Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-06
Glasses Right Good Sight.
Pollard, 700 Market streets
"RAFT1NG THE ROCKIES"

Rafting the Rocky Mountains Of the
Sub-Arctic," Mr. Frank B. Nroomans
lecture to the Peoples Settlement, in
terested the large audience which gathered
in Old Swedes parishhouse last even
ing. The Boys Brigade attended in
uniform and members of the Success
Club acted as ushers.
Mr. Vrooman talked informally Of his
six months trip which started in the
spring from Edmmdton in Alberta
province and proceeded overland toward
the northwest and across the three ranges
of the Rockies Before reaching the
mountains the route alternated between
prairie and timber. During the summer
in that latitude there is usually prevailing
a blizzard of mosquitoes, sand flies and
gnats. so thick and vicious that men must
have nets over their faces and beds and
bears sometimes have their eyes eaten
out The flies and deep mud caused the
party unlimited discomfort and trouble
While crossing the Rockies they lost
the trail. but after a detour Of several
hunderd miles were able TO come ont on
it again and to find the way to Fort
Graham on the western side of the
Rockies. From here they RATED down
the Finley River thence into the Peace
to the Parsnip and from there overland
to Edmundton again.
10 was in the Carlepas Rapids Of the
Peace River that Mr.. Nrooman had the
most thrilling experience og his life.
Owing to the treachery and desertion
of their Indian guide they came unex-
pectedly upon the rocks at the head of a
30 foot water fall, struck on a rock, sus-
pended there a few minutes and then
dashed over the fall and into the whirl-
pool and rapids below. That they were
not wrecked was a miracle Several
times during the voyage the raft struck
a rock and had to be abandoned, but
each time they succeeded in getting sup
plies and horses ashore.
Crossing the mountains and rafting
through the canons and gorges on the
river revealed scenery of the most superb
and stupendous grandeur. The Aurora
Borealis was also one of the memorable
sights.
Not the least exciting event Of the
journey was a mutiny of the Indian half
breeds which Mr. Vrooman had with
him; extreme scarcity Of food was also
their misfortune several times.
The lecturer stated it as his experience
that a quantity Of firearms and am
mumtlon are necessary Tor such an eN-
pedition. He also learned that the
Indians tepee is far superior to the
white mans tent. A squaw of the Cree
tribe living on Lesser Slave lake made
Mr.. Nrooman a tepee, which the Indians
christened with a Tea Dance The sta
tionary lope which they call dance was
accompanied by the drinking Of intensely
strong tea from o'clock in the after
noon until late the next morning, when
bucks and braves were thoroughly in
toxicated. Tea is the only beverage
upon which the Cree can get drunk as the
British government strictly denies them
all spirits.
The two valuable men Of the outfit
were Dolf, half Scotch and half Indian,
the best horseman in the northwest and
Jim Taylor, Red River half breed, who
saved the lives Of several men, who had
lost the trail during winter expedition.
After Mr. Vrooman had been intro
duced by Mr. Allen True, he congratu-
lated the people on the vital and lively
work which they are conducting in
making Wilmington a better place in
which to live, and said he was pleased to
see the Boys Brigade in the parade on
Decoration Day.