The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972, September 03, 1911, Page 50, Image 50

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    THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 3, 1911.
8
SHOOTING SWIFTWATER ON THE McKENZIE
Casting for Trout and "Engineering" a Boat Is Sport for Kinqs, When the Fiji Appeals on
Isolated Stretches of Oregon's Famous Fishing Stream; Outing Party of Eugene Sportsmen
111 lr 1 V fe-
111 U.nt '-Slfe' i'JJ
GRANTS PASS TO
CRESCENT C I T V IS
POPULARAUTORUN
Car Can Travel Leisurely and
Make Trip In a Day, Seeing
Many Points of Interest En
, Route; One Sharp Climb.
Upper upright Uncle
George
right -
Frissell and a Dolly Varden. Oval Fish rack at the hatchery.
The start down stream. Oval On Gabe creek grade.
Lower
By V. C. Freeman.
Eugene, Or., Sept 1. It's "going up"
or "coming down" the McKenaste at all
houra of th day and rtiiffht now. The
seasonal tide of hikers Is at its brlm-
mlnr- Seeming never to exhibit wear!
ness. an almost Interminable caravan
of automobiles, wagons, carta, buck-
boards, motorcye'ts. bicycles, equestrl
ans. trampers and ghostly prairie
schooners crossing to or from eastern
Oregon are moving along that much
abused and much praised artery to tha
wilderness and forgetfulnesa of the gas
bill, the McKenzie.
There's miles of boulevard. There's
some other unmentionable miles where
the dust is deen and the round rocks
and hidden ruts "test out" to the last
degree everything that moves over it-
but nevertheless the tumultuous routs
by land or water Is through a land of
pure delight, and its fame is secure.
Many are the Interesting glimpsis
"WaltervUle Leab'irg. Mrs. Kennerly's
home, where roeais of tender chicken,
fine honey, hot biscuits, the sweetest
pies are served; Martin's rapids. Blue
river, Ponjade Oato creek, Cougar Rock,
Crib Point, Cooks, McKensle bridge,
the mouth of tho silvery South Fork,
the two springs, Belknaps and Flooy's.
As a climax to the panorama comes the
wonderful sky line of the Three Sisters,
Diamond Peak and other points.
Power Is Heeded,
The trip up river is accomplished
with two or four legged horsepower, or
20 or 30 In gasoline. This is fairly sen
sational at places, but coming back on
230,000 horsepower official estimates
of the power of the McKenzie Is some
thing like chasing clouds in an aero
plane. For fun nd nerve tingling ex
periences, try shocting the torrent, cast
ing for redsides. It is truly sport for
kings and men with red corpuscles in
the blood.
- There is a series of white capped
race courses, recurring often enough to
provide a thrill or two for each of the
it ' miles from McKenzie bridge to a
point nearly opposite Kugene. Mid
stream anglers have every whit as much
to think about as an automoblllst when
he is ion a narrow mountain road and a
team runaway is coming head on.
Off Aftsr Trout.
Our party set off early one morning
with a teprn and enmp equipment for
two days. Hchind our waKon we towed
a two whfteled boat cart. This is a
vehicle constructed to supply the de
mand for a convenient mode of taking
upstream the bonis of McKenzie an
glers. At the ci id of a day's drive we
put our craft into the river, dismissed
the driver and team. Supper was served
under the firs. The only hot course
was strong blak -coffee and pipes.
As the deci twilight roue lllRlicr and
higher out of the canyons and blotted
out the orange tints on tho topmost
ranges, two of us pushed out 'Into the
current, and during half an hour's drift
took in three-four pound beauties. This
'was Just for a tryout.
The drift down stream next morning
was a succession of exciting dashes as
the boat shot the foamy torrent. Kvery
few moments eafh occupant's attention
was evenly divided between specula
tion as to which rock In midstream the
boat would split upon and the landing
of trout. Here we drifted lazily around
some promontory Into deeper, steel-blue
water for half a mile or so, then, gath
ering Impetus, the boat would race
through s series of whirlpools. The
oarsman was a river man who knew
very crook and turn. The novice in
the boat, who could not swim a stroke
fejt Inclined to be doubtful if the oars
man knew his business, but, aftsr the
passags through shell rock rapids he
became docile and Implicitly obeyed
oommands. The cheerful Information
was vouchsafed thst If we spilled In
shell rock rapids thers was no hope
of getting out alive.
