CLEARING AND PLANTING. 63 



machine, the work has to be done by human agency, 

 with the assistance of horses. 



The first thing that is done is to bore a hole right 

 under the middle of the stump with a big auger, or 

 make one with an iron bar; then insert a charge of 

 dynamite or blasting powder, attach the fuse, and 

 blow up the stump. If the stump is not too big, and 

 the charge of dynamite is of the right size, this result 

 will follow. If the stump is a very big one, the result 

 aimed at will be to split it up the middle and at the 

 same time loosen the fangs. These are then drawn 

 out one by one by horses, pulling on a heavy steel 

 logging chain. Trying work it is, especially upon 

 the harness and the single-trees or heel-trees. Our 

 horses became quite expert at this work. 



Now this work of stumping is by no means free 

 from danger. The blasting material used is highly 

 explosive, and a slight concussion will sometimes 

 discharge it. Fortunately, it freezes at a higher 

 temperature than water does. In consequence of 

 this, it often has to be thawed out before it can be 

 used. The safest way is to thaw it over a tin of warm 

 water. But men do not always keep to the ways 

 that are safe. For instance, I have been told of men 

 who were thawing dynamite on a kitchen stove, the 

 sticks lying naked on the iron. One of the party, 

 after drinking out of an enamelled tin cup, put it 

 down on the stove. Instantly there was an explosion, 

 the slight concussion having disturbed the equilibrium 

 of the molecules of the powder. In the case I am 

 alluding to the consequences were serious. One man 

 was killed outright, and another dangerously hurt. 



Almost immediately after we settled at Bonning- 



