150 Years 1857-2007 The Dalles THE DECADES OF HISTORY February 28, 2007 Steamer Plunges Over Celilo Falls Captain T.J. Stump Spills a Few Drinks A PERILOUS FEAT - This morning we got on board the O.S.N. Co's train for Celilo to witness the passage of the steamer Okanagon over the rapids of the Columbia river known as Tumwater. The duty of the undertaking was entrusted to Capt. J.J. Stump, who, we must say, is entitled to more credit than a mear [sic] newspaper notice, for the manner in which he successfully piloted the boat through the perilous voyage. After waiting about one hour at Celilo, the steamer sounded her whistle, and shorty [sic] after started up stream to boats which lay above, to procure ropes for fastenings. Hoisting her bunting, she again headed down stream under a full head of steam. The train had gone to the head of the rapids and there stopped, in or- [order?] that those on board might have a full view of the steamer as she passed through the howling waters. As she approached the falls, all on board the train remained deathly silent, not knowing whether the result would be a cause for congratulation or sorrow; but as the little craft, piloted by a stout arm and steady nerve, triumphantly passed the first rapids, a shout of joy went up from those on the train, which for a moment relieved the monotony of the scene. On she sped through the surging waters at lightning speed, until she safely passed the entire rapids. The time occupied was one minute and fifty-four seconds; the distance about one half mile. The feeling among those on the train was exhibited by the expressions of praise which were freely lavished on Capt. Stump for his success thus far. But all was not yet safe. About two miles below were other rapids which had to be passed in order that the boat could be safely moored at the point designated. The river at this point is not more that one hundred yards wide, and at the present stage of water, with a current of about ten knots an hour. The boat passed through the rapids here with the same success that attended her at the upper ones, and the excitement of the trip ended with the hearty congratulations of the spectators to Capt. Stump, after he had landed from his boat. This is the first trip ever made by a steamer, over the falls of the Columbia, and to Capt. T.J. Stump belongs the honor of being the successful pilot. The only knowledge he had of the river was merely what he had seen from the shore, and truly, the undertaking was a perilous one. The steamer made the trip from Celilo to the "Mesa House," where she now lies, a distance of ten miles, in twenty seven minutes. It is the intention of the O.S.N. Company to take the Okanagon to Portland, but to accomplish this will require a year's time. The steamer will lay at her present berth until low water, when she will be brought over the dalles* of the Columbia to this city. Here she will lay until the high water of next summer, when she will be taken over the Cascades to Portland. We hope that she will pass through them all as safely as she has through Tumwater. May 22, 1866 [*The use of the word dalles here indicates rapids. "On April 12, 1814 Gabriel Franchere wrote, "On the 12th, we arrived at a rapid called the Dalles." Source: Wasco County Historical Society Quarterly Autumn 2003 Gutters, Flat Rocks and the Kitchen Sink: Revisiting "the dalles" by Paula Kuttner.] Incoming and Outgoing messages protected by Trend Micro PC-cillin program