The Banner-Democrat., 1898-06-18
JUMPERS OF THE WOODS.
THE STRANGE MALADY FOUND IN
THE LUMBER CAMPS.

THE LUMBER CAMPS.
Its Victims Known as jumping French
men"-Tragio and Ludicrous Results of
an Abnormal State OF the Nerves-No
Women Ever Found Among the Victims
Jumping Frenchmen, as the men
afflicted with this disease are called,
are found in the lumber camps of the
| Northwest. The main sufferers, saws
q Chicago correspondent of the New
York Sun, are the French Canadian
swampers and choppers, although
Americans, Germans, Irishmen and
Scandinavians who have remained long
In the woods are not infrequently at
tackled; but as it was first noticed
among the French Canadian woodsmen
the disease came to be known as the
jumping Frenchman" habit, and for
many years those afflicted with it have
been known as jumpers. These
Jumpers" are the victims of nervous
disease, which causes them to obey
blindly and mechanically any sudden
command, especially when accom-
panied by sharp poke in the back or
in the ribs. If commanded to strike,
the jumper does so, no matter what he
may have in his hands, no matter what
may be in front of him.
So widespread is the Dumping"
habit or disease in the lumber regions
of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
and the Canadian northwest that in
many OF the camps there is an IRON
clad rule to the effect that any man in
camp who shall be found guilty of
speaking to or touching one Of the
Jumpers" for the purpose of causing
him to make an exhibition of himself
shall be discharged Immediately. This
rule was made after many practical
jokes played upon ''jumpers" had re-
suited seriously; but in spite of it
woodsmen still indulge in their rough
fun with the Jumpers.
The sufferers from this malady are
not thin, broken-down invalids, with
a bad case of nerves, as might be i'm
agined. but are, as rule, big, brawny
men, sound of limb and lung, who,
when let alone, are the most capable
men in the pine forest. The ply
sicians who have examined them are
of the opinion that their nervous sys-
tenn in some way becomes affected by
the solitary and isolated lives they
lead, and that they can no more help
obeying the commands given. them
than babe can help being born into
the world. 1t is touch and go'' with
them, as has been demonstrated time
and time again, and when in this con-
dition they do not appear to see or
realize any danger that may lie ahead
of them. No jokes are too rough for
the woodsmen of the north, who for
tho most part are men familiar with all
kinds of danger, hardship and pain.
They have no mercy upon the ''jump-
ers," who ara frequently compelled to
endanger their own lives or the life of
companion for the amusement of the
crew making up the camp. Frequent
ly the jokes are of somewhat ludi-
crous nature. Pies and puddings are
a rarity in most of the lumber camps
of the Northwest, and nothing pleases
the non-jumpers better than to sud
denly command Jumper" to throw
it away when he is in the act of eating
his portion of the delicacy. Quick as |
a flash the pie or pudding is thrown |
straight ahead, not infrequently land
ing squarely in the face of a member |
of the crew, who can only join in the |
general laugh which follows.
Among the men employed by the
Shaw Lumber Company of Eau Claire,
Wis, in one of its camps on the |
Chippewa River were four Jumpers"
and some of the tricks played upon
them were attended by such tragic re-
suits that they will always linger in |
the memory of the men employed in
the camp. Tom Reynolds, the fore
man, was man who took delight in
having fun with the Jumpers. He
was fellow utterly devoid of feeling,
except when his little son, whose
mother had died in bringing him into
;he world, was concerned, and when
his boy was accidentally slain by
Jumper" Reynolds Immediately mur-
lered the man and later on destroyed
himself.
When the river broke in the spring
md the rushing water was full of logs, |
he drive being well under way, the
nen were all assembled on the bank
me morning. One of the Jumpers
tepped on log near the shore and
began rolling it. While the menwere
4dmiring his dexterity Reynolds came
long, and before the party realized
What he was doing he had command
ID the Jumper" to dive into the
lood. The poor fellow obeyed in
family, and when his companions re-
covered the body life was extinct, the
mans skull having been
rushed like an egg-shell by coming
n contact with log.
OF course, the whole thing was an
ccident, but all the men blamed Rev
lolds, and several of the woodsmen
,ot their time checks and quit right
here and then. But Reynolds was
ot yet satisfed-he must have more
un with the jumping Frenchmen.
bout . week before the drive was
yer he had his little son brought up
rom Cadott. in order that the little
hap might witness the sight of mil
ions of logs rushing down stream on
heir way to HALF Moon Lake, the big
atural reservoir just above Eau Claire,
here all the logs cut in the district
to that city are stored until