The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-02-23
PER|LOUS BOATING
a New Zealand Stream That
Yields a Series of Thrills.
RUNNING THE RIVER RAPIDS.
fhe Journey Down the Wanganui Is
Highly Exciting In Spots, Where the
swayins Steamer Plungcs Through
the Lines of Boiling Breakers.

| Highly Exciting In spots, Where the
Swayine Steamer Plungcs Through
the Lines of Boiling Breakers.
Steamboatlng in New Zealand, to
| Judge by Charles Edward Russell's ac-
count Of 1t 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-
soned 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 or such an
achievement somewhere on the Wan
ganui river:
| The captain, a 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 forecastte; two
hover above the rudder; all are armed
with long, iron shod poles that are to
/ Dt ODJettS VI youi bhAioho SOhSCNlA DS
fore the voyage is done.
| The boat is slipping smoothly Slong
the unrippled reach. You look up Of a
sudden and catch your breath. The
rapid ia directly In front OF you, the
steamer Is tearing into 1t, and how Gun
any vessel get through such a place?
Here goes the narrow stream, roaring
and singing past tho 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 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 ID y
ment the boat, even now lurching slig-
gestively. 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 squirrels
cage, with his gaze fixed intently upon
the water just ahead, as IL 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 slings It sidewise. A
tremendous clatter arises, the boat ca
reens and shakes as II 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 Ia already travelling on the
rocks and gravel of the bottom.
Now then! Now, thenv' yells the
captain. The Maoris put their strength
upon the poles. Just as the craft seems
sliding sidewise into the powders that
lins 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 cup OF tea, holding the wheel with
one hand. You could not touch bottom
here with the statue of Liberty.
If can read men better than rapids
the Scot himself IL not always sure
how he IL coming out OF these tangles
Sometimes his quick, rasping orders ia
the MaOris have the ragged edge OF
! anxiety. and his manner of tearing
with hands and feet at the wheel in
dicatrs II considerable concern. Once
/ heard him mutter under his breath
the national slogan: IL hae ma doots
hne na dootsw as we shot into 0
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 hat
as the boat went sidewise down. seeing
what was ahead for her. If In an In
stant she can gather full speed aheat
, she can slip through: otherwise plain
, ly she will strike her side against tn,
, reef aud capsize
"Now, then, Jumbo" shouts the cap
tain as he paws with one hand for tn,
, engine bell. give it to her" The pro
!. peller buzzss. The Maoris, with fee
braccd. tug at the poles. They seen
to he too late. With bang the boa
, hits the bank, careens far over ant
!, amid the startled screams of the pas
, sengers slides or into the deep waite
= and goes safely Oh her way.
. l conclude that that pilot must be
a master of his craft. or score o
: places he is able 10 hit the bank at tn
single spot that In safe,
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Tha Aduanns nf Soi.nna