur
rents seized 1t on opposite sides. One
or two threatening rochs wese passed in
safety, but the sigh of relief that escaped
| our lips was suddenly turned to agony.
Straight ahead was one monstrous
! boulder, whose sharp face cut the water
II l.
| middle of the river, and straight at it
we went with terrific speed. In couple
| OF seconds we would strike the raw hide
thongs would go like threads, and we
would be struggling for life in that cold
treacherous water. AS | think of it
now, | cannot but marvel at nv com
panlon's GOODNESS. He had faced five
men for the possession OF a dead OK,
ton OF drowning man to the project.
ing leg Of the nearest carcass, my heart
standing still and every faculty
paralyZed he stood erect on the from,
part of the raft, with his long pole in
his hands, as cool as though ne were
about to take chew of tobacco, and re-
marked that it must be getting near
dinner time. These details come TO me
now, but what happened could not have
taken more than a couple of seconds.
saw him grasp his pole firmly, brace
himself against the pile of beef at bis
back, and meet the onslaught of the
| rock as knight met knight in the DAYS
of old. The shock made the raft culver
but 1t swayed, and veered to one side
Crash went one corner of our hidehound
craft against the rock, and l started &c
pray, sure that my last hour had come
We had struck the side instead of the