THE WEST SHORE.
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WATERFALLS OF THE COLUMBIA.
One of the leading attractions of the scenery along the Lower Columbia,
as that portion of the river below the cascades is called, is the numerous water
falls that leap from the brow of the high basaltic cliffs forming the Columbia
gorge and dash themselves in showers of spray into rocky pools at the base
of the bluffs. Five of these are passed within a few miles, Multnomah, Ilridal
Vefl, Latourelle, Horsetail and Oneonta, and in season of high water there are
many little ones here and there. All these are on the Oregon side of the
river, where the cliffs are higher than on the Washington shore. However, on
the north side at one place the cliffs rise abruptly from the water at a slight
bend in the stream, known as " Cape Horn," and here, when the rains have
swollen the streams, many little waterfalls dash down the castellated sides ot
the dark wall of rock, making an enchanting picture as the steamer passes al
most within reach of the spray that floats about the base of the bluffs. The
best known of these falls is Multnomah, which is the best situated for obser
vation from the line of the Union Pacific, which passes within a few yards of
it, or from the deck of a steamer on the river. The fall is 800 feet high, and
is one of remarkable beauty. It is divkled into two scctkms, the first, about
700 feet high, being the one that calls for admiration. During the excurskm
season, which extends from April to July, Multnomah falls is the objective
point of many an excurskm by steamer from Portland. Latourelle and Drklal
Veil are also frequently visited in this way, the excursionists taking baskets of
edibles along and pk-nicing on the ground near the base of the tails. The ex
curskmists amuse themselves by going behind the falling sheet of water, a
rather wet and muddy experience, by climbing about the cliffs, hunting for
flowers and ferns and gathering mosses, Often the sketch book ami easel are
seen in use, and the frequent click of the " you-press-the-button " machine
strikes upon the ear. A day 5ent on one of these excursions is one full of
genuine pleasure, In the winter time, during the few weeks of cold weather
in the mountains, the falls present a beautiful sight, The spray is blown about
by the winds and gradually freezes in long pendants from the rocks, encroach
ing steadily Uxm the falling sheet until it becomes a solkl mass of ice of the
most beautiful form imaginable. This only occurs when cold blasts sweep
down the Columbia gorge, and the icy columns are soon disintegrated when
the warm breath of the Chinook blows up the gorge again.
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