Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-05-23
The E.cgend of tho DnIles.

Theodore Winthrop in the Canoe and the
Saddle gives the following legend as the origin
of the Columbia. To some of us who fud homes
where a few years since nothing was seen but
desolation the legend will possess interest:
The world has been long cycles in educating
itself to be a Git abode for men. Man, for his
part, las been long ages in growing upward
through lower grades of being to become what
eyer he may now be. The globe was once nebu-
lous, chaotic, was anarchic, and has at last
become somewhat cOsmical Formerly rude and
cOnvusiOnary forces were actively at work, to
compel chaos into anarchy and anarchy into or
der. The mighty ministries of the elements
warred with each other each subduing and each
subued. There were earthquakes, deluges, pri-
meval storms, and furious volcanic outburts. In
this passionate, uncontrolled period OF the world
history man was fend, a highly unciyilized
cruel, passionate iienG.
The northwest vas then one of the centres Of
volcanic action The craters Of the Cascades
were fire preachers, fountains of liquid flame,
catapults Of red hot stones. Day was lurid, night
was CHASTITY with this terrible light. Men eX
posed TO such dreadful Influences could not be
otherwise than fends, as they were, and they
warred together cruelty, as the elemeuts were
doing.
Where the great plains of the Upper Colum
valley of the Grand Ronde, between the walls
Of the Grand Coulec, an enormous island
sea, filling the vast interior of the continent, and
beating forever against rampant of hill, to the
east OF the desolate plain of the Dales
Every winter there were convulsons along the
Cascades, and gushes Of lava came from each
fiery Tacoma, to spread new desolation, pouring
out melted surface which, as if cooled in Sum
mer, became fresh layer Of sheeny fre-hardened
ddUeS.
Now, as the fends of that epoch and region
had giant power to harm each other they must
Of course have giant weapons OF defense Their
mghtiest weapon Of olense and defense was their
tail ; in this they resemble the ignauedons and
other . mud pythons of that period, but NJ
animal had such tail as these terrible mone,o
fiend-men who warred together all over tht
Northwest.
AS ages went on, and the fires of the Cascades
began to accomplish their purpose of expanding
the world earthquakes aud eruptions diminished
in violence. y winter came when there was
none. BY and by there was intervals of two
years, then again Of three years, without rumble
or Shock without foods Of fire or showers of
led.bot stones. Earth seemed to be subsidin g
into an aera Of peace. But the iends would not
take the hint to be peaceable they warred as
iuriousy ever
Although the cruptions of Tacoma had ceased
now for three years, as each summer came round
this festival renewed. The Devil had absented
himself from The last two and when on the third
summer after bis long retirement, he re-appeared
among Lis races on the field Of tourney, he be-
came an object Of respectful attention every
gend felt against his strength there no de-
tense he could slay so long as the fit was on.
Yet the idea Of combined resistance to so dread
foe had never hatched itself in any feudish
head and besides, the Devil, though he was
feared, was not especially hated. He had never
won the Jealousy Of his peers by rising above
them in morality. So now as he approached
with brave tail vibrating, all admired and many
feared him.
The Devil drew back and took the init ativt
in war, by making peace speech.
Princes, potentates and powers of the infer
nal realms said he, " the eruptions and earth
quakes are ccasing. The elements are settling
into pcaceiulness. Can not learn Of them
Let US give up war and cannbalism, and live il
m.ldcr fendiahness aud growing love.
Then went up howl OF devltry. " He woul'
lul us into crafty peace, that he may kill ant
eat safely! Death death to the traitor !"
And all the legions OF fends acting with rar
unanimily, made straight at their intended re
former.
The Devil pursued Fabian policy, and too
TO bis heels. Ii he could divide their force, b
could Conquer Yet, as he ran, his heart wa
heavy. He was utterly grievcd at his great fail
ure, his first experience in the difficulties Of re
form. He tagged sadly as he sped over th
Dules toward the defles near the great inlan
sea, whose roaring waves he could hear beatin
against heir bulWarks. Could he but reach som
craggy straight among the passes he could tax
position and defy attack.
But the foremost fends were close upon him
Without stopping, he snote powerfully upo
the rock with his tail. A chasm opened an
went riving up the valley through the bulwar
Of bills. Down rushed the water Of the inlan
sea, churnng bowlders to dust along the narro,
trough.
The main BODY OF the iends sank terror. stricl
en- bat a battalion Of the van sprang across an
made one bound toward the heart. sick and fant
ing Devil. lie smote again with bis tail. an
more strongly. Another vaster cleft went n
and down the valley, with an earthquake roal
and vaster torrent swept along.
Still the leading fends were not appalled,
They took the leap without cranng Many fel
short, or were crowded into the roaring gulf. bu
enough were lett, and those OF the cbefest brave,
TO martyr their chase in one instant, if they ha
caught him. The Devil bad Just time enough
tap once more, with all the vigor Of desparin
tail
He was safe third crevice, twice the widt
ot the second, split the rocks This way an
that 1t went wavering like lightning eastwar
ana westward, irving deeper cleft in the mout
talhs That held back the inland sea, irving
yasier gorge through the majestic chain of h
CaScdues' ana opening way for the torrent
gush oceanward. 1t was the crack of doom f,
the fiends. few assayed the lean. They fe
short the stern edge, where the Devil had snn
painting They alighted on the water, bnt whir
pools trpped them up, tossed them, bowlnd thn
along with Heating boulders until the buffeto
wretches were borne along to the broader cain
below, where they sunk. Meanwhile those wi