48 REDWOOD LUMBERING. 



the chain tenders. The engineer also fills the position of 

 stoker, picks up broken limbs, and finds no difficulty in se- 

 curing a good supply of dry material all around and about 

 him. The chain tender fills a position requiring keen per- 

 ception and constant watchfulness. The dogs, or hooks, 

 made of steel one and a half or two inches square, pointed at 

 one end, with an eye and ring at the other end to which 

 chains can be attached, he drives into the log at points re- 

 quired for utilizing power to the greatest advantage. He 

 nods for the engineer to go ahead. The log must move, 

 something must break, or the dogs must slip. To guard 

 against accident, he has moved out of the line of strain be- 

 tween the log and donkey. Carelessness in this particular 

 has caused the death of several chain men within the past 

 few years. The velocity of a broken chain has a rebound 

 that can only be equalled by the speed of a cannon ball. The 

 slipping of a dog is equally dangerous to life, when in its 

 range. 



The block shifter is also liable to accident. The block, 

 or pulley, which he attends is in almost continual use. Per- 

 haps the log is to be started at right angles from the direct 

 line between it and the donkey. A huge stump or broken 

 windfall in the way may require the log to be moved to the 

 left or to the right, that it may be more accessible to the ox- 

 tea*n. The tender secures his block most advantageously for 

 the purpose. The heavy rope that works upon the gypsy of 

 the donkey, and is attached to the log chain which moves 

 through his block, may also separate. In such an event lie 

 needs to be out of the line of rebound. His work is compar- 



