The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-07-18
WONDERS OF THEAaRfH.
-
INTERESTING THINGS FOUND IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Curious Formations of Ice-NaturaI Bridges (
Are Found in Many Rivers-A Shattered
Indian Tradition-Chasmss Six Miles Long.
Deep Gorges.
There are a few very curious things
about British Columbia rivers. Every
pdy knows that they flow in the wrong
4irection wlfeace and Lard persist IN
80 ~ Arctic ocean, in defiance OF
80 Rocky mountains and the laws OIL
sstore, while the Columbia, Fraser anu
Kootenay only consent to travel seward I
after going in the opposite direction some
hundreds of miles. But they also have
very peculiar ways of making ice, quite
onnosite to that laid down in the text
bool,s In the Skeena I have observed
fine ice in autumn to form on the river
he'd among the powders in globules, Ike
a mass of fish spawn, this often growing
until the reef actually reaches the sur
face, but more often it breaks away IN
Iarqe piecos and floats off down stream
hearing pebbles and even powders Tor
many miles. .,.,o,,r
There are many natural bridges on our
rivers also. In the Kicking Horse, three
miles below Field station, there IS rocA
bridge in 4 slate formation which Is IN
cIined so as to present sharp edges-very
q UNPLEASANT to walk upon. Every ooSeIE
q ant passenger on the Canadian Faclno
!, abroad has noticed the snow bridge on
tbe TlleciIlewaet, but there are records
az ice bridges also. think have hearu
d of one on the Homathco river, but oil th'
Sticl,een a marvellous story IS told lIier'
~ is great glacier descending out OF I'M
lbigb snowfield to the north, and TINS Il
=, anciant times flowed right across tn
IL valley. meeting a lesser ice stream llon
Id the heights opposite. TheShckeeh nov (
al under the ice in tunnel, and at y, Yer e
low water the passage was too small &c
II although the water must have pee
nd banked up into lake at the spiiH
no freshet. -...r.,r,oN
lie Nor tho Sloane Indians of the upp
of alley used to regard this tunnel III u
ice as leading to .he sweet D4 d
bv.p They were therefore very "i
;ous 20 avoid the place. But once !
tribe was encamped not far above
Glacier. and there was a very oiu III
ond his wife with them who were
NC, ,aoan To die because Of the expose OF g
inc, = funeral feast. They were very Il
md of no use. and had large appeull
ted - their relatives at last consented
ned part with them. They were me- nc,
set adrift in a leaky canoe ana coiiS's
my To the current, and all the peopie',
for scions of self sacrifice, stood on the d
Nv and watched tine canoe vanish ny
- 81 nesple we're very frightened and 81 ue'ti
fu- a GOOD deal, but when the blue shade
pc Of the ice closed over them they thong
IL they were dead Ir5ians, and benaV
m accordingly. Presently The old Ia
a thought it was getting light, and becal
i, curious and looked about her. linen
'no licked the old man and asked Ii
ed, didn't wish they were at the funeral lea
: I He looked up and found the canoe ou'
= the open again, the glacier behind the
Iio' and the world pretty much as usl
dis They got ashore, cut paddles and pc
and prepared to go home again. lhe
man began to be hungry for the gre
D. boxes; the old lady set her heart
tease and berries, and they both de-
mined to get home for the banquet 81
tbev had assisted at the funeral. W
Inv dint of making the old lady We
lent Willie he steered and gave good adv
ties thew succeeded in making their way
- through the tunnel and home, and v
tep, in ample time for the feast. In fact
we're lived happily every afterward. But
ICON shall we condole with the relatives,wI
lSOH sweetest and most pious traditions
lole, been shattered about the sweet
this and by? 1o,or
10 Not least among the natural won
md L Of the coast is Mckenzie passage,
snre to the westward of Kingcome inlet
-. a chasm about six miles in length
lure ING to the base of an isolated and or
.ancy nesk 3. 665 feet high. The walls are
rord Close together, vertical and snow GROW
''i-'' The sun never shines in this awful 6
?, ana the vapor from its waters hangs OAR
it to bitter cold, unmoved by any vino VINO
No living being enters its solltuc
find but two records Of this place n
q dis been visited by white men. Scarce