The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-11-05
OGNTBRVILLE, WASH.
A Flying Trip to This Beautiful Vii
lage on abe Kliekitat Plain.

lage on abe kIiekitat Plain.
Change is rest, and it Is beneficial even to
an editor to take few hours recreation
from his daily toll and visit different. scenes
than those to which he IS accustomed. Such
was our experience Friday afternoon, when,
in company with Mr.. Chas. j. Stublng and
Mr.. W. Z. Walther. we took a ride to Cen
tervile, Wash, behind span of blacks.
These days the ferry is always busy cross
ing and recrossing wheat wagons and it was
our misfortune to be forced to walt until
half dozen had found their way from the
boat to terra firEa. From the Rockland
landing up the rocky declivity to the al
most continuous sand bank which covers
the road nearly to the pleasant home of Mr..
Gilmore, is hard pulling. and kind man
being kind to his horse, our animals leis-
urelY walked this distance. But the lines
were in the hands of Mr.. StubliDg, who
was cavalry officer under Moitka in the
-Prussian army, and as soon as level
ground was reached, the animals were made
to show their heels in excellent style.
Passing several pleasant homes, with we'll
filled barns and thrifty orchards around
them, the grade was reached in good time,
and on the summit we stopped and gazed
upon panorama of Eastern Oregon, with
the Columbia river in the foreground, that
was perfecting enhancing. Mt. Hood,
with Its sides covered with eternal snow
and embraced by the storm cloud, stood as
lonely sentinel, high above mountains. |
forests and glen. To the left was Jefferson,
looking like younger brother to the hoary |
headed Hood. and to the right, Adams |
smiling In the sunlight, and the range of the
Srmcoes appearing like an elongated base, on |
which the Great Architect had builded this |
massive pile of rocks and ice. The Klicki. |
tat was hidden in a sunset mist, through |
which at intervals would sparkle farm |
house or appear yellow grain field. Dark |
ness soon succeeded twilight, and as we de. |
scended the mountain to the level of the |
plateau, the road could barely be disceraed |
and the twinkling Of lights designated the
habltations Of the Industrious farmers.
For miles, over splendid highways. one
passes continuous farms. one joining the |
other, and through lane OF fences. There
Is no vacant land, and wheat is the princi- |
pal product. For several weeks past the
yield has been hauled to the river, and it Is
not nearly exhausted. In the dark, farm J
houses, with cheerful lights burning, sur
rounded with straw stacks and barns, could |
be discerned; but in daylight what beau
tIful, picturesque scene this plain must |
present, and we wished that the day had |
two or three hours more of sunlight, SO that |
we could see this wheat paradise.
Centerville is in the center of this wheat
growing region. and consists of several |
beautiful residences, two churches, large |
armory, hotels, three stores, blacksmith |
shops, livery stables, etc. The Leader,
published and edited by Mr.. Cummins,
is faithful exponent of the best interests |
of the county and credit to the commu-
nifty. The sable pail of night had envel-
oped the village when we drove in, and If |
our description is IN any matter at fault,
the blame must be laid to the CHEEKY well
come received by the generous knights,
who Immediately escorted us to the dining |
hall, and from there to the lodge room.
where daylight found a busy crowd of
Knights, instilling the mysteries of the |
order into the minds of applicants. A
castle hall of twenty members was insti-
tuted, and, if we are not mistaken, Mt. |
Adams, No. 95. will be an honor to knight.
hood in Washington. One word of appre.
citation is due to the ladies and gentlemen |
of CentervIlle for the chivalric treatment of
guests. Earnest endeayors were made to
entertain visitors, and we can truly say that |
the citizens of this village are composed of |
brave men, not given to exercising too great |
degree of caution, and ladies who are cour-
teous, beautiful and affectionate. This last |
clause is thrown in for the benefit of young |
men, who desire to make home in this /
pretty village. With rail communication |
with the Columbia river, Centervllle would |
be good business point, and the wealth of |
the surrounding country would pour itself |
into her lap.
1t was foggy when behind the same span
of horses, we comfortably seated ourselves |
on our return home; but Sam Thurman held |
the lines, and the time passed pleasantly |
listening to his truthful (?) stories of stage
driving in the Rockies, the Sierras and CAL
apooias. 1t was "a surprise to US that so
modest1appearing a young man could spin
such yarns. The early, damp mist hugged
US in a chilling embrace, until we crossed |
the summit and saw outlined in silvery |
brightness, away below, the winding Colum-
bia, and old Hood, seated on his high, ma.
jestic throne, in the cloudy distance. Our |
imagination had been very vivid, and in the |
mist around us we could see written In
many grotesque shapes the word, copy"
as this spurred us to greater diligence to
reach our sanctum. As the evening before,
lines of wheat wagons were vending their
way to the river, and about half-past 10
o'clock we were seated with tablet in hand,
and pencil moving rapidly to satisfy the un-
ending din around our ears.