The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1910-02-23
Stewart
Edward White

LIE ISSUE AuuS Ii CAu1ti0l IL u = ncAAs
with the opening Of the channel into
Stearns bayou. the heaviest pressure
was relieved For the moment the
acute danger point was passed. Orde
spent the next two days In strengthen
Ing the defenses. The men were able
to take their quota of meals and Of
sleep.
The jam had been successfully held
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 1t. Its hundred
dollars to an old hat she holds!'
Orde received all this with satisfac-
ton, but with slight skepticism.
"It's a floating jam, and it gets
push from underneath he pointed
out Its probably safe. but another
food might send it out"
1.-THE floods are going down." said
North.
Good Lord. | hope sor' said Orde
Newmark sent word that a sudden
fit of sickness had confined him TO the
house
Now Orde decided to break out
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 i've extra Dooms at intervals down
stream q capture the drift as fast as
it was turned loose. The troubles APP
peared 10 lie 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.
1T just went QUIT" 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 nnderr.'
THAT settles it." said Welton.
"You won't quit ?" cried Orde
Certainly. You're crazy 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. mo-
ment later her tug towed her away to
side bayou of safety out of the ex-
pected rush to the lake.
But we can hold herr cried Orde
In desperation.
Its no use. boy" said old CarIin;
its sure death"
Sure DEATH Orde laughed bitterly.
"Aif 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 a breath.
''Goodr' cried Orde. You. too.
Johnny Sims and Purdy and Jimmy
Powers? Bully boys''
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 first
thing said he. Marsh. tow the pile
driver up there"
The opening was to be closed BY
kf@A<1S
together By chains. The clumps were
connected one to the other by system
Of boom logs and ropes to interpose a
continuous barrier The pile driver
placed the clumps. while the tug at
tended to the connecting defenses.
NOW. boys" said Orde as his last
word. IF she starts to 60 save your
selves the best way you can. Never
mind the driver. Stay on top"
Slowly the tug and her consort nosed
up through the boiling water.
Work fastv' Orde called to the
men on the pile driver. IT we can
close the opening before those Redding
logs bit us we may be able to turn
them into our new channel
He did not add that II the opening
were not closed before the jam broke,
as break It would IN very few mo-
ments. the probabilities were that both
pile driver and rug would be destroy
-. ~x1sz.