The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-07-15
The Bridge of the Geds.

Frederick II. Balch, the man who
wrote "The Bridge of the Code,
Romance of Indian Oregon" (which
q bookseller says is the best selling
book hesever carried, was native
son of Oregon, born at Lebanon, Linn
county in December, 1861, of pioneer
pareDtage. His mother, Harriet Sny-
der, came 10 the same emmigrant
train from Indiana to Oregon in 1862
with Mrs. u. h. Moody, of Salem,
and Mis-. Camilla Il. Donnell, OF The
Dalles.
When he was quite boy the family
moved to Goldendale, Klicitat county,
Washington, where he rode the range,
and as he could, read all the books In
the neighborhood, and they we're few.
When about 10 he lived at Mt. Tabor,
where he went to school. His teacher
there was p. II. Coon, who now lives
In the Lyle neighborhood, three miles
below the station and within a short
distance OF the little country GENE.
terry where Baloh's grave 10. His
grave was marked last September
with native granite In the rough.
placed by loving friends and neighbors
from Hood River, White Salmon, and
the Old Fort Dalles Historical So
clety. From Mt. Tator the Balch
family returned to the Lyle neighbor
hood, whore HIS mother and sister lie
buried In the same cemetery.
Baieh, as Congregational minister
served as much loved pastor of
churches in the Hood River valley,
White Salmon and at his home church
In the Lyle neighboIh hood. His
health failing, he went to Oakland,
California, where he arranged his
manuscript of "The Bridge Of the
Gods" and submitted 1t to the pub
lishers In 1890. A complete failure OF
health brought him back to the Hood
River valley, and later he went to
Portland for professional care Mt the
Good Samaritan Hospital, where he
died June 3, 1891.
Living among the klieitat Indians,
Balch had exceptional opportunities
to inform himself of the character
and customs of the Indians. lie Wis
tied them In thier home, watched
their industries, heard their legends,
saw their gambling games, and is-
tened to their conversation. by per-
sonal inquiry he learned that the
bridge which suggested the title OF
his romance, was a great natural
bridge that Ia pre-. hustoric days
spanned the Columbia, and according
to tradition was destroyed by an
earthquake.
Baloh In his preface to his book
says: 1T may be asked it there ever
was great natural bridge over the
Columbia, Bridge OF the Gods,
suoh as the legend describes. The
answer 10 emphaticaliy, Yes Every.
where along the mid Columbia the
Indians tell OF great bridge that
once spanned the river where the
Cascades now are, but where at that
time the placid current flowed under
an arch OF stone, that this bridge was
tomanowos, built by the gods; that
the Great Spirit shook the earth and
the bridge crashed down into the
river, forming the present obstruo.
tion OF the Cascades. All OF the
Columbian tribes tell this story In
different versions and In different
dialects, but all agreeing upon It's
essential features as one Of the great
taots of their past history"
"Anoutta" (long time back say
the Tumwater Indians, "the salmon
he no pass Tumwater falls. 1t too
much big leap. Snake Indian he no
catch um tish above falls. BY and
by great tomanowos bridge at Cas-
cades he fall In, dam up water, make
river higher all way up to Tumwater,
then salmon he get over--then Snake
Indian all time catch um plenty.
My father talk one time, :" said an
old klicitat to a pioneer at White
Salmon, Washington, "long time ago
liddle boy, him in canoe, his mother
paddle, paddle up Columbia, then
come to tomanowos bridge. Squaw
paddle canoe under, all dash under
bridge, he look up, all like one big
roof, shut out sky. no see um sun.
Indian afraid, paddle quick, get past
soon, no good liddle boy no forget
how bridge look"
Local proof is not wanting. In the
fell when the freshets are over and
the waters of the Columbia are clear,
one going out In q small boat Just
above the Cascades and looking down
into the transparent depth eau see
submerged forest trees beneath him,
still standing upright as they stood
before the bridge fell In and the river
was. raised above them. 1t IL a
strange, wierd sight this forest be-.
meath the river; the waters wash over
the broken tree tops, fish swim among
the leafless branches; 1t Is desolate,
spectre-liks beyond all words. Seien.
tifio men who have examined the field
with the view to determining the
credulity of the legend about the
bridge are convinced that ID 10 essen.
italy true. Believed in by many
tribes, attested by the appearance of
the locality, and confirmed hy geo.
logical Investigation, 1t is surely en-
titled to be received as an historic
fact. .-Dalles Optimist.