The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-03-01
PERILOUS BOATING
A New Zealand Stream That
Yields a Series of Thrills.
RUNNING THE RIVER RAPIDS.
The Journey Down the Wangsnul 10
Highly Exciting In Spots, Where the
Swayine Steamer Plunges Through
the Lines of Boiling Breakers.

]
tho Lines of Boiling Breakers.
Steamboating In New Zealand, to
J Judge by Charles Edward RusselPs ac-
rount OF It in the Twentieth Century
! Magazine, has In 1t more excitement
than relaxation. 1t Is a more or less
nerve racking experience, not only for
The anxious passengers, but for the sea-
goned steamboat men as well.
The swift water courses that come
down from the lofty backbone Of the
Islands are full Of rapids that can keep
the most skillful pilot on the anxious
seat until they have been successfully
run" This is the story OF such an
achievement somewhere on the Wan
ganui river:
The captain, n 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 fOrccastle; 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
sudden and catch your breath. The
rapid Is directly in front Of you, the
steamer Is tearing into 1t, 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 vlsibly down
ward. Beyond at 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-
mcnt the boat, even now lurchlng sug-
gestlvely, will be rolled over like log,
and you will be grasping at some bowl
der in the food.
Meanwhile the captain spins the
wheel back and forth like a squirrels
cage, with his gaze fixed intently upon
the water Just ahead, as II he read
through 1t 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 slings It sidewlse. a
tremendous clatter arises, the boat ca
4 81, fo1l
Ing apart, and you, standing on the up.
per deck and nervousy 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
captain. The Maoris put their strength
upon the poles. Just rs the craft seems
sliding sidewiSe into the powders that
line her path she slips out through the
passage into the placid green and sill
yer OF the next reach, and the captain.
sounding the Jingle bell, settles down
to n cup OF tea, holding the wheel with
one hand. You could not touch bottom
here with the statue Of Liberty.
IL can read men better than rapids
the Scot himself is not always sure
how he is coming out Of these tangleS
Sometimes his quick, rasping orders TO
the Maoris have the ragged edge OF
anxiety, and his manner OF tearing
with hands and feet at the wheel In
dlcates n considerable concern. Once
| heard him mutter under his breath
the national slogan: 81 hae ma doots!
| hae ma dootsr' as we shot into a
particularly abominable piece of water.
The channel, no more than wide
enough for the little hull, turned sharp
ly at the bottom of the slide, and had
something rather worse than doubts
as the boat went sidcwise down, seeing
what was ahead for her. If in an in
slant she can gather fun speed ahead
she can slip through; otherwise plain
" she will strike her side against the
reef and capsize
"Now, then. Jumbo" shouts the cap
tain as he paws with one hand for the
engine bell. give ii to her. The pro
peller buzzcs The Maoris. with feet
! braced. tug at the poles They seem
to be too late. With a bang the boat
| hits the bank, careens far over ana
amid the startled screams OF the pas
sengers slides off into the deep water
and goes safely on her way.
conclude that that pilot must be n
master of his craft. OF score OF
| places he is able to hit the bank ut the
single spot that is safe.