Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-08-01
AXE. to reappear more in the sem.


very smelly shack as cooks devil" at
$12 month and board.
/ stayed with this outfit for three
years, log-driving in the spring and
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
companies have to build large dams
at the edge Of the fall to hold back
the water, leaving a narrow passage
way in the middle, through which
the water rushes like a mill race,
carryir the logs swirling end tumb-
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
"jamming." With all our care on
this particular day Jam" occurred.
A log became wedged with one or
two others right across the chute"
as the passage is called. The result
was the same as invariably is. Hun
dreds of logs came floating slowly
but irresstibly toward the chute
with the current and found resting
place behind each other, with tho
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 bound
ed from log to log, risking their lives
every second in the vain attempt to
disengage the jammed logs, for If
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
well that he was asking some one to
tempt death.
"Of course" he continued, 81 can't
make any of you do it; unless some
one offers I'll have to do 1t myself,
but I'm kind Of heavy for the job.
There's $40 in it and drinks for the
crowd"
Six of us stepped forward simul-
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 belt, two longer
ones fixed to 1t on either side, and l
was ready for work.
Sixteen of the heaviest men were
picked from the gang, and eight
climbed up on to the dam each side
of the jam. An axe was then handed
to me, and hand over hand l was let
out on one side and drawn in on the
~ther till I hung suspended in mid
aif\half way across the current.
Then, in answer to a 81 -rp order
from the foreman, the two sides ST.
multaneously commenced to pay out
rope, and I began to sink lower and
lower toward the jammed logs,
which creaked and rasped ominoui!y
under the strain OF the water behind
them.
I cannot remember any other SEN
sation than t"ot of suppressed excite
ment as / reached the level OF the
water and finally stood on the tremH-
ling, groaning mass of logs-a mass
that might sink from beneath my
feet at any moment l was only sik"
teen, and $40 was lot of money to
me, apart from the glory of the
achievement.
Carefully / 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 II they
gave way now? / should be hurled
to my death at once. Hastily put.
ting the thought from me, felt be.
meath the surface Of the water with
the axe handle. Yes, there they
were, firmly wedged foot down.
Then l set to with will, the water
splashing all over me. With each
stroke of the axe tremor went
through the pile OH 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'
ton, and l gasped for air between
the douches of cold water that
splashed me from head to foot. Sud.
denly, without the slightest warning,
there was report like muffled re-
| volver shot, stream OF water shot
into my face, hoarse cry came from
somewhere above, and l felt myself
| ierked from my feet high into the
air, sinking, rising, and again sink
ing like bouncing ball. Then, with
roar and mighty splash, the
whole structure of piled up logs on
which | had been standing three sec
| onds before collapsed like a house
of cards. and log after log went
sweeping and eddying through the
| chute and over the rapids to the lake
below. Either the jammed log had
broken or l had chopped 1t through;
no one ever knew which.
dor't quite know how they got
me back on to the dam, for the first
| .h;,r T ron,amhar after that WAC 500