The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-03-13

during the summer / spent at some
sawmills away up in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, used to
enjoy such ride. II was like sliding
down a spiders web, for the hill was
neither more nor less than tlume.
down which the lumber was shot
from the mountains to the railroad in
the Sacramento valley, about six
thousand feet below, and fifty-four
miles long, from the mills to the lum-
ber-yards of the company which owned
the whole plant.
L shall never forget my first ride.
was telegraph operator, bookkeeper and
kind OF superintendent at the mills
OF the Chico division of the company.
with my headquarters at the Belmont
Mill. One day l was ordered, bv
telegraph, TO come down the fume
that afternoon, as soon as the men
got through shipping the lumber, tc
meet the manager, who wished to CON
suit about some large order we were
putting out. It was my duty to obey.
and l prepared to do so.
The hume is a V-shaped trough.
nearly two feet deep, which is set
upon timbers and trestle work. and
extending along the sides OF the
canon, through which Little Child
Creek find its way from the high
Slerras to the Sacramento valley.
The boat, as it is called. is simply
N-shaped box. twelve feet long.
open at the front and closed a, the
rear. end. Three strips OF board are
nailed across, about four inches from
the top. Boards are laid on these
strips, aud the boatman, or coaster.
takes his seat on these boards, near
the front end OF the box.
knew nothing Of the real dangers
Of the trip, or I should not have
started on such journey without an
experienced hand to accompany me
but after that run I thought / had
enough experience TO warrant subse-
quent ventures on my own RESPONSE
bility
About three o'clock in the after.
noon l went down TO the mill.varl
and found everything ready for nv
departure. Ny boat was living across
the top Of the fume, and half a dozen
lumber shippers were waiting -
launch 1t and start me OF on nv long
slide. I had seen others start ON
similar trips, and therefore did not
betray my greenness 90 the mel IS I
stepped on board the craft. after i,
had been placed iu the fume. The
grade az the startius-point was easy.
aud IS the feelga.es were partly
closed. there was not much water
running In the Hune. s5 I started
slowly when the men iet r1 Of the
boat The foreman Of the mill. who
was directir~ tie men. walked ar.--
by my side for o few yards. jus. long
enough % give me this warning.
Look out, sir. before You star.
down the big grade We've been
sliTplng some big tiuhor- This after
noon, and they are OPT tl jump the
Hume. or 90 get .luua1. AK sa
lender at the top OF the biz grade II
they have gone by a'i right. N.vTIr
g. and Jet il some more water.
lie turned and left nae and ia few
7 minutes I fcl' The rear end ~ ms boat
rise, and Do shot forward ~ a decidedly
more rapid rate
About BALI mile farther down T
passed Che lower r..f. where another
feeder gave -t.I are.. yr.r-e a.
water Then tlr ate.r...4 ~ f.a
grade began ta increase. AMI r-r-
] Was coming fo Tie head -.-t -..-
called the Cape Horn grade. rr-s
fairly so ile canon DOW. a.ft.s f-...
could be seen Or nearly half ...
ahead, struug along '.e ed. .f t..
srpendicu'8r cliffs ul.l lowered
above g. on tle right fully lu1Ired
feet