The Fearful Whirlpool

The Fearful Whirlpool. The following incident is related by the journalist of the Exploring Expedition, and shows with what fearful suddenness men sometimes pass unexpectedly from time to eternity. Mr. Ogden was descending the Columbia river in one of the company's boats, with ten Canadian voyageurs, all well experienced in their duties. On arriving at the Dalles, they deemed it practicable to run them in order to save the portage. But Mr. Ogden determined to pass the portage on foot, believing nevertheless, the river was in such a state that it was quite safe for the boat to pass down. He was accordingly landed, and ascended the rocks from which he had a full view of the water beneath, and of the boat in its passage. At first she seemed to skim over the waters like the flight of a bird; but he soon perceived her stop, and the struggle of the oarsman, together with the anxious shout of the bowsman, soon told him that they had encountered the whirl. Strongly they plied their oars, and deep anxiety, if not fear, was expressed in their movements. - They began to move, not forward, but onward with the whirl. Round they sweep with increasing velocity, still struggling to avoid the now evident fate that awaited them. A few more turns, each more rapid than the last, until they reached the centre, when in an instant, the boat with all her crew, disappeared. So short had been the struggle, that it was with difficulty Mr. Ogden could realize that all had perished. Only one body out of the ten was afterwards found at the bottom of the Dalles, torn and mangled by the strife it had gone through. - New York Adveriser. A legal stone in England is 14 pounds.