The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-08-14

idlSi iouhu my SSil iHStdiieu III
very smelly shack as cooks devil" 9
$12 a month and board.
l stayed with this outfit for three
years, log-driving in the spring anC
summer and bush-working in the
winter.
At the age of sixteen an opportu
nifty happened my way that helped
me out of the beaten track of river
driving. Every dog has his day, and
this particular one was mine.
You must know that, to get the
logs over rapids, the big numbering
companior have to build large dams
at the edge of the fall to hold back
the water, leaving narrow passage
way in the middle, through which
the water rushes like a mill race
carryi- - the logs swirling end tu-lb-
! ling ov-" the rapids to the next lake.
The greatest care las to be taken in
sending the logs through this chan
mel, and as many as fifteen to twenty
men are required to keep them from
tanning" With all our care on
this particular day Jam" occurred.
A log became we6ged with one or
two others right across the chute, "
as the passage is called. The result
was the same as invariably is. Eun-
dreds of logs came floating slowly
but irresistibly toward the chute
with the current and found resting
place behind each other, with the
dam as their foundation.
Hundreds more came sweeping on,
and, finding the current TOO strong
to allow them to rest behind their
forerunners, piled themselves in a
muddled heap on the top. The water
began to rise, and more and yet more
logs piled themselves up, till a solid
wall of timber at least twelve feet
high stretched across the chute be-
hind the dam.
Meanwhile the eriver-drivers bound
ed from log to log, risking their lives
every second in the vain attempt to
disengage the jammed logs, for il
the jam had given way it would have
carried every man to almost certain
death.
"Somebody'll have to find those
jammed logs and cut them," said
the foreman, quietly, knowing full
we'll that he was asking some one to
tempt death.
"Of course" he continued, "I cant
make any of you do it; unless some
one offers I'll have to do it myself,
but I'm kind of heavy for the job.
There's SO in it and drinks for the
crowd"
Six of us stepped forward stimuli
taneously.
You're all wool, boys" said the
foreman admiringly, "but I'm glad
the kid offered, cause he's the light
est of the crowd"
A thick rope was promptly tied Sc
curely round my body under the
arms, by way of a belt, two longer
ones fixed to it on either side, and !
vas ready for work.
Sixteen of the heaviest men were
picked from the gang, and eight |
up on to the dam each side
of the jam. An axe was then handed |
to me, and hand over hand / was let |
out on one side and drawn in on the |
other till ! hung suspended in mid |
air half way across the current.
Then, in answer to a st-rp o-der
from the foreman, the two sides 81
multaneously commenced to pa OFT !
rope, and began to sink lower and !
lower toward the jammed logs, |
which creaked and rasped ominoujly !
under the strain OF the water behind |
them.
cannot remember any other CEN
sation than th"t of suppressed excite
ment as l reached the level of the |
water and finally stood on the tremn.
ling, groaning mass of logs-a mass
that might sink from beneath my
feet at any moment. / was only six.
teen, and $40 was a lot of money to
me, apart from the glory of the
achievement.
Carefully I crept to the edge OF
the mass of logs; then l slowly slid
from log to log down to the seething
water below. Where were the |
jammed logs? That was the ques-
ton.
Above me rose The butts and tops
Of innumerable logs. What il they
gave way now? / should be hurled
to my death at once. Hastily put.
ting the thought from me, l felt be.
meath the surface of the water with
the axe handle. Yes, there. they
were, firmly wedged foot down.
Then set to with will, the water
splashing all over me. With each
stroke of the axe a tremor went
through the pile on which l stood.
1t seemed as If l had been chop.
ping an hour. My hecrt was thump.
ing against my ribs with the exer.
lion, and l gasped for air between
The douches of cold water that
;plashed me from head to foot. Sud.
lenly, without the slightest warning,
here was report like muffled re-
volver shot, stream of water shot
INTO my face, hoarse cry came from
;OmnW here nhnVp and faM r,vcalf |