,22 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
granite and the canyon reaches a depth of over 6000 feet 
and from the moment of starting was one titanic fight 
against the power of the river. This battle continued 
until on the second great southern bend of the canyon, 
about 150 miles down, rounding the Shevwitz Mountain 
or tableland, a point was reached where the whole volume 
of the river appeared to roll up against the mountain 
side and to disappear. Here was the great siphon; here 
was the place where he who entered left all hope behind. 
The men who composed this first party were all hunters, 
trappers or miners, with many superstitious fears, but 
could not be driven. For three days the Major and his 
party tried to scale the canyon wall to get out on top and 
try to find out what was beyond but failed to find any 
break in the solid canyon wall, and discussed the next 
step, until the stars warned them to rest if possible. All 
but three of the party finally agreed to go ahead and 
risk the river, as the Major argued and believed if they 
could get out they would find that the water made a 
quick turn to the right and went along all right. He 
tried every way to persuade these men, the Howland 
Brothers and Bell, to risk the river and go ahead. These 
three were called cowards and other hard words and 
finally they declared they would go no farther, risking 
the canyon wall and getting back to civilization, rather 
than be swallowed up by the thirsty river. When the 
Major became satisfied that these men would not go on, 
he called the party all together, decided to leave them 
one boat, one third of all provisions and instruments, one 
set of records, and then go on, hoping they might suc- 
ceed in getting out and reaching some of the southern 
settlements of Utah. He further agreed if they got 
through, to wait for them and to fire their three guns as 
a signal that all was well and tocome on. In carrying out 
this plan, one boat was pulled out for them but in such a 
position that it could easily be launched again and 
bidding a silent good-by the two boats pulled off and one 
after the other, as was their custom, plunged into the 
seething, roaring waters. When the first boat struck 
the maelstrom as the Major had declared his belief, the 
canyon broke squarely to the right and in less than 30 
minutes both boats were in comparatively smooth water. 
