The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09

TIckIish business on n Brink 0r . 40
Foot Cataract.

Foot Cataract.
Not many years ago a centre jam
formed just above the falls where the
T-ahquamenon River leaps forty feet to the
whirlpool below. II was only a few yards
bach from the verge. say a writer in the
outlook and to break IL the men were
obliged to get down INTO the water below
1t, stand there with the falls behind them
and the current swirling about their knees,
and pry the bottom logs out with their
peaveys.
The water was not deep and the jam
itself sheltered them from the rush Of the
river, but II a man lost his footing he
was me Carefully and cautiously they
worked the first log loose, and a. it started
toward them they leaped upon IL, and
before IL could get away with them jumped
from it to the jam.
LooseninR one stick was not enough 70
start the rest, ar BIhey soon found that the
whole pile would Fave TO be torn apart little
by little.
More than that, other logs kept coming
down the rapids and adding themselves
to IL, so that it grew at one end as rapidly
as they could tear it away at tho other; but
they kept at It, and in the course of time
they worked back ten or twelve rods from
the brink.
Then, Of a sudden, ono OF them saw
a long piece OF pulpwood coming for him.
There was nc time for him to dodge and
it was too small to hold him IL he mounted
1t, 30, as the only chance, he tried to jump
over it.
1t was too quick for him. Il took him
across the thighs and he next instant
he was down and the river was sweeping
him toward the falls. On he went, faster
almost on the verge, and then, by some
miracle OF strength n agility, he got his
spiked shoes against something solid,
rose to his feet and started to wade back
against the current.
Little by little he forged ahead till he
met some logs large enough to carry his
weight, and mounting them, he Jumped
from one to another till he reached the
jam. Then the foreman cursed him for
having dropped his peavey, and he waded
out again almost to the brink, found il where
II had caught between some rocks and
brought il back.
The problem Of handling a drive In which
the logs are not made up into rafts-as
is sometimes done-but are simply turned
loose on the river, is to keep them from
jamming and to see that NJ stragRlers are
left behind.
It is the stragglers that give the most
trouble-the stray sticks that run aground
in the shallow places, and that, II the water
falls considerably after the spring freshcts,
are often left high and dry on the banks
to make what the river driver calls q dry
rear.
Now and then. 1t is true, a whole field
OF logs catches In a narrow bend, and the
entire crew has TO go forward to the point
| OF congestion and set things moving; but
| most OF the time the men are taking care Of
the rear While h rest Of the drive takes
care OF itself.
just behind the drive a long boom, made
OF logs chained together end to end, is
to shore, with a big red bateau in charge
at one end and q square,, boxlike scow at
the other. A short distance ahead Of the
o are two smaller boats, one following
each bank, and a few men are usually
walking along tho shores, sometimes on
land, sometimes wading In the water and
sometimes anoat on the loose.
Thu first time a river driver asked me
II l was amy good on the loose" l thought
that he was wondering whether or not
l would make a c~ongenial companion on
q spree. This proved TO be q mistake.
THE loose" is the term used on the drive
to designate logs or pulpwood sticks floating
loosely on the surface of the river. and TO
be good on the loose II to be able TO 70
about on il wherever one pleases without
getting wet. To ride a big pine log Is not
so very difficult, but to walk or run across
a field OF pulpwood. where most Of the sticks
are far too small to carry a mans weight, is
like skating on very thin Ice.