Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-06-09
Navigation In A Canon.

Gus attempt at navigation in a canon
on the upper Columbia. The most re-
markaole part of the river. the writer
says, Is where il is compressed 10 one
sixth OF its width in passing through
mountain gorge three-quarters Of a mile
long. The current is so strong there
that II takes from four to six hours for
the steamer to struggle up against il,
and only one minute for il to come
down Men who have passed down
through it in small boats, say thar il
Is as If one were shot from the mouth
OF cannon. When we reached this
canon our real difficulties began. We
attempted TO enter il in the afternoon,
out met with an accident which delay-
ed us until the next morning. Mean
while the river began 10 rise. We
waited twelve days in the woods for i,
TO Subside.
Everybody grew very impatient, and
at length one night the captain said he
would try il the next morning, although
he had never before been UP when the
water was so high.
A heavy rain came on. lasting all
night, so that it seemed rather desper-
ate to attempt going through, if the
river had been too high the night be-
fore, and could hardly believe il
when | heard the engineer getting up
steam to start.
There were evident signs of disap-
prevail all about us-the sky perfect
gloom, and the river continually re-
plenishing its resources from the pour.
ing rain. But we steamed I'D to the
entrance of the canon. Then the boat
was fastened by three lines to the shore.
and the men took out a cable six hun
dred feet in length, which thew carried
along the steep, slippery rocks and fas.
tened to a great tree. They then re.
turned to the boat, let on all the steam.
and began to wind up tie cable on the
capstan.
With the utmost power of the men
and the steam, it was sometimes i'm
possible to see any progress Finally.
however, the line was wound I'D, and
the boat was again secured to the
bank, and the cable put out the second
time. This part of the passage was still
more difficult than the other; and after
the line was arranged, two men-one
of them large and overwhelming,
the other small and insignificant
were left on the shore with graphing
irons to keep it off the rocks.
We watched them intemly, and as
we drew near we saw that the line had
caught on something beneath the sur
face Of the water, so that they could
not eXtricate it. The little man toll
ed vigorously at it, standing in the
water nearly up to his head. but appear
ed to be feebly seconded nv the big
one, who remained on the rocks.
1t seemed as if the line would Fart
from the strain, or the boat strike the
next moment.
The mate shouted and gesticulated,
but no voice could be heard above the
raging water, and the men either Could
not understand his motions, or could
not do as they were directed. The
boat bore directly down upon them.
Presently it seemed evident to us that
the little man must sacrifice himself
for the steamer.
He stopped for second, then flung
back his cap and pole, and threw him
self under the boiling water UP came
the rope to the surface, but the man was
gone. Instantly after he scrambled up
the bank; and the great, magnificent
man did nothing but clutch him on the
back when he was safely out.
We had then wound up about two
thirds OF the cable. Suddenly the great,
heavy line came wholly up out OF the
water. A bolt flew out of the capstan,
which was a signal for the men who
were at work on it to spring out Of the
way.
The captain shouted, "Cut the rope!"
but that instant the iron capstan was
torn out Of the deck, and jumped over
board, with the cable attached to it,
Three of our four rudders were
broken; but the remaining one ena-
bled us to get into an eddy that carried
us to little cove, where we stopped to
repair damages sufficiently to come