The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-08-01


rcck, another preciptious wall, even
higher than the first, rises above it
adorned With several more immature
waterfalls. whose mosslgrown chan-
nels are the only green in the barren
rocky scene.
PICTU RESCUE WATERFALLS;
The master landscape gardener
who planned the Columbia river
provided not only for a gradual
dramatic crescendo to climax, but
for constant scenic variety. So aftef
the snow mountains. and the Rooster
Rock, and Cape Horn. the tourist i5
treated to the sight of few picturs
esque waterfalls. The first OF them
is the Multnomh Falls, which IS
sighted only few minutes after leav-
ing Cape Horn. AT first it is some.
what disappointing, since only the
upper part can be seen. but as the
boat approaches nearer it is revealed
in its true size, of 800 feet in two
divisions. 1t is the death plunge of
a lively mountain stream, which has
worn channel in the rock that locks
as if a giant had scooped out wide
groove with shovel.
After this waterfall episode the
Highland mountain scenery again
mOuopolizes the attention, for we
are now in the midst of the Cascade
range, which is continuation of the
Sierra Nevada of California. That
the Columbia should haye ever been
able to force passage through this
lofty chain is marvel. But then
maryels abound in this region.
Here, for Instance. on the WashingS
ton side. is a mOnstrous basaltic rock
close by the river. completely isoIat!
ed, without trace of connection
with the neighbOring ridges. 1t Is
Cathedral Rock. is curiOusly marked
and furrowed by wind and weather.
and covered in patches by the ire.
pressibIe fir trees which are larger
than they seem at their great eleva-
tion. How did this rock get there?
1t ilooks like a mammoth glacier
boulder, but incalculable as is the
force Of glaciers, no ice.river could
have ever borne this massive rock
on its back. Perhaps Mt. Hood, in
a volcanic fit hurled it there. But
impressive as this sight is. the pas
sengers should not allow Cathedral
Rock to distract.their attention from
the surrounding mountain scenery.
which is really much more note
worthy than the rock itself. Near IT,
to the right, Is mountain about
2000 feet above the river which is an
exact copy of Mt. Hood. without Its
snow ; and adjoining 1t Is unique
mountain of about the same height.
but with a summit at least half a
mile long and absolutely level. But
it would take volumes to describe all
these imposing mountain formations.
Opposite Castle Rock, and below, are
miles Of magnificently sculptured
palisades compared with which those
on the Hudson River are of toy like
dimensions. They are beautifully
mottled with green shrubs and mos
ses and yellow liuchens, and fringed,
above and below. by ribbons of yel-
low fir trees. And to think that all
this supurb scenery has been known
to civilized man only one century, or
more exactly, ninety-eight years.
THE CASCADE OF THE COLUMBIA.
We now approach the famous cas-
cade the Columbia. the place wheres
according to the Indian tradition, a
natural bridge bridge once existed.
formed by the water digging tunnel
for itself through the mountain. The
legend goes on to relate how the
rival volcanic monarehs. Hood and
Adams. who face each other on
opposite sides of the river. once had
a fight and hurled huge rocks at each
other, some of which fell on this arch /,
which spanned the Columbia, and
demolished 1t. The fragments, filing
the river bed, created the rapids
which now obstruct navigation.
Before the advent of civilized man
on the banks of the Columbi the cas-
cades used 10 he the great fishing
place of the Indians, who e0ngre-
gated here in large numbers to catch
and dry their Winter supply of SAL
mon. They were lazy, cunning
treacher0us crew, VINO gave the early
explorers much trouble and proved
by their actions that, although fish
may possible be good intellectual
food; it does not equally develope
the moral faculties for these tribes
used to guard the narrOwest parts of
the river and levy toll On all passerS.
by; very much like the rebber bar
ons on the Rhine. But that was in
the good old times. a hundred years
| ago. At present only a handful of