Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1904 — Stopped a Leak With Sawdust. [ARTICLE]

Stopped a Leak With Sawdust.

To stop the leakage of a boat by the use of sawdust appears at the first suggestion ridiculous. It is a method, however, employed by backwoodsmen of the Adirondack region. One day a party having considerable baggage discovered upon loading it into a scow at the end of one of the regular “carries” that the boat leaked badly. To delay for repairs would occasion considerable annoyance, and without repairs to proceed seemed impossible. At this juncture one of the guides said: "I think I can fix IL Just unloau the boat again.” This was done, and then the guide brought from a sawmill near the spot a quantity of sawdust. This he sprinkled thickly upon the water on either side of the boat. “Now,” continued he, “load up again.” This was done, and when the weight again sank the boat the Influx of water through the sides and bottom sucked in the sawdust, which finally accumulated in the crevices, swelled, under the action of the water and actually stopped the leakage.