"Ho matter what happens, when it
,hppsns and what you think will hap.
pen," said the pilot at the oars, "sit
still, In the middle of the boat."
In Swift 'Water.
As the forenoon wore on and the
miles were covered we ' became more
accustomed to the actions of Our cranky
craft. Though there were many mo
ments when we lost interest in fish
and gave all attention to the pilot, our
first apprehensions were lulled. Twice
we were called upon to get out and
warp the boat through shallows. This
was fun until, in a careless moment
sfter having worked our way down
ripples until the craft was easy again,
one of the fellows stepped off the
earth. He let out a yell that the boss
said would have scared every fish and
other "varmint" for a mile. "Deep?"
he was asked when his head reap
peared. "No, cold," he replied sheep
ishly. We landed the speckled beauties in
fine order until we heard the muffled
roar of big rapids. VA11 straightened
up for the climax, .what then hap
pened Is difficult to relate. First, we
felt the boat shake as' the torrent took
hold of it and fairly hurled It onward
in midstream. Just as I supposed the
worst was over and was fascinated
with the swirling green waters, boom
ing on either side, the craft rose on
her beam ends. I recall a fleeting dash
when all the landscape was upBlde
down. Then followed an eternity of
drifting through a sea of amber and
green. I was going down, down, down
and then up, up, and Just as it flashed
over me that It was a mighty long way
to where there was more air my head
scraped a snag. , ,
rig-httaf for Air.
There was the welcome sunlit world
all right and right side up once more.
I exchanged a large amount of water
for air. Choking and gasping and
plunging about desperately I caught
hold of a piece of drift and yelled. It
was probably eight minutes before an
other boat party arrived to rescue and
get us out of that terrific current
which, by that time, had fairly numbd
me and was threshing me around In a
most humiliating manner.
What happened was this: Just at
the foot of th falls through which we
had daahed was a quarter of an acre
of drift piled up 20 feet or rnoro. Under
this big Jam the torrent had combed
out a deep hole. The water swirled
under this Jam -with the force of a
great suction pipe. All four of us in
the boat had a most miraculous; escape.
Just as the boat reached tho edge of
the hole a dozen feet from the log
Jam, It struck a log submerged to a
level with the surface. We did not
see this and it caused the upset not
carelessness in steering.
Under Piles of Drtft
Kach man was flung headlong and
sucked- under the drift. We were car
rled down into, 15 feet of water at the
Imminent risk of coming up too soon
or of being snagged on one of the pro
jecting limbs of the mass of trees, logs
and brush. The man furthest up
stream weighed 200 pounds. He real
ized better than the rest of us what
was coming. When he felt himself In
the water he dived for the bottom 'and
let the current carry him asr long as
he could stay down. He came up again
perhaps 160 feet from where the cap
sizing occurred and hung on to the
end of a branch that projected from
the pile. All four men came up at inter
vening spaces of 30 to 40 feet and were
distributed over 200 feet along the
treacherous bank
The last man presented a grizzly ap
pearance when he showed up. It effec
tually dampened our spirits for shoot
ing the rapids any more that day. His
forehead was gashed by a piece- of
drift and he was bleeding profusely. As
quickly as possible the other boat put
us ashore. That ended the trip. The
fifth man who had started with us had
decided to quit us a mile or above.
He could not swim a stroke. Hsd he
been one of the upset party the chances
are that the affair would havs had a
trsgic ending. ,
A few days afterward another fish
ing party came down the same place.
The men were on the lookout for the log
at that big drift. One of them, however,
survived a more thrilling experience.
No chances had been taken at any W
the more dangerous rapids as the party
had gotten ashore and lined the boat
down stream.
Near the mouth of the Mohawk, the
boat in passing over shoals was caught
by a grounded snag. In a twinkling It
had been swung around broadside. In
a moment more, before the occupants
could Jump out and right her, she had
turned completely over and one of the
fishermen Was carried off his feet into
a deep pool. He felt himself being
drawn by a powerful under tow near a
small log Jam, where the banks were
steep. Being only a fair . swimmer hs
decided to float with the current until
a gravel bar was reached. He calcu
lated correctly as to the proper method
of getting out, but there was some
thing not In his reckoning. In spite of
his efforts he went under and Ms feet
touched submerged drift. A snag then
tonk a hitch In his stout blue flannel
shirt and he found himself prisoner.
The current lashed him under but he
could manage to throw his head near
enough the surface to get air.
