White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-12-12
"SONG O. THE WINDS"
DOCKS AT THIS PORT

In his little 17-foot canoe, Song O.
the Winds" Amos Burg, Jr., 22 year
old Portland boy, who is making a
! trip down the Columbia river from its
source to the Pacific ocean, arrived in
White Bluffs Tuesday noon and spent
few hours in town. He negotiated
Rock Island and Priest Rapids Mon
day and reached Allard that evening
and spent the night with Henry AL
lard.
Burg left the head waters Of the
Columbia at Canal Flat, B. c., on Oc-
tober 20 but he said the wild ducks
were so numerous there that for two
days he made but little progress, hav-
ing literally to clear path for the
canoe with his paddle. He said the en-
tire trip so far had been full of thrills
adventurous, not romantic. While
still in British Columbia he had the
exciting experience Of killing large
caribou, firing six shots before bring
ing the animal down. His first two
shots, he said went wild because he
was too close to the caribou.
Box Canyon, above Bridgeport,
Washington, one of the narrowest
channels in the entire length of the
Columbia, where tho rocky walls rise
abruptly to dizzy heights and where
the water rushes through like a mill
race, caused Burg to hesitate and he
said he spent about four hours study
ing the passage before finally attempt
ing it, laughingly excusing himself on
tho ground that the loss of time was
necessary in order TO take some pic
lures. The ride through, however,
while ono of the fastest on the whole
trip, was without incident.
When Burg reached Rock Island
rapids below Wenatchee on Monday,
the water looked 30 ugly that he de-
cided to land on the lower end of the
island to figure out his course. He fin
ally concluded to take a course that
would lead him through the channel
said the roll of water on both sides
through this trough was about four
feet above his canoe but although he
shipped some water he emerged safely
at the foot of the rapids.
Priest rapids, Burg said, was the
most difficult Of all the dangerous pas
sages encountered SO far. This part of
the Columbia has always been consid-
cred practically impossible of naviga-
ton by any kind Of craft at this sea-
son Of the year when the water is
nearing its lowest ebb and that Burg
was able to pilot his canoe through
leads one to suspect that all of the
Vikings have not passed on. He said
he just followed the current along the
west side of the river but when part
way through, the bottom of the canoe
was humping against 50 many rocks
that he decided to land on a little
rocky point to get his bearings. He
had already shipped some water, one
boot being full, and there was more than
just sprinkle in the bottom of the
boat. As he stepped out into the shall
low water one oar ,slipped from his
hand and was carried rapidly down
stream by the rushing water. He
stepped quickly back into the canoe
and directed 1t along the course taken
by the fleeing oar and strange to say
encountered clear passage to the foot
of the rapids.
With the exception of Kettle Falls
where there is sheer drop in the riv-
er of Is feet, Burg said he had made
every foot Of the trip in the canoe.
Henry Allard accompanied Burg
from Allard to Pasco, where they ar
rived at IL o'clock Tuesday night and
where Burg met brother. The Song
the Wind" with its pilot expects
to reach the Pacific ocean about De-
cember II.
Mr.. Burg said he was making the
trip in the interests of one of the large
Eastern magazines. He had taken over
500 pictures before reaching White
Bluffs and said his story of the trip
consisted of 10000 words. about 1000
of which had been written; the other
5000 he had used up orally on some of
the bad stretches of the river.
In 1922 Mr.. Burg with the same
canoe made trip Of over 1000 miles
from the head waters OF the Missouri
in Montana to the Mississippi river
and on down to the Gulf Of Mexico.
the trip requiring 135 days. Three or
four years ago he travelled down the
Snake river in the Song the Wind"
with a moving picture outfit. In this
trip all of the boats excepting Mr..
Burg's were wrecked at Cello rapids
near The Dalles.