The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-12

uk IL, LOT the west WAS udI n
loving in our direction. That
heller, 30 q sharp lookout was
inches.
we maintained our planned sched-
uie. they would last into Yankton.
Storm Strikes
Planned SCHEDULED We were
hardly on the river when It came.
First a light blast of wind; then
another. The one real heavy one
that forced us right into the cav
ing bank. One, two. three. We
knew what that meant.
Desperately we tried to make a
quick crossing to the low bank
on the other side that would give
us a spot to land. But 1t was no
use. We had just fairly gotten
under way when the real wind
hit US and forced us right back
under the cut bank. It's progress
could be traced from far down
river as II swept over the dry
sandbars. raising great clouds of
biting dust that stifled US. All
about were little whirlwinds, min
iature tornadoes, that fairly took
our breath away as they struck.
Digging our paddles into the
bank we held on as best we could
until the force of that leading
wind had abated somewhat to a
steady blow. A crossing now was
absolutely out OF the question.
Come 10 Ferry
Those seas in the current would
swamp our little canoe In a min
ute. Inch by inch we wormcd our
way along the shore. keeping in
the protection OF backwatcrs.
where the seas were high. but did
not break. Many times the heavier
gusts forced us right into the bank
where We had to hold off with our
paddles 80 the canoe wouldn't be
pounded to pieces.
II was q two-hour fight to ncgo-
tiate that mile Of cut bank to the
next bend. where we knew there
would be q landing of some kind.
There always Is just around the
head of a bend.
Luckily, there was more than just
a landing; there was a ferry there
and we were able to put in just
above 1t and out of the wind.
Hauling the canoe all the way out
OF the water, for the seas were
pitching the ferry about q bit, and
should 1t put out the spot would
be unprotected and open to the
breaking seas. we climbed the
bank and found three men lolling
In the shade of an improvised
shelter made up of framework
over which were spread green
willows.
Fcrrymen Idle
They greeted us more or less
perfunctorily. passed candid opin-
ions on our boat and people who
60 down the river in such things,
and resumed their day dreams.
After five minutes talk with them,
we don't think they were even
day dreaming. We think they were
just sitting.
One OF them was the ferry OPP
orator. = discouraged. downheart-
ed individual who carried about
one auto a day for rs cents. The
other two were commercial fisher
men. by their own confession. but
they didn't catch any fish and II
they did there wasn't any place
TO sell them.
Occasionally, one of the latter
would get up and stretch. glance
around to see II anyone had noted
his sudden activity, and stroll
down along the shore to look at
hi. lines.
After he came back he'd shake
his head, sit down, and then all
of them would roll cigaret. When
that was smoked. the other fish
! erman would get up, look around
! like the first. and then he'd 60
and look at the lines.
Vegetable Stew
This procedure went on all day
long, while the ferryman either
just sat and watched them or
spent his time trying to throw
half bitches over a pulley on the
boat.
When q little shower came up
everyone got up together and
trotted down TO the cabin Of the
ferry and perched on oil cans until
the shower passed. Then they
would 20 back on the bank, smoke
another cigaret. and repeat the
performance Of looking at the
lines. II was restful to watch
those old rivermen murder time
20 delightfully."-.