The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-04-07
Ghe
RiyerIldn
By STEWArc.,
EDWARD WElTE
Copyright. 1908. by the Mcclure Com.
pany Copyright. 1907. 1905. by
Stewart Edward White
lcoNrINUED.J

lCONllNCEOl
Two of the clumps had been placed
and bound when suddenly. with 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 panic.
Two or three flung themselves on their
faces: one leaped into the river lmm-
nent destruction seemed upon them.
Tom North. at the winch that oper-
ated the arm of the swing. however.
retained his presence Of mind. AZ 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
1t, hurried it shut. Immediately they
TANNED again and heaped up in for
midable 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. Tomv' he 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?"
"I-I don't think So" replied the cap
tain.
THAT'S good. I'll send over the tug
to help get her afoat 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 mattery" asked Orde.
at isn't safe" replied the captain.
'and Il 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. "Safe! 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 driverr he snarled
"This driver is requisitioned!' cried
Orde "Get out! I've got to save my
logsv'
Tom North and some others Of the
crew came running across the jam.
"Get q cable to the WINCH Orde
shouted at these as soon as they were
within hearing. "And get Marsh up
here with the Sprite. We've. got to
get af1oat."
He paid no more attention to the
elected crew.
A few minutes hard work put the
driver afloat.. Fortunately its raft
of piles had not become detached in
the upheaval.
''Tom," said Orde briskly to North.
"you know the pile driving business.
Pick out your crew and take charge"
Orde took charge Of the situation in
its entirety, as general might. He
set North Immediately to driving
clumps each of sixteen piles, bound
to solidity by chains, and so arranged
In angles and slants as to direct the
enormous pressure toward either
bank. thus splitting the enemy's pow
er. The small driver owned by the
Boom company drove similar clumps
here there and everywhere that need
arose or weakness developed. Seven
ty-five men opposed to the weight of
100000 tons of logs and river of
water the expedients invented by de
termination and desperation.
Orde gave over formal defenses and
threw his energies to saving the weak
places which rapidly developed. BY
q. n r. tn e most tr e.
n mendouS exer-
tons he seemed
- but just able to
" keep even. Piles
II l. 4