The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1905-05-05
MAJESTIC SCENERY.
ROCK FORMATIONS ON THE
COLUMBIA RIVER.

COLUMBIA RIVER.
The Pillars Of Hercules, Two Pictur-
Bnsnltic 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 tie Oregon side of the river,
chose q name that was peculiarly ap.
propriate. One of the interesting nuts
which the biologists 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 II 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
60 beyond Erythia, Geryon's island
kingdom, and perform a like service
for the Columbia river? 1t certainly
would have been a 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 200 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, OF, 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 r the river at the
point where It 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 it
smilingly passes on its way to the sea.
The scenery in this cut through the
mountains is thought by some to rival
in sublimity that to be found any
where in the world. Pinnacles Of vol
canic rock tower toward the heavens.
On them have lodged seeds carried
thlther by the wind or birds. From
these seeds trees have terminated.
These cling to the rocks with a remark
able tenacity, and some Of them. one
would think, have a 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
diminutiveness 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 COM
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 e it was like
entecing 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 q legend as to tie
origin Of the distractions to navigation
form the cascades. They say that
the two earth giants, the mountains.
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
in the stream created the cas-
cades.
The. white man has several theories.
One is that the ledge of solid rock over
the current sweeps was deposit