Not having strength enough to call
for help he tore his shirt open at the
neck. Throwing himself heels over
head he "skimmed the cat" out of his
shirt. He said it seemed an eternity be
fore the wrist, bands slipped over his
hands. He was panic stricken for an
instant when he felt himself thus help
less. He got loose, finally, and beat
his way ashore wellnlgh exhausted. The
shirt remained on the snag.
Mothers of Skin
Tortured and Dis
figured Children!
A RE your little ones suf
jLJL fering from itching,
burning eczemas, or other
torturing, disfiguring skin
troubles? Are you, your
self, worn out with long,
sleepless nights and cease
less anxiety in caring for
themf Then you should
know thai a warm bath
with Guticura Soap and a
gentle application of Cuti
cura Ointment will in most
cases bring immediate re
lief, the little sufferers will
sleep, tired, fretted mothers
will rest, and peace will fall
on distracted households.
That those who have lost faith In
every treatment and are without hope
may try Cuticura Soap and Ointment
without cost, a liberal sample of each,
With 32-p. book, will be mailed free, on
application. Address "Cuticura," Dept.
BB, Boston, Bold throughout the world.
; ');: V-.',"" , v.
I
(Speclil to Tht Jnarful.t
Grants Pass, Qr., Aug. 26. Oregon
is a favorite resort fbr the automobile
tourist and no Section of the west has
a . greater number of attractions than
has southern Oregon.
One of the most popular drives in
the district is from Grants Pass to
Crescent City, with numerous side
trips, chief among these, being the Or-
gon cavea,- where one finds much of
Interest. At present the Grants Pass-
Crescent City road Is the mecra for
travelers, some using the auto, while
others Journey along with the staid
and honest horse or mule team.
To do the country by wagon will re
quire about three days, both on' the
outgoing and Incoming trips, but by
auto one can make the Journey very
easily in one day. He maw. travel at
the rate of 15 to 20 miles" perour
and have plenty of tlirie fdr lunohes.
stgHtsellns; at favored points or stop
ping to fish in a wild mountain stream
or In Illinois or Smith's Tlver.
TfcrougU , lUoa Tallsy.
Leaving Grants . Pass, Jons may !. Jour
ney by easy stages southwest to Kerby
or Waldo,, where good hotel accommo
dations are to be had. Here you enter
the Illinois valley, pasting .through al
falfa fields and fine farms and a, rich
country generally with a great future.
At Kerby and Waldo one finds much
of Interest, gold haying been discovered
here- In 1851. Kerby wss ths first
oounty seat of Josephine county and
many old timers still live here and will
entertain one very charmingly with
tales of the old days. Gold (Strikes
have bean frequent in this district dur
ing the last few months and a revival
of the old excitement has been on. Near
here are the Ixigan placer mines, com
prising the largest "placer holdings of
any company In America.. '
ThS sharpest ascent between Grants
Pass and Kerby is Hayes hill, where s
climb of 2000 feet Is made within three
miles. Shortly after leaving Waldo
one crosses the state line into Califor
nia and near Monumental you pass
through a small redwood forest and
then encounter a climb .of eight miles,
with a grade varying from eight to 26
per cent, the highest point reached be
ing 7000 feet. The scenery Is very
rugged. Smith's river Is here first
seen, visible for many miles. . One
travels for some distance at high al
titudes. Snow capped mountains ant)
grand scenery are on every hand.
Pioneer Settlement.
Patrick's Creek Is the next station.
Hotel accommodations are avaHabJe a ho 'road
well as at Gasauets. an exceedingly in
terestlng spot. In the old days 'Mr.
Qasquet settled here, far from civili
zation, and built a: toll road from his
place to Waldo, much of the distance it
being dug out from ths mountainside.
. At.Oasquets famous stage house one
can still' see . the old win presses and
wineries,.' , ;,-? . ,:&;
Leaving -here you can next obtain ac
commodations at - Adams,- where ' more
rugged ' scenery la encountered on a
climb of 8000 feet and travel over eight
miles of corduroy road, which is being
graveled and put. in good shape. Next
comes the world famous redwood for
ests. The vegetation Is very dense and
the trees attain magnificent heights),
The redwoods extend within two miles
of Crescent City and are well worth
seeing. ' ' .- -r .
Along- Coast Highways.
At Cresoent City and Wooleyport are
many fine drives up and down ths
coast over ' as fine roads and' ocean
beaches as any along tbs Atlantic ocean.
