The Sussex Republican., 1899-12-16
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
BY ROBERT G. HOUSTON.

NdludDle lOf SfdIinS anu lis
mineral products and had our frs
glympse of the Columbia River
AT the Dalles, peculiar name, 3
fine dinner awaited us and we had
an opportunity of tasting ths
Columbia Salmon from its native
waters. Our stay at the latter place
was short as we were hurrying
to reach Portland. We hardly had
time to do justice to the fine re-
past set before us.
After leaving the Dalles you
strike the real fertile region, and
the landscape was one mass OF most
luxurant vegetation adding beauty
to the grandeur of the mountains
round about.
Travellers of experience who
have viewed the finest scenery OF
the world do not hesitate to com
pare the scenery of the Columbia
with that of the old world, to the
advantage of the former. The
railroad follows the windings OF
the river giving the passengers an
opportunity to readily see it all.
The extent or scope of ones view
is increased by this continual
change of course on the part of the
train. A wind toward the river
gives an opportunity to view the
scenery to the back of you, while
a change of course from the river
gives view to the front Of you.
The coloring of the river and
mountains adds to the grandeur Of
the scene. The golden grass in
terwoven, with green verdure and
the evergreen foliage ofthe fir trees
when tipped by the rays of the
beautiful sunset, is one of indie
scribable beauty. The rocks and
mountains are inspiring and almost
sublime. The many rivulets fore
ing their way through rock and
crag, following the steep worn
mountain sides which has been the
confines of the Columbia river for
ages form innumerable water falls
of varied size and beauty. The
most beautiful of all these are the
Multnomah Falls, of the height of
$40 feet. The train stopped here
to give all an opportunity to view
these falls and enjoy a scene never
to be forgotten. AS we gathered
round the base finding f0othold
where best we could, the 400 pres
ent were touched by the beatty
and sublimity of the scene and we
the power and immen-
sity of the Creator of such handi-
work, and our voices were lifted
in the grand old hymn Crock of
Ages.n AS four hundred voices
rang out, echoing through the
rocky steepes and carried away by
the ever outgoing on rushing tumb-
ling river, 1T seemed prayer in
deed. Most of us thousands of
miles of home, thankful for the
opportunity TO view such beauty
hut remembering the love ones
left behind, realized anew the pow
er of the Creator to keep us and
them through this life and an
everlasting enternity.
''In the presence of life we are in
death,n we were reminded by
white monument of a rocky isle in
the midst of the river. Inquiry re-
vealed the fact that here rested the
last of all that was mortal of Dick
one of the hardy men
who had been one of the first to
brave the dangers of this great un
known West, and with his friend
George Knaggs, sought wealth in
this unknown great Northwest.
They made friends among the
Indians and lived among them,
and on this rocky isle, where for
years the Indians had buried the
dead, surrounded with all the sup
that makes it such
sacred and forbidden spot, this
only white man is buried. Trixett
and Knaggs made the arrangement
that the survivor should bury the
other at this place and secure per
of the Indians that the
agreement might be carried out
and it was by Knaggs.
The Columbia rises in Montana
on the eastern slope of the noun
tains, then flows north into British
Columbia, where it crosses the
westward, and flowing
on the western slope I'M
til it reaches a point opposite its
source, then almost directly west
ward to the Pacific Ocean. This
is wonderful freak-a river rises
east of the Rockies, crossing there
and the Cascades and emptying in
into the Pacific Ocean. AS fur
ther description of this marvellous
river it may be of interest to know
that the Columbia river was dis
in May, 1899, by Captain