The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-04-17

NUMBER 81.


window which afforded him view
of the convent" He lived there many
years until Hildegundis died; and one
morning was found dead at the win
dow with his half closed eyes directed
to her place of repose. During a
stormy night in the winter of lS39-40,
one of the arches fell, but the place has
always retained the name of Roland
seek.
We were so much interested in this
legend that the steamer approached
unobserved, and we barely had time to
hasten down and get on board the Gu
rious craft To verdant American
these steamers look very strange; al
though am informed by more exper-
fenced travellers that they are the best
river steamers in Europe. Decks open
to tempest and sunshine. No protec-
ton for the pilot, as the wheel is
placed horizontally on raised plat
form at the stern of the boat. And
another strange thing is that they
never whistle, but instead, ring large
bell hung in the center of the boat,
whenever they approach and leave
place. Oberwinter and Remagen were
soon passed on the right; and just be-
low the latter place we saw beauti-
full Gothic church, the Apollinaris-
kirche, q hope no accident will occur
while pronouncing this word, "erected
under the direction of Zwirner, archi-
tect of the superb south portal Of the
Cologne cathedral"
And so we sailed on past little vii
lagos and large towns; modern and
ruined castles, until we came to the old
town of Audernach, which combines
all the characteristics of a Rhinish
town in both history and natural
beauties Its ancient wall extends en-
tirely around the old town, and the
mouldering, discovered battlements
indicate its great age and the many
sieces it has withstood. Behind the
wall are seen the tall roofs of the
houses with their many gables; and at
the southern end is the old watch
tower, built in the fifteenth century,
which still remains rs a monument Of
those war-like times.
On passing Nenwied we noticed on
the opposite side of the river monu-
ment to General Hoche, who crossed
at this point in 1897. A little farther
on is Engers, "where Caesar made his
second crossing of the Rhine" Cob
lence, situated at the mouth of the
Mosells, is the most strongly fortified
town on the river, and opposite is that
grand castle of Ehrerbreitstein, the
.sGibraltar of the Rhine" 1t would
be difficult to conceive anything more
ponderous than these massive fortiti-
cations; situated as they are on
mountain of solid rock, which of itself
gives one the impression of a strong
hold. Half way up the side facing the
river, are strong payapets with turrets
rising here and there, while the sum-
nit is crowned by the main walls and
watch tower
How grand it appeared as we looked
back from the deck of the steamer with
the warm sunlight striking against the
cold walls And those two lines from
Lowell's "Sir Launfal" came to my
mind as looked upon it,
"The castle alone in the landscape lay
Like an out post of winter, cold and gray
But the day was drawing slowly to
its close. The mountains and castles
began to assume indistinct forms, and
when the steamer landed us at St Goar
a few stars had appeared We stood
there a few minutes in the shadow OF
the high hills; then with farewell
look at the noble river, we entered the
pleasant hotel And thus ended our
tour of the Rhine; the remembrance
- IN .l..ors Evc amopu tho