The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-04
Tine
Teller.
Captain Ted's
Lucky ThrolU.
Il True story.

W you remember tnOSes paddle-WneelS
Il that Fulton invented when boy,
Of which we were reading the other day?''
asked Arl Bowling of Harry Biddle one
spring day as they were walking home
from school.
eyes, I remember
"Don't you think that we could build
a pair and fix them on the raft that we
have talked so much about building?"
"The very thing. fine idea,' cried
Harry, enthusiastically. "Let's ask the
other boys what they think about it,
The "other boys,' Ted Walker, Phil
Fisher and Tom Black, were of the opin-
ion that it was grand scheme and that
work should begin on the raft and paddle
wheels at once.
II saw Mr.. Wilkins yesterday" said
Ted Walker, "and he said that he would
sell us five logs for $3.50, providing we
would haul the logs from his woods our
Selves
'It's "a BARGAIN cried Phil Fisher and
Tom Black together. dad said we could
build the raft in our vacant lot if we
wanted to- and so the logs can be hauled
right there said Tom Black. "To-mor-
row is Saturday, and don't you think it
''Yes,' the boys responded.
The boys assembled at Phil Fishers
whose horse and wagon they were
going to use, early the next morning.
Before night the logs were safely hauled
and work had begun on the raft.
The logs were put about foot apart
and were to be covered with board floor.
The boards were cut the right lengths
and numbered SO that it would be easy to
put the raft together when taken to the
river. This work took up the boys time
after school for the succeeding week.
Early the following Saturday morning
the wagon was loaded with the material
for the raft. The river was soon reached
and the wagon unloaded.
why, where are the paddle wheels?'
exclaimed Phil Fisher!
'"They were left behind 1t was too
true. Further search failed to reveal
them.
There's no use crying over spilled
milk, so let's elect our officers and then
put the raft together said Tom. The
votes were counted and it was found that
Ted Walker was elected captain and
Harry mate.
The boys fell to work with will on the
raft and it was soon ready to be launched
AS it was showed into the river, Captain
Ted dashed a bottle of water on it and
shouted: II christen thee Scioto.''
1t was decided that Captain Ted, Mate
Harry and Sailor Arl should make the
trial trip to see if it was seaworthy. It
was great fun drifting down stream, but
despite all their efforts to force the raft
upstream it still continued to float down
ward at good rate. After the trial crew
had drifted about quarter of a mile the
boys on shore began to get impatient.
a oiv ri
they cried. Cali right said Captain
Ted, and the boys straightway began to
push toward the shore. With considerable
difficulty they had pushed within few
feet of the shore, when Harry jumped
to land. This showed the raft out into
the current again. Ted and Arl tried to
push the raft to land. This was even
harder than before, as only two were now
pushing. ooh, there goes my pole over
board,'' exclaimed Arl. In his efforts to
regain it he himself fell into the water,
but being fine swimmer he reached
shore in safety.
Then Captain Ted was left on the raft
alone. After watching Arl till he reached
the shore, he picked UP his pole and tried
to reach land. This he found impossible
He rounded bend, and was out of sight
of the boys. Suddenly he heard dull
roar, growing louder each moment. Oh,
the Dam, the Dam. why mad he not
thought of it before? What if he could
not reach land in time to save himself
from going over it?
ooh, boys" he shouted. 'tHelp! help!
the DAMP
In their haste to get Arl to "a farm
house the boys had forgotten about Ted
But as soon as they heard his cries they
all rushed toward him.
Jump overheard and swim it, sug-
gested one as they came up. Ted shook
his head.
81 could not make it, he said Mean
while the raft was floating nearer and
nearer the dam. Now it was only 100
feet away.
Throw US that coil of rope, quick
cried Harry. Ted threw it. A groan es-
capped from the boys as it fell short. But
Ted quickly had it coiled again, and this
time it fell into Tom Blacks hands. They
Rll took hold and pulled. When the raft
was within few feet of the shore Ted
Jumped The raft swung into the current
and in minute more went over the dam
Ted shuddered as he thought how. close
was his escape from going with it. Arl
was hustled off to farmhouse, where he
was given a change of clothing.
The boys have given up rafting, but they
ray that next year they are going to have
. boat with paddle wheels.
Theodore w. Thomson,
Emerson School. 1022 Stevens av.
POPULATION OF THE SEA.
R.yerv S1uare uoi1euN of sos n osAiYnafn6