Scientific American Supplement No. 822, October 3, 1891Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement No. 822, October 3, 1891
Various
Science -- Periodicals
Here a misfortune, which had been threatening for several days, came
upon the party. Mr. Young's arm was so swollen, from the shoulder to
finger tips, that he could scarcely move it, the pain being excessive.
It had been brought on doubtless by cold and exposure. Seeing that he
could be of no further use to the party, it was decided to divide
forces, Mr. Smith returning with the sick man to Rigolet for medical
assistance. The separation took place August 8, when the party had
been on the river eleven days. The party were very sorry to return at
this point, since from the best information which they could get in
regard to the distance, the falls were but fifty miles above them.
Under the circumstances, however, there was no help for it. So Smith
and Young, bidding their friends good fortune, started on their return
trip. The mouth of the river was reached in three days, a little less
than one-third the time consumed in going up, and that, too, with only
one man to handle the boat.
On the way down the river another party, composed of Messrs. Bryant
and Kenaston of Philadelphia, was met, who were on the same business
as the Bowdoin party, the discovery of the falls. Mr. Bryant handed to
Mr. Young a twenty-five pound can of flour, which, he said, he had
found in the whirlpool below the first falls. It had been in the boat
which was overturned in the Horseshoe Rapids, and had made the journey
to the first falls, a distance of over fifty miles, without denting or
injuring the can in any way. It was a great relief to the Bryant party
to learn the cause of the mishap, as they had feared a more serious
calamity.
After the departure of the other two, Messrs. Cary and Cole
encountered much rapid water, so that their progress was necessarily
slow. On the third day, when they had proceeded sixty-five miles above
Lake Waminikapon, and had seen no indications of any falls, the
rapidity of the current forced them to leave the river and make any
further progress on foot. The boat was cached at this point, together
with all that was left of provisions and instruments except the
compass and food for six days. They left just enough provisions to
carry them to their last cache at Ninipi River, and hoped, by careful
use of the remainder, to find the object of their search. If they had
not enough provisions, then they must turn back, leaving reports of
falls as destitute of confirmation as ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account