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Show 716 could pick the men up in case he had to. The first boat going through wouldn't have that protection. R. 1716. " Q. Was your party equipped with life preservers? " A. Yes sir. " Q. At what point did you stop to repair these boats? " A. It was in Cataract canyon, about, I should say, the first one we repaired was about on the 7th rapid; the second one was about-- as I remember, was about the 8th or 10th rapid. " Q. To what extent were these boats injured? " A. The bottom was rushed in, that is, a space of about six inches, the board was sprung in, and broken, so we had to bring it out on the shore and take the cargo out of it and patch it with a board, and no had a special preparation of cement we used to put over it." R. 1716. They followed the practice of running the rapids through Cataract Canyon, sterns first. this was a universal custom, although there was one rapid he went part way through with the how foremost The boats were no t equipped with rudders and there was only one oarsman to the boat. From the cataracts down to Lees Ferry, Arizona, the difficulties that were encountered consisted of running on bars; gravel bars where the water was shallow and the boats would drag, one or two of the boats being hung up, and the men had to get out and push them off. There were difficulties with whirlpools that catch the boat and turn it, and at times hold it so it is difficult to get it out of them R. 1717. |