Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-01-06
CHAPTER XVI.
After Twenty Years.

A steamboat was gliding down the
Columbia. It 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 passengers 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 north
side fishermen at the mouth of the
river. Time had wrought its great
changes here as at other points in the
great Pacific Northwest. Popular sum-
mer resorts had been built up on the
beach of the ocean on the south and
north sides of the river. Great crowds
focked to these points every year. The
rivalry of the olden times still existed.
It 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 institutions 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
owners and the idol of it's crew. 1t cut
the water like a 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 locking out on
the water. They were casually con.
versing about the different landmarks
along the island and north shore.
"Do you remember that place?'' in.
quired the man as the boat glided by
the ruins of an old fish trap.
eyes," replied the woman, "that
was about where I was when the south
siders shot me-"
"You are right" replied the man
"We were off here to the left when
seized his gun. It was too late to save
you from the wound, but you know i
is a hobby of mine to claim that saw
ed your life.''
The couple went on discussing mat
ters familiarly as the boat steamed
across the river to the north shore.
edo you see that man and woman
inquired citizen to tourist whom h,
had met on the boat. "WelI, the,
have history in this portion Of th'
world. This boat is named for tn
woman. Her maiden name was San
kala Saarela. Her present name i
Lapham. That is her husband sittin,
4 by her side. They own large proper
ties on the beach but make their hom
in the city. They have summe
home on the beach and come dow
every year. This is their first trip thi
] season.
"That town over there, together wit
j, the waterwo1ks and electric light plan
belongs to them. They also own th
8 beach railroad. There is small CON
8 pany of them. But they are immensel
r wealthy. Lapham is the president {
the company and fellow by the nam
t OF Budlong is the secretary and treaI
y uier.
i "Mrs. Lapham was washed -ashol
: from wreck at this very point when
8 small baby. The story is very n
mantle. An old man was also save
r from the wreck. It turned out that
d was bringing the child's mother an
r father here from Russia to recover
d fortune from rich man by the nan
of Seadog who then owned this plac
The mother and father were browne
!. off that sand island out there and IL