National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-07-06
SIGHTS On THE COLI MEBxA
RIVER.

nv are so nlu' u o'I Oh the way o1
travellers generally, and are so com
paratively unsettled. that but few
descriptions of the natural features
of the country or its condition and
progress in civilization find their
way into print. \ correspondent of
the st. Paul (Minncsota) Press, who
has made Il tour through that new
and strange region, furnishes some
interesting facts concerning it. We
quote a few passages:
Leaving Vancouver. Washing
ton Territory, we take passage in
small steamer up the broad and ma
.iestic Columbia, which here rcSem-
bles in size the Ohio near its mouth.
though much clearer and having
more current. To the right and
south is Oregon. while to our left
and north is Washington. \ dis
tancc of fifty miles brings us to
TIE CASCADES,
a buStIing little village OF 200 in
habitantS. in Washington territory.
1t is the seat of Skamania county.
The village derives its name from
The cascades in the river ut this
place, which makes serious and
annoying break in navigation. Pass
cngers and freight are here unload
ed, placed III ears and conveyed sew
cn miles up the north bank. where
we rc-embalk on another steamer to
continue our course up the river.
Above the cascades we find the riV-
or narrower, deeper and more rapid.
For distance of sixty miles from
the Cascades to the DallcS the scene
ry SURPRISES anything either in this
country or Europe. The river is
crooked. filled at places with steep,
dangerous rocks. over which the i'm
petuOus water leaps, PUSHES and
toams, as III tine rapids above Ma
CARA Falls looking. in some places
where they are 2O00 feet in per
pendicular hight--as if dug down
in past ages with gigantic picks.
The marks OF thc picks are seen
with great distinction, and reScm-
bic (only twenty times as largc)
those in blue clay banks along the
line of railroads. These high river
banks are occasionally broken by
tie termination of small streams
id long deep canons, through
which on the Oregon side we catch
momentary glimpScs Of the snow
capped peak of Mount Hood, H.
400 feet above the level ofthe ocean.
There is nothing in all Italy and
Switzerland that will compare with
this beautiful cone shaped mountain.
1t is about twenty miles south of
the Columbia and forty miles east
from Portland, from which its clean
gliStening SNOW can be seen in fan
weather as if it was not half mile
distant.
About forty miles from the river
in Washington Territory, stands
Mount st. Ielens, 900 feet in hight
from the top of which snow never
disappears. The Indians tell an in
teresting legend that many genera
tons ago the great spirit Choochil
lahoo had difficulties in his kingdom
by the rebellion of one of it's princi
pal chiefs. The great spirit prove,
too powerful in his own kingdom
beneath the sea for the rebel, ant
drove him out upon the land, where
upon the ontcast went upon the tor
of Mount st. Hclen's, and proclaim
ed himself king of all the earth
and called upon the various tribe
to fall down and worship him. Ba'
men now began to rapidly attacl
themselves to his cause, and threat
p en- to revOlutiOniZc the whole world
whcrcupon Choochillahoo came on
of the sea every night, Che neve
leaves it in the day time), and plant
ing himself on Mount Hood, tire,
hot stones at the rcbelliOus tactic
until break of day. After II Will
the rebels began to return the fir,
and for weeks the air was ever
night full of red hot stones throw
from these wO mountains. \
length, however, ChoOchillahoo pro,
Jed victorious, (as he always does
and drove his opponents into tn
sea and, then dcvourcd them. Bot
of these owcappcdpe are con
posed of porous, scor!ated ston,
ana present every appearance ,
having been active volcanoes With
the last two centuries which Civ,
a very good key to that part of Il
legend describing the battle of h,
stones.
AS we continue our course M IL
river, with our faces to the east, it
plainly to be seen that we are pas
ing out of the wood region. Ire,
become fewer and smaller. and 500
they are only found in canonS an
deep lavincs. The hills become .
barren as 50 many piles of grave
and we look in vain for grass, graf
or shruhbcry. Sixty miles abo,
the cascades we come TO
THE DALLEs
on the Oregon side. The city is als
the seat of Wasco county. and Il
thirLcity in size in the State; i
population being one thousand. /
principal business is trading wit
the Oregon, Idaho and Montan
miners, and it is without doubt OF
OF the hrcst towns of its size in Il
world. Navigation being here i
terrnpted by another porterag
freight and paSspnrprs are avni