The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-01-13

Bridge Of the Gods" at the age of 25
years. Drawing on his fund Of Indian
| legends, he told the story of Cecil Gray
and immortslised the legend of the
great masses of bssalt that rear them.
selves on either bank Of the Columbia
at Cascade Locks. This story of the
mighty bridge that spanned the Wanna
is now we'll known to the readers of the
entire United States; for "The Bridge
of the Gods" is now In its eighteen nth
edition.
"The Bridge of the Gods" was given
its greatest prominence and publicity
in 1911, when, as q spectacular drama,
it was presented at the Astoria centen-
! NAL exposition. The drama. for the
most part Ia the open air, with the
hills in the rear Of the city at the
mouth of the Columbia as a unique
background. was staged under the di-
rection of Miss, Mabel Farris. ''The
Bridge of the Gods" was later played
in Multnomah field in Portland, and af.
forwards Miss Farris presented the
drama at Oklahoma city, Okla.
Both parents of Frederick Homer
Baich were pioneers of Oregon, both
having crossed the plains from Indiana.
The mother, Miss Harriet N. Snider,
the ADOPTED daughter of DIR. and Mrs.
Robert Crawford, arrived with her fos.
ter parents 10 1852. They formerly re-
sided in the White River community of
Indiana. Miss Snider's mother and
Milton Wright, .ather of the noted svi-
ators and seroplane inventors, Wilbur
and Orville Wright, we're second cous-
ins.
The father, James A. Balch. was
born at sullivan. lnd. He attended
Wabash College, and for number of
years was q student of law. James A.
balcL arrived in Oregon in 1851. Both
he. and his future wife settled in the
Willamette valley near Lebanon, and it
az here that they were married. The
author of "The Bridge Of the God"
was born at Lebanon, December IA.
1861.
From 1864 to 1866 James A. Balch
served ss lieutenant of Company F. Of
the Eighth regiment, Oregon Volun-
teers, which was stationed on the from
tier. While he had been student of
The law, he never applied for admission
to the bar, nor did he ever practice. A
large portion of his pioneer life was
devoted to teacning. When the family
resided at GOloendale he served as
county judge OF kiickitat county.
Frederic Homer Batch leaves sur
viying q sister. Mrs. j. W. Inga.is, Of
this city. and a brother, Herbert balch,
now a resident of southern California.
On September 26. 1908. the members
of the OLD Fort Da les Historical soci-
ETY. convened at the handsome little
structure on the hills of Lyle and for
msliy dedicated the Bslch scLooihouse.
Following the dedication OF the school
building y monument which bad been
erected 10 the young author was dedl-
Gated. Not far from both is reared the
little church 0f the community. q large
share of the carpenter work having
been done b. Mr., Baclh himself. Jhe
following surviving pioneers particle
pated in the ceremony of dedication: /:
Mr.. and Mrs. 7. K. Coon, of Hood
River; Mrs. jennie Jewett. of White
Salmon; Mrs. G. J. Crandail. Miss Syl-
via Cake. Miss May Campbell. Miss
Lucille Armstrong of The Dalles, and
Rev. J. l.. Hershner, organizer of the
Congregational church tor the Colum.
bia river district. Rev. W. e. Gilmore.
pastor of the local Congregational
church at the time, delivered an ad-
dress. and a paper of eulogy from the
pen of DR.. I. L. Eliot was read.
The stone over the grave of Freder-
ic Homer balch is Of rough, natural
granite, quarried from the hills be
loved. But out of the dreams that he
could not down he has woven a story
and written a book that will ever be
greater monument to his genius and
the indomitable energy that pos
sessed him than any pillars admiring
friends may erect to his memory.
ing poem, written by the young auth
or's first teacher. 7. r. Coon, was
read:
How clear the sun comes over the hills
And casts long shadows for a while
On rocks and plains, on lakes and rills,
While songs Ut larks the morning fills,
10 praise the grand old hills of Lyle.
Eternal seem these hills of green
When springtime verdure paints each
pile
Of mountain height and level sheen;
But summers sun transforms the
And gives the great brown bills of
Lyle.
Fair Wauna flows beneath the wall
And murmurs as past the isle
Of Memaloose, the Indians all
When life has fown, and mighty pail
Hides now from him the hills of Lyle.
The Red Man comes, the Red Man goes,
A nd Wsuna's food flows on the while.
lhe white man builds as best he knows.
But red or white, the day must close,
And darkness claims the hills OF Lyle.
Behold the double tracks of steel
| bat bind the rivers every mile;
How vain the sense Of rest to feel
When barge and steamer, strong Of
keel,
Pass BY to vex the hills of Lyle.
For those are but the tokens i'll
OF mems mad race for lucre vile.
StNc mS tuS SottnAC W khC uit
With orchard fair and mans good will
Among the sun kissed hills of Lyle.
And let me dream of ages flown
When cliffs met clifi In massive style
And shore to shore the arch sde one
By Bridge of Gods, eternal stone,
That joined mayhap the hills Of Lyle.
The legends old, the Red Mans lore
That poets vision lives the while
When rocks eternal live no more
10 mark the path that gods of yorey
Once trod among the hills of Lyle.
Here's Balcb's spirit bowed In prayer
Mid Natures charms and Heavens
smiles
And sang of Genevieve the Fair,
No more with him 10 life to share
Esrth's joys among the hills of Lyle.
And here the mound Of earth 10 shown
And granite rock 30 mark awhile
The poets ashes meath the stone.