A black and white view of the sternwheeler "J.N. Teal" as she steams along the Columbia River. Water roils out of her paddlewheel, and a long trail of thick black smoke crosses the center of the picture and appears to blow back towards the photographer. On the right, steep banks, partly wooded, slope sharply to the river. On the left can be seen lower riverbanks, also partly wooded, rising up to heavily wooded hills and mountains in the background. There are some islands or rocks in the river ahead of the steamship.