Riders of the Flood

by W.E. Blackhurst

Published in 1954, the background and many of the incidents of this story are authentic. Riders of the Flood is based on a great lumbering operation that took place in West Virginia between 1884 and 1900. Te logging methods and river driving of logs portrayed herein are no longer used. They have become a part of the historic past. Every effort has been made to show these operations accurately. The locale of the story is the Greenbrier River drainage in the high mountain area of West Virginia. The towns, other places, and many of the names of Charachers described are authentic. A savage river, ready to kill, playing a cat-and-mouse game with a man s life this was the Greenbrier as it coursed through the white pine forests of West Virginia. In Riders of the Flood, Warren E. Blackhurt presents a thrilling picture of logging on the Greenbrier some seventy years ago, a little-known, rich vein of Americana. Old-time loggers were a two-fisted crew, tough, hardy men who loved their calling as a sailor loves the sea. Fearless, red-blooded, intense in their loyalties, the woodsmen formed a rugged, distinctly American brotherhood. Into the midst of these rough-and-ready customers comes Duncan mall, a playboy who has never done a day s work. Sent into the woods by a wise old character who gambles on his stamina, Duncan learns, the hard way, to be a man. Here he meets Tad Stevens, best damned peeler in the States and Canada ; Windy hammer, elaborate if heavy-handed practical joker; the Chicago Fire , so called because of this obsession with that blaze; and other lumber-camp figures, many based upon authentic loggers of the great pioneer era. Here, too, he rescues from the roaring river the lovely Martha Mendell, and is instantly bowled over by a force stronger than the river itself. The making of Duncan Mall is an exciting, dramatic story. Set in a carefully authenticated background which brings to vivid life a heroic day now past, it brings new color to the inspiring saga of pioneer America. Action, romance, humor, drama they are all here, from the fascinating details that made up a woodsman s life to the sensational manifestations of Nature as a long-awaited ice break of Springs released the wild spectacle of her angry power.

Hardcover

First published December 1, 1954

Reviews

[Timothy G. Huguenin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously meant to be an ode to West Virginia's logging days of yore, and in some sense becomes overly sentimental. The plot isn't complex, and is almost nonexistent—Blackhurst does set up some conflict but seems unwilling to really dig as deep into the emotional stakes as possible. Rather than deep and complex characterization, Blackhurst is chiefly concerned with communicating a probably romanticized portrait of the old timber industry in his region.

Regarding style: Blackhurst isn't incompetent, but he is no Giardina or Grubb. He tells more than he shows, but when he shows he does it well enough. I believe this was Blackhurst's first novel, so I give him the benefit of the doubt. It is not difficult to read, but it doesn't stand out, either.

Despite some negatives, I enjoyed the book, and though it moved rather slowly, it is short enough that it doesn't become too cumbersome to finish (though the ending seems paradoxically abrupt). I stuck with it primarily because I am interested in old-time lumbering operations. Those interested in West Virginia historical fiction will find something to like about this book, but I suspect the average reader will not find it engaging.

I will likely read more of Blackhurst. Even with its flaws, Riders of the Flood showed promise, and I expect his other books will be improvements. Like I said, I have a greater interest in WV history and literature than the average reader, so keep that in mind.

[Luca Grifo-Hahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in anticipation of a multi day canoe trip down the Greenbriar, which is the central river of the book.

It was super interesting and informative in that respect, but if you’re not familiar with this part of West Virginia or have no interest in visiting this part of West Virginia, I’d say this book is probably not for you.

Great description of the lumber industry in the late 19th century though.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book many years ago in Cass, WV. It's a novel about the lumber industry in the mountains of WV back before the railroad carried the timber. A good, fun read, with just enough romance for good measure. I've read it multiple times, myself. If you can find a copy, I highly recommend it.