On rising to the surface, I got hold of a trunk, on which
two other men were then holding. Just at this spot, where the Split-rock
rapids terminate, the bank of the river is well inhabited; and we could
see women on shore running about much agitated. A canoe put off, and
picked up three of our number, who had gained the bottom of the barge,
which had upset and got rid of its cargo; these they landed on an
island. The canoe put off again, and was approaching near to where I
was, with two others, holding on by the trunk, when, terrified with the
vicinity of the Cascades, to which we were approaching, it put back,
notwithstanding my exhortations, in French and English, to induce the
two men on board to advance. The bad hold which one man had of the
trunk, to which we were adhering, subjected him to constant immersion;
and, in order to escape his seizing hold of me, I let go the trunk, and,
in conjunction with another man, got hold of the boom, (which, with the
gaff, sails, &c., had been detached from the mast, to make room for the
cargo,) and floated off. I had just time to grasp this boom, when we
were hurried into the Cascades; in these I was instantly buried, and
nearly suffocated. On rising to the surface, I found one of my hands
still on the boom, and my companion also adhering to the gaff. Shortly
after descending the Cascades, I perceived the barge, bottom upwards,
floating near me.
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