The Press., 1905-05-17
MAJESTIC SCENERY.
CURIOUS ROCK FORMATIONS ON THE
 COLUMBIA RIVER.

The Pillars Of Hercules, Two P1ctuFs
 esQue Basaltic Columns, Rise From
 the Oregon Side of the Stream.
 Towering Mountain Peaks.
 The person who gave the name Pill lars of Hercules to two picturesque basaltic columns rising from the edge of the Columbia river, in the Cascade range, on the Oregon side of the river, chose a name that was peculiarly ap- propriate. One of the interesting nuts which the geologists in this country have had to crack has been when and how the majestic Columbia burst through the basaltic Cascade range and found its way to the foaming margin of the Northern Pacific ocean. Who knows if the mighty Hercules-who, according to the ancient Greeks, when returning from the western kingdom of Geryon tore asunder the European and African continents in order that the waters of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean might mingle-did not go beyond Eryth1a, Geryons island Kingdom, and perform a like service for the Columbia river? It certainly would have been feat worthy of his prowess. The Columbia river, after pursuing its placid way across the arid wastes of land on the eastern side of the Cascade range for nearly POO miles, approaches the stately row of noun tain peaks and pushes through between the towering peaks, Mounts Hood and Adams. After descending in a boiling cascade, from which it is said that the range of peaks derives its name, the Columbia, or, as it has often been call ed, the Oregon, rolls between ever. widening banks to the white bulwark erected by the turbulent sea across its mouth.
 One with a good strong arm could throw a stone across the river at the point where 1t enters the portals of the mountains. Literally the river has turned itself on edge in order to squeeze through. Some distance be- low this point the river pours over a succession of rugged lodges; then 1t smilingly passes on its way to the sea. The scenery in this cut through the
 
 in sublinity that to be found any where in the world. Pinnacles of vol canic rock tower toward the heavens. On them have lodged seeds carried thither by the wind or birds. From these seeds trees have germinated. These cling to the rocks with remark able tenacity, and some of them, one would think, have precariOus living. On the very summit of one of these Pillars of Hercules a single repre- sentative of the evergreen trees which abound on the western slope of the Cascades elevates its foliage with all the impudent audacity and farcical dlminutiveness of a clowns stovepipe hat. There it stands as securely fas- tened and its foliage as rakishly in- clined as the hat on the clowns brow. What depth of soil it has in which to plant it's roots doubtless not many know, for the ascent of the column has probably been accomplished by few. It is said that in the early days of con- merce on the Columbia, when sailing ships plowed their way up the stream into the heart of the country, the yard arms would often become entangled in the branches of the trees which over hung the water. To the sailors after their long sOjOurn at sea 1t was like entering paradise. Beautiful water falls add to the charm of the scene. They come pouring as if from the sky over precipices 800 feet high and, hid den in mist, plunge into the serene bosom of the great river.
 There are a number of other striking formations of basaltic columns besides the Pillars of Hercules. There are bat tlemented castles, rounded domes and a thousand rocks of other fantastic shapes. One group of pinnacles, down which numerous small streams descend, is called Cape Horn. Dominating the scene everywhere through this region are the two extinct volcanoes, snow capped warders of the pass, Mount Ad ans on the north and Mount Hood on the south.
 The Indians have a legend as to the origin of the Instructions to navigation which form the cascades. They say that the two earth giants, the mountains. jealous of each others power, once Quarreled furiously. They belched forth fire and smoke and hurled great stones at each other. Some of these stones passed across the river, while many others fell into the stream. In the fiery conflict a roof of rock which spanned the river was broken into fragments The lodging of all these fragments and stones in the stream created the cas- cades.
 The white man has several theories One is that the ledge of solid rock over which the current sweeps was deposit ed by a great rockslide down the sides of the gorge. These mountain sides are wildernesses of broken crags extending to the summits, 5000 feet high. The ledge is crowned with large powders so great that the massy body of water cannot move them.-New York Trib- One.