The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1922-09-02
Filming the Falls
of the Columbia
Two Figures on Raft Go
Over Historic Waters
i'm Afternoon
"Is it nearly time to go over?"

us it nearly time to go over?"
This was the question repeatedly
asked by spectators Tuesday after
noon at the Kettle falls of the Co.
lumbia river, when cameramen, di-
rectors and helpers were arranging
the specially constructed ferry boat
to go over the lower falls in prepa-
ration of scenes for "Quincy Adams
Sawyer" for the Metro company.
In the picture Blanch Sweet and
John Bowers, the two leads of the
picture, are crossing the river on
ferry boat when the boat tears away
and goes swirling down the strong
current completely at the mercy of
the river First the boat is to pass
over some rapids, then over set of
falls and rapids, then over a third
waterfall, where if the company's
plans materialize it will be broken
to bits on the rocks. And there is
no doubt that it will, for the boat
will be easily broken by tn. treacher-
Gus rocks and water.
Nature did not make the river the
way the director desired to have it
in the picture, so they are changing
it on the screen to suit themselves
In the picture the boat will be seen
to pass over Hickey rapids, some
six miles below Kettle Falls, then
over Kettle falls and last over the
falls on the Kettle river about a mile
further up, where it is to meet its
Waterloo.
For a saving of time and expense
the boat was actually scheduled to
go over Kettle falls first, then be
picked up by launch below the
falls and used on Hickey rapids far
ther down the river A second boat,
an exact duplicate of the first one,
it being built on the Kettle river,
where it will be sent over the falls
to it's doom.
Tuesday was the big afternoon.
The 20x4O-foot ferry boat was to
make it's maiden voyage and was
given the difficult task of traversing
the falls. 1t had been we'll pre-
pared by experienced workmen.
Twelve barrels were fastened beneath
it to give buoyancy and the frame
work, in addition to being nailed,
was lashed together with cables to
make it flexible. Blanch Sweet and
John Bowers lin waxen image) were
lashed on the deck in the most life
like manner. Four cinematrographs
were stationed at advantageous
points with skilled camera men at
their sides. Other panoramic cam
eras were set up ready to take pic
lures for advertising purposes.
About a hundred people were
gathered on the Stevens county side
of the river awaiting the big scene.
Directors and their assistants began
signaling each other from a distance
of a quarter of mile, using the
semaphore system. Actresses and
actors began to grow expectant The
boat was drawn out into the current.
Cameramen scrambled to position.
More signals. The firing of gun
as warning to camera men, and
the boat was cut loose! 1t is caught
by the current. Cameramen begin
lingering the camera cranks. An
eddy catches the boat and brings it
to rest against a rock just above
the falls. One minute has elapsed
since it was cut loose. Everyone
sinks back to position of ease again
awaiting developments.
A half hour elapses with men pry-
ing and pulling at the boat with
hausers and long ropes. The gun
fires again. Officials spring to po-
sition. The boat is off. But it hasn't
fair chance. 1t is too close to he
bank. The current is wrong there.
Those treacherous rocks below! Will
she make it? There, the bow is
under. Now. No, she was caught
under the back lash of the water
and upended. Sent to a hundred
pieces, but with the main body in
tact and drifting in the eddy below
with the company's plans and work
spoiled. 1t took but 20 seconds for
it to shoot the falls, but in those
20 seconds a thousand thoughts
pass through persons mind. With
the losing of the boat the head car
penter lost a bet of $15.
The boat would in all probability
have gone over safely had it been
towed farther out into the current
of the river, as it would have passed
over smoother water there. 1t will
now be necessary to build another
boat and send it over.
The location man, when asked how
he liked this section of the country
for the taking of pictures, said: 81
l;La ~ 6na with tho avcanfiou ~ tho