St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-10-06
FEATURES OF THE $780,"
Sellers OF Newspaper and shooters
Of the Rapids Risk Their Lives
10 Earn 4 Living.

suhrneE visitors to Sauit Ste: Marie,
Mich, are impressed with the energy
and enterprise of two classes 81
"tradesmeh" who plv their vocations
about the locks. One class is the veii-
turesome newsboys. who jump from the
parapet It III. lock. 10 The aeeks 81
passing steamers to sell papers to the
passengers and crews. The other class
is the Indian guides who are engaged
in lucrative but risky business in
shooting" palefaces down the rapids
of the st. Mary's river. It is difficult tc
make Out whether the boys or the rel.
men elicit the most admiration for Ell.
ergy and daring Uspia5ed; says the Chi.
cago Tribune:
To the average passenger Who is max.
ing the chain of great lakes l, copy 81
the Tribune is a rare treat. Many Of
the tourists have been aboard for two
or three days, some of them longer, and
of news, everyb body wants a copy. The
officers of the great lake liners are as
anxious to know what is going on a.
any Of the passengers: Even the smoke
and SCOT begrimed face of the. stoket
takes on broad smile as coal-black-
ened hand reaches out for copy OF
the paper, which brings them in touch
with the world.
The steamers pass through the locks
in fleets which must be passed through
two lifts, during which the boys are
active. As soon MS boat. whether II be
a palatial passenger steamer; steam
barge, or one of a string of schoohers
being lowed through the lakes, the
boys board it as soon as it is in jump
ing distance. They are not allowed to
sell papers on the walls of the locks, SO
in order to transact their business they
must get aboard. Sometimes the craft
is Some distance out in the canal and
boy must wait until it is near enough to
jump. Again it is either awat above
the parapet or some feet below, accord
ing to the direction in which the vessel
is being locked. The boys get on AND
do business, and none of them has ever
been known to have been carried out in
the lakes. One of the boys is known as
"Dirty Faee." When the boat is scarce
IL within reach Dirty Face is seen dane
ing along the parapet in his bare feet.
With bag of papers strapped around
his neck, he waves his arms in the air
and follows his long legs to the boats
deck. landing straight up and making
sale the moment he alights. The boys
gather in small mint of dimes and
nickels from passengers who, besides
having a thirst for news, admire the
pluck and enterprise of the young news
sellers.
There is d colony of Indians who
make business of conducting summer
people and tourists down the rapids.
From either shore the undertaking
seems to be hazardous. but the guides
claim that they have had no accidents.
The exploits are witnessed by thou
sands of visitors standing on both the
and Canadian locks. The
start is made at the Canadian Pacific
railway bridge in a lsng canoe-shaped
boat made for the purpose. The guide
stands upright and with single oar
guides the craft down the river, which
madly rushes down the declivity over
rough rocky formations, the foam
high in the air and drenching
the occupants Of the boat. A single
guide will take a half dozen people
down the rapids at one load, for which
be charges so cents head.
They are well patronized, and a fair
of those who go down the
torrent are women, who seem inclined
to be as venturesome as the men.