Lawrence W. Coe

Name: The Overland Monthly
Author: Lawrence W. Coe

Biographical details

Lawrence W. Coe published works such as The Overland Monthly. These writings evoke Des Chutes, Wallula and reefs.

Quotes by Lawrence W. Coe

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ Again she rushes, and again she is baptized; but the Captain, having found a "little softer" place, holds her firm—until the wheel as well as the boat surmounts the fall—then, all at once, she hoots ahead over and away from the rapids, into broad water, with a dignified air of superiority, which is wholly excusable under the circumstances.
In the comparatively quiet, yet still strong, water between the reefs, we now seek a passage through the middle reef, and, as if the boat had gained strength and courage, the attack on the next strong water was successful at the first attempt. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ An occasional Indian hut, near the rapids, on the bank of the river, with, perhaps, a slouching Indian lounging about a fishing trap, or herding a few ponies among the rocks, was the only sign of life from one end of the trip to the other. Not a settlement of any kind, nor the house or home of a white man, was visible from the river, until we reached the terminus at Wallula, where stands an old adobe fort, erected years ago by the Hudson Bay Company. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ These two victories had a corresponding effect on the passengers and crew, who loudly cheered the second passing; and as we headed for the third and last reef, seemed to think, as the party said to Noah in the ark, "Well, it's not going to be much of a shower anyhow." And so it proved. The experience at the upper reef was similar to that at the middle, and we glided into the clear, open river again, just as the welcome breakfast bell recalled us to more material things than the wars of giants, of which we had just been deeply interested spectators. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ The Columbia, from Des Chutes to Priest's Rapid, the head of navigation up to the present time, is a broad and deep-flowing river. At intervals it is interrupted by reefs of rocks, which confine the waters to narrow bounds, through which they flow with tremendous force, the damming up also producing considerable fall. These rapids, as they are called, are numerous, but in ordinary stages of water, only two are considered especially difficult the "John Day" and the "Umatilla "Rapids, both named after streams entering into the Columbia in the vicinity of the rapids. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ The rapids are formed by reefs extending completely across the river. There are three separate reefs each about half a mile apart from the other. These reefs rise as they approach the shore, consequently, the water is more shallow there. The passage through the reefs must be made through narrow openings or breaks, which are near the middle of the stream. The volume of water passing these breaks is enormous, and it shoots through with fearful velocity. The openings are not in line with each other, so a boat is compelled to pursue a zigzag course in ascending or descending. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ Previous to 1859 the Columbia River from the Dalles upwards had been navigated only by the Indian canoes, the Hudson Bay Company's batteaux, and for a short time immediately before, by a few flat bottomed sailing craft, freighting to Wallula. This is a point on the river twelve miles below the junction of Snake River, and is the embarcadero for Walla Walla. In 1859, a stern-wheel steamboat, the "Colonel Wright, "was built, and as she was successful, navigation was established permanently. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ The Captain kept the lead line going almost constantly—an operation which compels the close attention of even the most indolent and unobservant passenger, there being a hint of danger, or risk, or want of knowledge suggested thereby; and a sort of summing up in thought what we shall do if an accident should happen, seems to follow instinctively. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Lawrence W. Coe, The Overland Monthly (1886)

“ Now that our passengers are mounted and gone, the boat unloaded, we make ready to return. Two hours' time has been consumed here, when we cast off, and are headed down stream. The difference in speed of the boat was astonishing. We seemed to fly. We could hardly recognize the prominent points we had so carefully scanned in our laborious upward trip. We ran the Umatilla Rapids without accident, notwithstanding the premonitory warnings of our Captain. Thence on, with full head of steam, our way was made as rapidly as possible, for we wanted to reach Des Chutes before night. ”

Lawrence W. Coe

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