St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-02-16
ByT. ". Birney.

As we
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hIF / am NOT. gray headed. ought
to be- said my friend Cary, as we
sat at the table. after supper, and dis
cussed our coffee; "for I've been in
enough tight places in my life to
make man not only gray-headed, but
bald-headed;" and he fingered affec-
tionately his blonde locks. which, to
say truth, were none too thick.
"Yes, SIR" he continued, meditative-
ly: Il was in one last fall that scared
me more than I ever want to be scared
again. When I hear the wind outside
there. and think of that experience.
fairly shiver. But. of course. that's all
nonsense now" and he applied himself
again to his coffee.
Cary was a civil engineer. We had
been college mates, but l had not seen
him. for years. and at this. our first
meeting since graduation, we had been
giving each other accounts of our re-
spective doings.
4 Jest of mine, to the effect that 1t
was getting to be time for him to show
gray hairs, called forth the above
speech. and being fond Of stories OF
adventure, insisted on his explaining
himself at length. -
SWELL" he began, ''it was in the val
ley of the New river, in West Vir-
giria. Twas up there looking after the
interests of the H. Bridge company,
which was going to bid on some tres
tle-work for the c. & o. railroad.
..I had been told of a method they
had of sending lumber down from the
mcuntain by cable car. and one day,
in company with railroad man whose
acquaintance 1 had made, walked
down to see it in operation. 1 saw lt
saw it in detail-and before l got
back wished had never heard OF it.
sThe mountain was very steep and
o1ite high-I should say 1900 feet
md the river ran at its very base. On
the opposite side Of the river was the
railroad, where the lumber was load
ed on the fat cars.
..The lumber camp was near the top
of the mountain, about 1000 feet above
the road. and they had 2A inch cable
stretching down from it to point over
the track. It was q steel cable, and
was fastened to iron posts set in the
rock.
s.Of course it, hung in an enormous
curve. being almost level where 1T
crossed the river, but becoming more
and more steep as it went up the noun
tain-side. suppose it was all OF 900
feet long, and to see it hanging there
over the valley was sight in itself
"On this large cable ran suspension
car-that is, they called it a car; it was
only a heavy platform hung by iron
rods at the corners from four grooyed
wheels which fitted the cable. The rods
were hinged, 50 that no matter at what
point on the incline the car was. they
always hung vertical.
ITO the car was attached three
oaarter-inch iron rope. which was
ceiled up and LET out by stationary en-
gine at the lumber camp.
They used to load the car with lum-
her at the top, let it down to be un-
loaded. and then haul it up empty.
.Vhen We reached the foot of the
cable that day, the car had just beer
cnloaded, and they were preparing II
for the return trip. But 1t seems they
were going to send up by it some
kitchen furniture and also a pile OF
pianed and groored boards, for use IN
the camp.
They had already put the boards on
,t ,be further end of the platform,
laying them crosswise. and were ar
ranging a good-sized stove, two or
three chairs and table, which formed
the remainder of the consignment.
These they packed as closely as pos
sible, but took no other means 70 Sc
cure them in place.
As we watched the proceedings,
prizzled old chap, WHO seemed in charge
said: -.
..Wal.we're bout ready. now. Don't
voa fellers want TO go up? Nice ride.
"The idea appealed to my love OF nov
.,ty and adventure, and without mo-
ment's thought or question, ! an
swered: .Of course we do Come on
Rurriil!'
NV companion hesitated moment
but being a reckless felolw. like my
self. merely said: 'All right! and FOL
lowed me upon the platform.
~The old man grinned, and. walking
to a pole near by. ran up . white nag
which looked much like . CASTOR gar
ment of civilization. as . signal to the
engineer at the top to haul up.
..His assistants looked on without q
word. but fsncied their faces were
mnrr serious than they had been.
"Almost at once We began to move.
and in few moments were suspended
over the swift waters OF the river. As
we continued our way upward. real
lied for the first time that our posi-
ton was the reverse Of agreeable.