The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1940-05-30

have survived, according to our
story teller. To console the 2 Johns
and myself, he then related other
less-hair-raising experiences. and
explained that by hugging the bank
closely going either up stream or
down, the danger was negligible.
And so off to the ice caves. But
our driver slams on his hydraulics,
and with a satisfied and eager ex-
clamation, points to the extreme
lower end of the canal, and we see
Mary Gail just pushing barge up
stream from the lowest lock. With
out vote or explanation, the fem
mime half Of the party agrees that
we should watch the tug and barge
navigate the lower canal and the
next lock- In the lowest passing ba-
sin, another barge was being re-
paired and had swung crosswise so
that Mary Gail and her barge were
blocked. Lines were tossed aboard
the crippled barge, and it was re-
turned to its proper position, allow
ing the tug to move its cargo safe
ly by. The barge being pushed was
loaded to capacity, and apparently
only showed about 11a to 2 feet
above water except the front, which
was built up to take care of swells
and waves. The lock attendants
were in terrific sweat because the
last craft thru had gone up stream
and the locks were against this
craft. It meant double operating,
and by the time we had loaded into
the V-8 again and driven upstream
q mile, the two men had manned the
capstans and were slowly opening
the lower gates, having released the
water from the lock thru special
slide gates. The Mary Gail nudged
her barge carefully into the lock.
and the two men started their tread
mill job again in closing the gates
they had just opened, all the while
listening to the stale and oft re-
peated comments on how hard the
work was. and how little they would
like to do all this work for a small
run about such as John the First IN
tended to take thru. Good-natured-
ly, they assured him that it would
be all in days work, as they aver
aged this performance three times
each shift of 8 hours, and had put
thru as many as six in one shit
Just an easy government job!
During all this performance Le-
ona had properly photographed
much of the important proceedings
and Dorothy had asked question
or two, while Kay caught up with
some sleep in the car. The water
was released into the lock, and IN 9
few minutes the upper gates were
opened in the same manner and the
Mary Gail and her barge moVec
slowly up the canal.
Driving on from the canal, we
enjoyed the Columbia Gorge seen.
cry until we reached the Hood Rivel
toll bridge, which reminded u:
Maupin Story e..-,--
greatly of the years we coughed uI
to get across the bridge to Pasco. UI
the beautiful White Salmon river
valley the road climbs for twenty
eight miles to the Ice Caves forrest
camp, where Johns and 2 and my.
self tackled the gas stove and tint
lesser job of preparing the meal wa:
left to those of more experience
With the inner man more than sat.
isfied, rather stuffed, we devoted
the next fifteen minutes to explor.
ing the ice caves Standard o.
should investigate before they labe
their maps thus, as the average
tourist has acted according to repu'
tation and removed all of the ice
piece by piece. Fifteen minutes !!
all you need, but the scenery alonl
the roadway is beautiful and vel
/! worth the trip.
Sam Hill, the globe trotter, WHIT
hobnobbed with European royalty
has passed on, but the castle, dub
bed Hills Folly and which ne dle
not wish 20 be monument to him
self. is now reality as Fine Art
Museum. Returning to the river, w
soon pulled up in the crowded PARK
ing area by this museum which MI
Hill had declined to finish and opef
to the public until it was served o!
! a good road. The road is really there
now. as much a masterpiece as TINT
castle. and the people were snow
ing their appreciation by appearing
in great numbers. AS Kay ana
stepped up to the entrance, the gr