However, south from Crescent City for
seven mllea the high speed artist may
gratify his wildest desires to the full
for the' entire distance. After leaving
the famous beach road going south to
Trinidad one climbs to the foothills and
encounters "plenty of fun for the chauf
feur on 28 per cent grades and ' turns
that will tax a skillful driver.
The town,s along the cosst are very
Interesting and each affords good hotel
accommodations. The ferry '. -across
Klamath' river which Is a half mile wide
here makes a welcome break in an In
teresting trip, i : -
The Indian reservation near Pequa is
also an interesting spot and some, fine
baskets, etc, may be obtained at
rugs.
reasonable prices. A finer and larger
redwood forest is next in Interest,
stretching out eight or 10 ' miles along
Wonderful Kedwood Torssts.
This forest as well as tbs one near
Crescent City is owned by private par
ties. They should be held by the Uni
ted States government. Interesting
views 'claim the tourist's attention now, ";
where , one , .passes : through ; districts
where the vegetation is so dense that
the ground even is hard to be seen, or
along rpeky beaches, salt; lagoons and
sandy breakwaters. '.". "';
' Trinidad is an Interesting town of
1000 to 1600 people, good hotels , and
fairly good harbor. . A short line rail,
road is used for, lumber hauling and'
extends to Trinidad and Eureka, Ar
eata has a population of 2000, while
Eureka boasts of 13,000 to 15,000, with
fines harbor and steamers sailing out to
all 'the Important cities along the coast.
'The principal highway entering Eur
ska from the north la a beautiful dou
ble track affair, sprinkled dally: its en
tire length, straight" and smooth and a'
delight to automobillsts,
Ths peach at' Wooleyport compares
with Coney Island. Parties Should pro
vide ( themselves , with heavy overooats
and winter underclothing, for- the air is
often damaand cool; but fresh and In
vigorating.. , ' , "
The soenery the entire distance Is
beyond description and- when . one- has
made the trip he wonders why he had
not done so- sooner.. Thst more fine
scenery Is packed into 100 miles here
than on any . similar stretch In the
world Is frequently asserted.
MULES BALK ON TRACK;
NEARLY .WRECK A TRAIN
(United Press Leaied Wlr.t
Red Bluff, Cal., Kept 2. Three mules
hauling a dirt .wagon, balked on ths
t track as , the fast Shasta limited came
along near here. Their negro driver
escaped with his life, but the mules did
not. They nearly wrecked the train.
Journal Want Ads bring results-
Tuesday We Inaugurate Extra-
ordlinary Selling of
N
At theLowest Price Level
Offered in Portland
mmsssML
Our buyer, Mr. Philip Gevurtz, hat jutt retuYnc3 from the
East, where he purchased from W. & J. Sloane of New York
over $100,000 worth of
Genolrie Oigjelow
Axrntinsttep Carpet
Regular $2.25 a Yard Grade
for the Multnomah and the Carlton hotels, both furnished and
equipped by Gevurtz & Sons. This carpet has now arrived
and by good fortune we have 5,000 yards more than we
need for the hotels. This we will place on sale Tuesday
at the remarkably low price of
1.35 the Yard
sewed, lined and laid.
We have this beautiful carpet in five patterns: A lovely French gray with a small
rosebu design; a French gray with a rose-wreath, a bluish green with a small flower4
a rich green with a floral design and a green with a conventional pattern. .
This Is An Unusual Opportunity to Carpet Your Floors With the
Highest Grade Axminster Carpet at a Remarkably Low Price
Other Remarkable Reductions at tlie
Store of Real Values:
$17.50 Solid Oak
Six Foot Dining
. Room Table
Round top, excellent design,
massively made, fumed finish
12.95
$35 Solid Oak Buffet
in Golden Oak, Waxed or Fumed
finish, 42 inches wide, handsomely
finished, with a French plate bev
eled mirror, 10x36 inches. Three
Spacious drawers and two doors at
bottom.
$6 Solid Oak Din
ing Room Chair
with genuine leather seat,
oie of the latest designs,
strongly made, hand rubbed
finish.
Price Means Absolutely Nothing : You iVIust See
TTiese Articles to Appreciate Them
All goods are plainly marked pur prices lowest our service highest our terms to suit your pocketbook
and convenience.
N
CASH
First f o Second St;, on Yamhill CREDIT
J
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