PHOTO BY LYNN, TACOMA, WASH. 



NESQUALLY GLACIER, SHOWING 2 ARCHES. 



You enter the canyon from above on 

 almost a level with the valley, but after pass- 

 ing farther into it you observe mountains 

 all around you, and on your left the river 

 is coming rapidly down as if eager to meet 

 and overcome the barrier placed there by 

 the plastic hand of nature thousands of years 

 ago. As it enters this great defile the stream 

 begins to fall into what appears to be a 

 crevice in the rocks. This, however, is a 

 channel which has been cut there by the on- 

 flow of the rushing waters during past ages. 



Passing on we soon reach a point that 

 gives us a view for some distance down the 

 stream and we observe a rustic foot bridge, 

 reaching from the rocks on one side to the 

 rocks on the other. On approaching this 

 we find it to be of recent construction and 

 made of 2 fir poles laid parallel to each 

 other. These are 8 to 10 feet in length and 

 about 4 inches in diameter. Across them 

 cedar shakes, of sufficient width and thick- 

 ness to carry the weight of a man, are nailed, 

 about 6 inches apart. A hand rail is placed 

 over and along one side of the bridge for 

 the protection of those who desire to cross 

 and who are inclined to dizziness. 



On one occasion J. C. Dillon, lawyer, 

 Professor Ole Bull, J. T. Mitchell, county 

 surveyor, and T. C. van Eaton crossed over 

 while I stood on this improvised structure 

 for a short time and in mute contemplation 

 observed the surroundings. On either side 

 of the stream were narrow benches of stony 



land covered with grand and majestic fir,, 

 cedar and spruce trees, intermixed with 

 alder, vine maple, and yew, with more or 

 less underbrush fringing the edge of the tim- 

 ber. The fir, spruce, and cedar, constantly 

 overshadowing us, lifted their tops well to- 

 ward the sky, and had been standing there 

 for perhaps 100 years or more, mute sentinels 

 at their post- of duty. On our right and left 

 the towering and awe-inspiring mountains 

 reared their summits far above us, often be- 

 yond the reach of our vision, and crowding 

 down on the canyon, were silent witnesses 

 of the conflict between the elements going 

 on below. The stream had been sinking 

 between the rocks until at this point it was 

 below the surface some 40 to 50 feet and was 

 forcing its way through a narrow space not 

 more than 5 feet in width. 



This river is on an average 200 feet wide 

 and 3 to 4 feet deep, but here instead of 

 flowing in a broad, flat surface it was forced 

 to turn itself on edge in order to make the 

 passage. Conversation at this point must be 

 dispensed with, or else the full force and vol- 

 ume of your vocal powers must be brought 

 into action. Rarely, however, does one de- 

 sire to speak, so impressive is the scene, and 

 so weak our words appear. I stood there 

 in speechless wonder and amazement. 



Milton, in his description of the battle 

 between the Deity and Satan before the 

 foundation of the world, when his satanic 

 majesty was cast out over the battlements 



410 



