The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-01-12
CHAPTER XVI.
After Twenty Years.

After Twenty Years.
A steamboat was gliding down the
Columbia 1t was crowded with pas
sengers, gaily dressed in summer attire.
Children were running about the
deck playing and shouting. A band
dispersed music in the large dining
room. Lovers were talking silly, just
as they always do on steamboats,. Men
we're playing cards and drawing at their
cigars in the smoking room. Local pas
sengers were pointing out the important
landmarks along the river and relating
the history Of the same to tourists from
the East.
1t was just twenty years after the war
between the southside and northside fish
ermen at the mouth Of the river. Time
has wrought its great changes here as at
other points in the great Pacific North.
west. Popular summer resorts had
been built up on the beach of the ocean
on the south and north sides of the
river. Great crowds flocked to these
points every year. The rivalry of the
olden times still existed. 1t was not
over the fishing industry now for that
was established through the process OF
hatcheries aided by the two states, and
had become one of the stable institu-
tions OF the country.
The people now claimed supremacy
in advancement and superiority OF sum-
mer resorts. Seaside" on the south
claimed it was the best on the coast.
"Long Beach" on the north claimed it
was the "Long Beach Of the Pacific.
The boat was steaming for the north
side resort 1t was the pride OF its own
ers and the idol of its crew 1t cut the
| water like knife and rode the waves
with the stateliness of queen.
In beautiful golden letters it bore the
name "Sankala."
The boat had just rounded the upper
point of sand island. A middle aged
man and woman were seated side by side
on the upper deck looking out ever the
| water They we're casually conversing
about the different landmarks along the
island and north shore.
"Do you remember that placer" in
quired the man as the boat glided by
the ruins of an old fish trap.
"Yes," replied the woman, "that was
about where was when the southsiders
shot me-"
"You are right" replied the man.
ave were off here to the left when
seized his gun. 1t was too late to save
you from the wound, but you know IT
| is a hobby Of mine to claim that saved
your life"
The couple went ON discussing mat
| f. ha h,of ~ mn ii
across the river to the north shore.
"Do you see that man and woman"
inquired citizen to tourist whom he
had met on the boat. "Well, they
have a history in this portion of the
world this boat is named for the woman.
Her maiden name was Sankala Saare-
la. Her present name is Lapham
That is her husband sitting by he.
side. They own large properties 0
the beach but make their home !
the city. They have summer home o
the beach and come down every yea
This is their first trip this serson.
"phat town over there, together will
the waterworks and electric light plan
belongs to them. They also own thu
beach railroad. There is small com
pany of them But they are immensely
wealthy. Lapham is the president O
the company and a fellow by the nam'
OF Budlong Is the secretary and treas
urer.
"Mrs. Lapham was washed ashore
from wreck at this very point when {
small baby. The story is very romantic
An old man was also saved from thu
wreck. 1t turned out that he was bring
ing the child's mother and father herr
from Russia to recover fortune from {
rich man by the name of Seadog wht
then owned this place. The mother anC
father were drowned off that sand islanC
out there and the old man reared thu
child.
"a war arose between the north sid,
and south side fishermen when the CIR
was nearly 20 years old and she beini
familiar with the river life took par
with the northsiders and during the ex
element, when q boat load OF soldier
had arrived and a treacherous pilot hat
jumped overheard in a storm, seized th
wheel and took the soldiers to the rescu
of her friends, and though she wa
wounded while guiding the boat did no
: make 1t known until after the riot hat
been quelled,
GAS remarkable coincidence old mai
Seadog was wounded in the same figh
, and died from the effects OF his wound
but not until he had made restitution Q
the property coming to the girl.
at was case of girl making
! woman of herself and also making ma
Of u common fisherman. When the gil
came into her property she compelle
her suitor, her present husband, to wal
: until she could obtain an education an,
to also obtain one himself before sh
, would marry him."
The boat at this juncture blew it
: whistle for the landing. The woman
who had been the subject of the passen
/, gers story called to handsome lad il
his early teens, and said:
"Come Ringwold, my son, and b
: ready to go ashore. y
As the boat swung around against tn
wharf a man and his wife were there L
welcome them,
"Dear Hazel is as pretty as ever,
said Mrs. Lapham.
"And Budlong still retains his sol
dierlv bearing" " replied her husband.
THE END.