The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-19


boat swinging it into the boiling cur
rent stern first-his own method OF tax
ing each cataract. making his iran
craft respond to his will when possible
for a forward pull on one of the otner
of his oars. For half an hour both men
were hurled down the seemingly never
ending length of tossing waters. At
ter the first minute the cockpit in each
boat was filled TO the gunwaleS with icy
water in which the oarsman sat covered
to the armpits. Hundreds of times
great waves totally submerged them,
the little boats each time staggering out
from under the terrific weight of the
water only to plunge into another.
With less than a quarter of a mile
still to be covered before the less
vicious water below was reached, and
just as Russell was sweeping around
the last great curve beyond which he
could see the placid water, he heard
his companion cry out in terror from
behind. Before he could turn TO see
the cause of the cry he was driven
around the curve.
Disaster Overtakes Another.
Mooring his boat to the bank at
the foot of the rapids as quickly as
possible, Russell half climbed, half
waded along the shore of the river
and made his way back up the side of
the rapids.
Monett, his boat wedged tight be-
tween two Jagged rocks, a foot below
the surface of the sweeping water, was
hanging desperately to the gunwale of
the little craft, his body Strengthened
water about him. The boat was COM
pletely wrecked. But when Russell
threw the rope to his companion he was
astounded to see the boy work his way
nearer the boat and begin to tie its
contents securely to the only means
of saving his own life.
Against the roar of the rapids it
was useless for Russell to yell to his
companion to let the provisions go
and save himself Four times he
let Russell haul sides of bacon and
sacks of beans through the thirty feet
of death dealing water between him
and the shore. then finally caught the
rope and let Russell drag him to
safety. He had been in the water for
more than twenty minutes and was
nearly exhausted when Russell lifted
him to his feet.
The loss of the boat seemed at first
to mark the end of their attempt to
equal the record of their predecessors
plan of his stranddling the stern of the
remaining boat.
Knew No Fear.
IF we strike too rough water /
can always swing overheard" he
urged. And we've needed a drag that
wouldn't get fouled in the rocks all
along"
1t was q magnificent exhibition of
me -
the word fear
Before proceeding further the men
pitched camp at the foot of the rap
IDS and made their first comprehen-
sive investigation of the formation in
the granite. Although neither man
would divulge the nature of their dis
coveries, it is interesting to note that
they spent ten days at this point.
1t was noon on Jan. that the trail
party from the hotel on the rim at
Bright Angel (forty men and women
eating their luncheon at the river shore.
saw two men swing out, of the rapids
200 yards up the river and row leisure
ly toward them In the thirty years
that tourists have visited the bottom
of the canyon at this point it is safe
to assert that not one ever saw a sight
like this
Two horses were placed at the dis
posal of the miners. whose clothes
were torn and soaking wet, their faces
covered with an undisturbed growth of
beard of 10 days accumulation.
While they had planned to climb out
of the canyon here to mail and re-
ceive letters, they had no intention of
remaining. With all their provisions
now confined to the limited quarters
of one boat, and with other incentives
to make them push on with all speed
possible, it was with difficulty that
they were persuaded TO remain at the
hotel three days.
Feted as Heroes.
During their stay they were feted
and made the heroes of the hour by
both the men and women guests
Through it all they displayed an
equanimity and unfailing good nature
which surprised those who expected
to find these ragged Adventures quite
different.
Yesterday the entire community
guests and employees of the hotel, ac-
companied the two men to the river
edge and babe them an enthusiastic
farewell. With responding shout the
miners pushed off into midstream and
headed down stream
From now until they reach the
Needles they will see no living human
being. Not a house stands within
twenty-five miles of the river shore
throughout the whole 1872 miles of the
journey still before them.
According to both Powell and
Stanton, the most dangerous and I'M
manageable rapids of the rived are
about a mile below here. The walls
of the canyon are so precipitous that
not even a mountain sheep could find
"a
are passed there will be no wav of
finding out if Russell and Monet have
succeeded in making the passage
through this greatest fall At the end
OF that time they may be expected
daily to arrive at the Needles. their
supply of provisions being SUFFICIENT
for only six weeks, and their plan
being to press on to the completion Of
their enterprise with all possib1e