SHOOTING A CATARACT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7413, 2 December 1884, Page 6

SHOOTING A CATARACT.

The following account snpplM to the IfWwi Mnmin'j will give an idea of the difficulties of passing a Nile oaUract. Tho narrator write# that, “at » am, a mrty, tonsrtingof Captain tledfont, Lieut, Heed, Dr Bell, and other officers and men, assemhled on hoard tho steamer Nile, (tavern! military officers were also invited hy Captaii. Bedford, amongst whom were Donoral Orenfcli, .Colonel Vandeteur, Colonel Taylor, Ac., to witness the attempt to get over tho first cataract. A sheikh, with I (VO men, was also in readiness to assist, Having got under weigh, the vessel steamed for throe miles against a strong, advene current, at times scarcely able to make any progress. At length a small creek on the starboard side of tho river was reached, where tho water was comparatively still, and in which tho steamer remained while the preparations wore completed for ascending tho cataract, tho full force of which would ho felt immediately on leaving the point that then sheltered us. For this purpose a hawser was made fast to the bow of the steamer, led round the point and alongside of the cataract, and manned by the Sheikh and-hia 160 men. All being ready, the steamer was poled out of the sheltered creek and allowed to drift until she had emerged into the boiling and foaming water from the cataract At the word of command tho hawser was tightened, and tho men ran away with it, shouting and screaming in that indescribable manner peculiar, to the natives. The engines went full speed ahead, and little hy little, the steamer breasted the surging current, running at a speed of fourteen or sixteen knots. The current caught her on tho starboard bow, and she sheered with alarming force over to tho port side of the river. The noise of the waters, the shouts of the men, and tho steady words of command from the officers, formed a babel of sound not easily forgotten. Another sheer in the opposite direction, and the steamer, with groat force, struck against a rock on tho same side as the friendly creek. It was a critical moment, but. Wing reached Suiet water, it was evidently necessary bat increased efforts should be used if a second attempt was to succeed. Accordingly fifty additional men were procured. The bow hawser was led along the side of the cataract as before, while another hawser was secured amidships, and all was in readiness for the second attempt. T t may be mentioned that within a few yards on the port side of the cataract tho stream ran with terrible violence over hundreds of rocks, and it was all-important to avoid these. All being ready, the sheltering creek was left behind. The engines went full speed ahead, and the two hawsers were hauled by the natives on shore. Unfortunately the midship, however, was from some cause slackened and fouled the paddle, resulting in a fracture of the paddle shaft. The engine ceased working; the stream boro us backward with frightful rapidity; there was nothing on shore to take a turn with the bow Hawser, and the men let go. Like a flash we passed a rock that stood in our way, and an effort was made to drop the anchor. The cable, as waa to be expected, snapped like a piece of thread, and the steamer, broadside on, was rushing on to a rock that barred the way, and round which the water was foaming and tossing with alarming force. To strike this rock would inevitably cause the steamer to turn turtle and break up into matchwood. The moment was critical in the extreme, and some on beard were pre* pared to swim for it, when tho presence of mind of Captain Bedford hit on a happy expedient. A Sin hawser was secured in an instant to ten coils of tongh wire, and the whole was thrown overboard. An anxious minute was passed, and to the relief of all it was found that the steamer was brought up actually only about thirty yards above the dreaded rock. Under Providence we owe to Captain Bedford and his men the fact that the vowel escaped destruction. The soldiers behaved well, and gave material assistance to the sailors. Help being telegraphed for, we were extricated from our difficulties, and reached Assouan in safety/"