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Show 1032 " BY THE SPECIAL MASTER: " Q Even at low water? " A Even at low water. The river, after a flood goes by, raises a foot per hour sometimes, until this flood has gone by; never rains in that country, always have cloudbursts; when they have one along the river, it comes down in sheets." R. 2456- 2457. " Q After that week, after the flood had passed, what kind of condition did you get in the river then? " A We would find these bars - we would have to pick our way behind them and get a line out and go over, or get out and push it over; sometimes find enough water we could get off without pushing; we would make perhaps a mile or two miles per hour, go very slow, go as fast as we could, but even at that we could only make a mile or two miles per hour. " Q Up or down the river? " A Up the river, against the river. " Q Which did you find it easier to operate, up or down the river? " A Going up the river is the hardest physical work, but it is easier to keep the boat free from the bars and rocks. " Q What physical work is there if you have a motor? " A You have to steer the boat, keep your eye on the channel, or where it should be, every second; if you lose a minutes; you will drift back more than you can make in fifteen minutes; it is necessary to keep watching the boat. " And another thing, a power or paddle wheel boat, you have to keep it headed straight into the current; if it gets sideways it will turn around on you, or head for shore. If you keep it headed straight in the current, keep the paddle wheel |
