Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-31

at the iron railroad bridge above Red
ding, but only by the most strenuous
efforts. Braces Of oak beams had
been slanted where they would do the
most good. Chains strengthened the
weaker spots, and on top Of all ton
after ton Of railroad iron held the
whole immovably. Nolan had all the
help he required. Every device known
was employed to strengthen the jam.
For only a few hours was the result
in doubt. Then, as the Clarion jubi-
lantly expressed it, cts a hundred
dollars to an old hat she holds!"
Orde received all this with satisfac-
ton, but with slight skepticism.
Its floating jam, and it gets a
push from. underneath" he pointed
out. Its probably safe, but another
flood might send it out"
1.-THE foods are going down." said
North.
"Good Lord, hope so!' said Orde.
Newmark sent word that sudden
! fit of sickness had confined him to the
house.
Now Orde decided to break out q
channel through the jam itself. This
was necessary preliminary to getting
the logs in shape for distribution. An
opening was made in the piles, and the
rivermen, with pike poles and peavies.
began cautiously to dig their way
through the tangled timbers. The gov
eminent pile driver, which had finally
been sent up from below. began plac-
ing FIVE extra booms at intervals down
stream to capture the drift as fast as
4, it was turned loose. The troubles ap-
peared to be quite over when word
came from Redding that the waters
were again rising. Ten minutes later
Leopold Lincoln Bum. the local re-
porter, came tapping in on Randall's
old white horse, like second Paul Re-
we're, crying that the iron bridge had
gone and the logs were racing down
river toward the booms.
lit just went out" he answered the
eager EXPLANATIONS Of the men who
crowded around him. ''That's all
know. 1t went out! And the other
bridges! Sure! All but the Lake Shore!
Don't know why that didn't go out.
No; the logs didn't jam there-just slid
right underv'
THAT settles It." said Welton.
"You won't quito" cried Orde.
Certainly. You're crazyy' said We'll
ton. with some asperity. "If they can't
stop little jam with iron. what are
your wooden defenses going to amount
! to against the whole. accumulation
! When those logs hit the tail of this
jam she'll go out before you can wink.
It's sure death, and I'm not going to
sacrifice my men,"
Already the news was spreading
among the workers on the jams. Orde
saw the government driver below cast
ing loose from her mornings. A mo-
1nent later her tug towed her away to
side bayou Of safety out Of the ex-
pected rush to the lake.
But we can hold her" cried Orde
in desperation.
Its no use. boy" said old Carlin;
'it's sure DEATH"
Sure deathw Orde laughed bitterly
"All right; sure death. then. Isn't
there man in this crowd that will
tackle this sort of sure death with
me?"
"I'm with you" "And me-" said
North and the Rough Red in breath
Good" cried Orde. You, too.
Johnny Sims and Purdy and Jimmy
Powers? Bully boysy'
II reckon you'll need the tug" said
Marsh.
A dozen more of Orde's personal fol
lowing volunteered.
We've got to close that opening frs
thing" said he. Marsh, tow the pile
driver up there"
The opening was to be closed by
piles driven in groups Of sixteen bount
together by chaine. The ciumps were
connected one to the other by system
Of boom logs and ropes to interpose g
continuous barrier. The pile drive
placed the clumps. while the tug at
tended to the connecting defenses.
Now, boys" said Orde as his last
word. ''if she starts to go save your
selves the best way you can. Nevel
mind the driver. Stay on top"
!; Slowly the tug and her consort nosed
up through the boiling water.
"Work fasty' Orde called to tn
men on the pile driver. IF we cal
close the opening before those Reddint
logs hit US we may be able to .tur1
them into our new channel."