The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-10-07

field were loading to make the dowr
river trip. and were almost ready te
| start The men wished to get one OF
TWO more wagon loads on board, and
were sitting on the wharf waiting fol-
a wagon to come down the hill from
Hazardville. They saw the team come
over the crest of the hill and begin the
| descent. Then they saw that the load
was heavy that the horses could not
hold it back, and they saw the horses
| start to trot. Then a red key of powder
rolled off the front of the wagon and
went under the wheels When this hap
pened some of them fell over into the
water to try to avoid the coming shock,
TO rthey felt sure that there was to be
| terrific explosion, and they also felt
! that this was about the last thing that
they We're feel. Those who thought that
they were going to take quick and
somewhat scattered trip to Suffield, and
knew there was no use in lodging, sat
still and watched the wagon. The driv-
er saw what had happened, but was
powerless to hold his horses The front
wheels struck the key and pushed 1t
along, and then climbed on top of it.
There was little crash and the slaves
gave away. The loose powder poured
out onto the rocky road and the rear
wheels passed over it, but there was
no explosion. 1t is claimed by those
who saw the sight that it took just an
hour and half for the whole thing to
happen, but the driver said that it took
place in eleven seconds.
The trip down the river on one of the
powder boats was full of excitement
and interest Sometimes the boat was
allowed to drift down at night with the
current and at other times it was sent
down on the wings of white ash
breeze The men on the boats did not
like the balny zephyrs Of this breeze,
as the chief part of it consisted of long
poles. One end of the pole was shod
with an iron cap. This was planted in
the bottom of the river and the other
end was placed under the arm of
man, and then the man was invited to
push. In this way the boat was poled
to Hartford In later days there was
little steamboat to tow the boats down,
and this made matters much easier.
The boats were taken through the canal
at Windsor Locks as a rule, but once
VI lWlCe oIc was ldhSli ONSl tliC
There is a little channel by which the
falls can be shot, but it takes daring
man to do it in an ordinary boat, let
alone one loaded with powder. The
river during a thunderstorm is an in
teresting place for those who are par
tial to vivid excitement The crews
came booming over the mountains, and
the boat was anchored in tn eriver,
few choice prayers having been said
for the benefit of the nearby houses
Most people would not care to smoke
while sitting ma boa tload of powder
but the men often did this. They did
not do it in a spirit of bravado, but just
because they liked Connecticut tobacco.
They used to go into the cabin and
lock all the doris, and then fill their
lungs full of god East Windsort dust.
On the whole III was a pleasant life, and |
one in which one was not bored too !
much. The railroad spoiled it all, and |
the powder boats were sold to Hart
ford man after the road began to car
~ freight at low rate. So passed |
river navigation but If one of the old |
powder boats had gone up in smoke |
and fame there might have been no |
need of a society with a long name to |
worry over the various sandbars.-
Springfield Republican.