SHOOTS THE CHUTES

Park Wardwell Sails Over
Government Dam.

The Emmett index. April 16, 1908,

"What man has done, man can do." proclaimed Park Wardwell just before he, in a small row boat plunged over the government dam on the Boise river, and later was dragged from the waters below by several of the employees on the works, who watched the fellow take this perilous trip.

"Wardwell went down the river in a boat he had evidently secured at a point above, and noticing a number of men standing on the bank, rowed within speaking distance and inquired about the dam and whether it would be safe to shoot the chutes. Believing him to be joking oue of the men replied that several men had recently accomplished the feat. Without further comment Wardwell proclaimed, "What man has done, man can do," and struck out into the center of the stream. The current soon had the boat in tow, carrying it forward at a rapid rate. When on the brink of the dam Wardwell raised his oars that they should not interfere and prepared for the descent by squaring himself on the seat as if he was about to perform an everyday occurrence. The prow of the boat shot forward with the torrent of thé immense volume of water when it fell, and in falling a distance of about 20(?) feet, turned turtle and spilled its passenger into the swirling pool.The men on the bank were soon on the scene and Wardwell was fished out, thoroughly ducked but not much the worse for his experience.

"Wardwell acted strangely and insisted on getting the boat at once land continuing on his journey down stream. On his arrival at the Barber dam about a mile below, he met the foreman of the millpond, who inquired something about his boat. Wardwell at once thought he was accused of stealing the boat and grabbing up a club. He savagely started after the foreman, striking him several times. He was overpowered and taken in charge by a number of men and later in the evening brought to the county jail by Deputy Sheriff Roberts, who placed a charge of insanity against him. He was released Monday."— Boise Statesman, Sunday.

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Notes

Nellie Ireton Mills in "All Along the River/Territorial and Pioneer Days on the Payette" writes: "Among well-remembered loggers or "river hogs" were Jim Wardwell and his son, Park. . .Park, with peavey to balance him, he could ride a rolling log the ten miles from Montour to Emmett, with never a fall." (see History-Lumber and Logging)

Park was no stranger to the Boise River. July 2, 1897 "The Emmett Index" reported:
Park Wardwell and Tom Krigbaum returned from Boise river on Tuesday where they have been working all spring on Sadie Say's log drive. Say brought down about one and one quarter millions of feet of lumber this season.
June 15, 1895 "The Emmett Index" reported Park Wardwell and Will Woody had returned from a Boise River log drive.



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