The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-02
PERILOUS BOATING
A New Zealand Stream That
Yields a Series of Thrills.
RUNNING THE RIVER RAPIDS.
The Journey Down the wanssnui ls
Highly Exciting In Spots, Where the
swayins Steamer Punses Through
the Lines Of Boiling Breakers.

1
Steamboating I'm New Zealand. to
Judge by Charles Edward Russell's ac-
count OF II in the Twentieth Century
Magazine. has In it more excitement
than relaxation. IL is n more or less
nerve racking experience not only for
the anxious passengers, but for the sea-
soned steamboat men as we'll
The swift water courses that come
down from the lofty backbone OF the
islands are fun OF rapids that can keep
the most skillful pilot on the anxious
seat until they have been successfully
run" This is the story or such an
achievement somewhere on the Wan
ganui river:
The captain, sunburned and active
young Scot, stands at the great wheel
forward on the upper deck, whence he
can see bow and stern. Two stout
Maori youths SIT on the forecastle: two
hover above the rudder; all are armed
with long. iron shod poles that are to
be objects OF your anxious concern be-
fore the voyage is done.
The boat is slipping smoothly along
the unrippled reach. You look up of a
sudden and catch your breath. The
rapid is directly in front OF you, the
steamer Is tearing into it, and how can
any vessel get through such a place?
Here goes the narrow stream, roaring
and singing past the rocks. You can
see the bottom everywhere. 1t looks
only an inch or two from the surface.
The whole thing pitches visibly down.
ward. Beyond at a lower level shines
the smooth. dark green surface OF the
next reach. The green and the silver
are beautiful The singing of the wa
ter Is music, but for these you care not.
for you see plainly that in another mo-
lnent the boat, even now lurching sug-
gestively, viii be rolled over like a log,
and you will be grasping at some bowl.
der in the food.
Meanwhile the captain spins the
wheel back and forth like squirrels
cage. with his gaze fixed intently upon
the water just ahead as if he read
through It and scanned the stones be-
meath. The brown Maoris stand for |
ward and aft, with their poles in their
hands.
AS the boat plunges into the first |
line Of boiling breakers the bow sinks |
under you, the swift current catches |
the stern and sings it sidewise. A
clatter arises, the boat ca
reens and shakes as if she were fall
ing apart. and you, standing on the up
per deck and nervously holding the
hand rail, give Yourself up for lost, for
The keel is already travelling on the
rocks and gravel OF the bottom.
Now. then! Now, them yells the
'aptain. The Maoris put their strength
ipon the poles. Just as the craft seems
sliding sidewise into the powders that
Inc her path she slips out through the
passage into the placid green and sill
'er of the next reach, and the captain,
the jingle bell, settles down
o cup of tea, holding the wheel with
me hand. You could not touch bottom
lere with the statue of Liberty.
III can read men better than rapids
he Scot himself is not always sure
low he is coming out of these tangles.
sometimes his quick, rasping orders to
he Maoris have the ragged edge of
Inxiety, and his manner OF tearing
With hands and feet at the wheel in.
Iicates a considerable concern. Once
heard him mutter under his breath
he national slogan: 81 hae ma doots!
hae ma dootsp as we shot into a
abominable piece of water.
The channel, no more than wide
nough for the little hull, turned sharp
Y at the bottom of the slide, and l had
omething rather worse than doubts
s the boat went sidewise down. seeing
What was ahead for her. II In an in