St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-12-07

ON THE COLUMBIA.
Scenes Incident TO a Journey through
the Great Northwest Interestingly PIC


illustrated, written up" and
lectured upon, until most OF your
readers are as familiar with 1t as
they are with our own state. But
the Columbia river is point not
often reached by travellers, and a
brief description Of what may be
seen there may be of interest to you.
After the long journey of six days
from Montreal through the wild
and broken country OF western
Ontario and Manitoba to Winnipeg,
from there over the level prairies to
the Rocky Mountains where the
scenery is terrible in its grandeur,
one halls with sigh OF relief the
long shrll blast of the whistle which
announces our arrival at Revelstoke,
where we expect to find the boat
which is to take us through new
scenes of quite a different character
than those touched by the Canadian
Pacific railway.
ON BOARD THE STEAMER.
Revelstoke, the junction OF railway
and water traffic, is situated at the
head of navigation on the Columbia
river about 200 miles north of the
boundary between the United States
and British Columbia. Leaving the
train and going to the wharf we
find the little steamer, Columbia,
waiting to take us down the river
This boat deserves more than a
passing glance. In length about 125
feet and width rs feet, drawing,
when loaded, three feet of water, she
is well built for the carrying OF
freight and passengers up and down
a river which is narrow, swift, and
crooked in most OF its course, while
at times it is broad and shallow.
The lower deck of our little boat
is already filled with freight for the
mining towns down the river, the
saloon deck being occupied by the
ladies cabin, saloon, smoking room,
officers quarters, and eighteen state
rooms. The sailing hour being at
4 a. m. we secure stateroom and
turn in for good nights rest.
The water in the river is very low
and the pilot does not dare to at
tempt the difficult passage before us
until daylight. About 6 o'clock we
are awakened by the shrill cry, "All
clear, sir" and Immediately the
hoarse blast of the whistle, and the
throb OF the engine announce our
departure. Going out on deck we
ind that we are actually lat sea" in
a river, on either side of us noun
tains tower aloft until their tops
are hidden in clouds. Finding our
view cut off above, we turn our at
tention to the things around and
beneath us. The river is hardly 200
feet wide, walled in on either side by
steep hills and precipices, the boat is
running swiftly down the current
near the middle of the stream; soon
sharp bend throws the channel tc
one side where perpendicular ledge
comes down to the waters edge. Al
signal from the pilot the engines
are stopped, and the bow of thu
boat is pointed directly toward thu
ledge and we stand, excitedly, ex
pecting to hear a crash and find ou
boat a wreck but our pilot know
his duty and soon, the engines being
reversed, the boat is almost stopped
and creeping carefully along like {
living creature, she puts her nos
gently against the rocks, the sterl
swings round, and with her sid
scraping along the shore she slowl
feels her way along
THROUGH THE NARROW CHANNEL
until signal announces that tn
difficulties are passed, the engine
are started at full speed and on W
go, only to meet with new dangers
and be inspired with proloun
respect for our pilots skill. Soon a
abrupt turn brings us into scenes
different kind; the river has run il
to an amphitheatre of mountain
from which there is no visible Quite
except the pass by which we hav
entered. So unbroken is the chain
mountains surrounding us that OF
further progress seems impossible
Mountains whose tops are hidden b
the morning mists tower above an
frown upon the river that presum,
to dispute passage to the ocea
with these mighty monuments to