=Source.=--Simon Fraser's "Journal" of the First Descent of the
River, printed in Masson's _Bourgeois du Nord-Ouest_. Quebec,
1889-90.
21 June. Soon after we were alarmed by the loud bawling of our
guides whom we saw running full speed towards us and making signs
that our people were lost in the rapid. As we could not account for
this misfortune, we immediately ran over to the baggage where we
found Mr. Quesnel all alone. We inquired of him about the men; at
the same time we discovered that three of the canoes were missing,
but he had seen none of them, nor did he know where they were. On
casting our view across the river, we remarked one of the canoes
and some of the men ashore there. From this incident we had reason
to believe that the others were either ahead or had perished. We
immediately directed our speed to the lower end of the rapid....
We had not proceeded far when we observed one of our men, Dalaire,
walking slowly from the bank with a stick in his hand, and, on
coming up to him, we discovered that he was so wet, so weak and
exhausted that he could scarcely speak. However, after leaning a
little while on his stick and recovering his breath, he informed us
that unfortunately he and the others, finding the carrying place
too long and the canoes too heavy, took it upon themselves to
venture down by water; that the canoe in which he was happened to
be the last in setting out.
"In the first cascade," said he, "our canoe filled and upset; the
foreman and the steersman got on the outside, but I, who was in the
centre, remained a long while underneath upon the bars; the canoe
still drifting was thrown into a smoothy current and the other two
men finding an opportunity sprang from their situation into the
water and swam ashore. The impulse occasioned by their weight in
leaping off raised one side of the canoe above the surface, and,
having still my recollection though I had swallowed a quantity of
water, I seized the critical moment to disentangle myself, and I
gained, though not without a struggle, the top of the canoe. By
this time I found myself again in the middle of the stream; here I
continued astride the canoe, humouring the tide as well as I could
with my body to preserve my balance, and, although I scarcely had
time to look about me, I had the satisfaction to observe the two
other canoes ashore near an eddy and their crews safe among the
rocks.
"In the second or third cascade (for I do not recollect which), the
canoe plunged from a great height into an eddy below, and striking
with great violence against the bottom split in two. Here I lost my
recollection, which, however, I soon recovered, and was surprised
to find myself on a smooth, easy current, with only one half of the
canoe in my arms. In this condition I continued through several
cascades until the stream carried me into an eddy at the foot of a
high and steep rock. Here, my strength being exhausted, I lost my
hold, a large wave washed me from off the wreck among the rocks and
another still larger hoisted me clear on shore, where I remained,
you readily believe, some time motionless. At length, recovering
a little of my strength, I crawled up among the rocks and found
myself once more safe on firm ground, just as you see."
Here he finished his melancholy tale, then pointed to the place of
his landing which we went to see and were lost in astonishment,
not only at his escape from the waves, but also at his courage
and perseverance in effecting a passage up through a place which
appeared to us a perfect precipice. Continuing our course along
the bank, we found that he had drifted three miles among rapids,
cascades, whirlpools, etc., all inconceivably dangerous....
Some time after, upon advancing towards the camp, we picked up
all the men on our side of the river; the men who had been thrown
ashore on the other side joined us in the evening. They informed
us that the Indians assisted greatly in extricating them from
their difficulties; indeed, the Indians showed us every possible
attention during our misfortune on this trying occasion.