News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-02-23

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log jam that had formed above the iror
railroad bridge. The planning mills
booms had given wy under pressure
and the contents had piled down
stream against the butiresses.
Orde slept that night ut the booms
The water by morning had crept SO far
up the piles that there began to be
danger that it would overflow their
tops. In that case of course, the logs
in the booms would also run out.
Orde set Il crew of men to raising the
height of the piling by tying logs firm
ly to the bolted timbers atop. This
would take care of an extra two feet
OF water. Il two feet beyond all previ-
GUS records. Another crew stretched
the fifteen inch manila cables across
the field of logs in order to .segregate
them into several units of mass.
About two hours later the pile driv-
er moved up. The swing was opeped
and the men began to drive clumps Of
piles in such position as to strength
en- the swing when the latter should
be shut. 1t was slow job. Each pile
had to be taken from the raft at the
stern of the scOw. erected in the car
rier," and pounded into place by the
heavy hammer raised and let drop in
the derrick 1T the bow.
Long before the task vas finished
the logs in the temporary hooms had
begun TO slide atop one another, to
rruss and tangIe until at last the river
bed inside the booms was filed with
jam of formidable dimensions. From
beneath it the water boiled in eddies.
Orde. looking at it, reused himself to
sudden activity,
Get a move on be advised Cap
tain Aspinwall Of the driver. IF that
jam breaks on us we want to be ready
and if it don't break before you get
this swing strengthened maybe we can
hold her where she is. There's no
earthly doubt that those boom piles
will never stand up when they get the
full! pressure of the freshet."
The drivers crew labOred desperate
ly, hosting the piles into the carriage,
tripping the heavy hammer, binding
feverishlv the clumps Of piles together
by means of cables.
Two of the cIumps had been placed
and bound when suddenly. with a roar,
the upper bOOms gave way, projecting
their logs upon the opening and the
driver.
The half dozen members Of the crew
were scattered by the winds Of a panic.
Two or three flung themselves on their
faces; one leaped into the river lmmi-
nent destruction seemed upon them.
Tom North at the winch that oper
ated the arm of the swing. however
retained his presence of mind. At the
first sag outward of the boom piles he
set in operation the machinery that
closed the gate Clumsy and slow as
was his mechanism. he nevertheless
succeeded in getting the long arm
started. The logs, rushing in back of
it. hurried it shut. Immediately they
damned again and heaped up in for
midabe tangle behind the barrier.
Tom North. his little black pipe be-
tween his teeth. stood calm. the lever
of his winch in his hand. A short
three feet from the spot on which he
stood the first saw log of the many
that might have overwhelmed him
thrust forward its ugly head. The
wash of the water lifted the huge pile
driver bodily and deposited it with a !
crash half on the bank and half in the =,
water.
Instantly after the first break Orde
had commenced running out over the !
booms from the shore.
Good boy. Tom" be shot at North.
Across the jam he hurried to where
the pile driver lay Captain Aspinwall |
examined the supports of the derrick
on deck.
THAT was lucky" said Orde briefly.
"Stove you in?"
IL don't think So" replied the cap
tain.
That's good. I'll send over the tug
to help get her atioat We've got our |
work cut out for us now"
you don't expect me to work my |
driver under the face of that JAM"
cried the captain.
whats the matter?" asked Orde.
st isn't safe" replied the captain,
land | don't intend to risk my men
or my driver"
Orde. with snort of anger, seized
the man and thrust him bodily over
the side to the bank.
Safe, you white livered skunk!' he
roared. "Safel Go over in the middle
of that ten acre lot and lie down on
your face and see if you feel safe
there. Get out. the whole pack of
you. I'm in charge here now"
Aspinwall picked himself up.
Get off my driver" he snarled.
This driver is requisitioned"' cried
Orde. Get out! I've got to save my
Iogsr'
Tom North and some others of the
crew came running across the jam.
Get a cable to the winchr' Orde
shouted at these as soon as they were
within hearing "And get Marsh up
here with the Sprite We've got TO
get afioat."
He paid no more attention to the