5 



RUNNING THE RAPIDS. 37 



the river banks, from three to five hundred feet in 

 height, presents the appearance of running tar, and here 

 and there tar wells are found, having been formed by 

 e accumulation of the viscid tar in natural receptacles 

 the rock. Thus collected it has been commonly made 

 use of by workmen in the calking of the scows on the 

 river.* 



Sixteen miles farther down, the Boiler Rapid, so called 

 from the fact that in 1882 a boiler intended for the 

 steamer Wrigley was lost in it, was successfully run on 

 the following day, and early in the afternoon the third 

 rapid was reached In attempting to run it on the left 

 side, we found, after descending perhaps half-way, that 

 there were too many rocks in the channel ahead, and 

 therefore an effort was made to cross to the right side, 

 which looked to be clearer. My brother's canoe, steered 

 by old Pierre, avoided all rocks and was taken suc- 

 cessfully across, but mine was not so fortunate. In 

 attempting to follow, we struck a large rock in mid- 

 channel, but happily the collision occurred in such a way 

 that my canoe was not seriously damaged. It was 

 merely whirled end for end in the current and almost 

 filled with water, though not quite sufficiently to sink 

 us. Leaving the two Indians to pull for the shore, I 

 seized a tin kettle and lost no time in dashing out some 

 of the water. After a sharp struggle we managed to 

 land. Of course all we had in the canoe instruments, 

 blankets, provisions and clothing was soaked, and it was 

 therefore necessary to unload and turn everything out. 



*For further particulars regarding this most interesting locality, 

 see the report of Mr. McConnell, published in 1893 by the Geological 

 Survey of Canada. 



