Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-04-13

surrounded il, and which is further secured
6y the mist rising from tie falls. This
solitary bird could not escape the obserya-
ton OF the Indians, who made the eagles
nest part of their description of the falls.
which now proves to be correct in almost
every particlar, except that they did not do
justice to their height" Vol |. D. 800
264
For more than thirteen miles (savs the
journal In another place. we went along the
numerous bends of the river. and then reach
ed two small islands three and three quar-.
ter miles beyond which is small creek in
bend to the left above small island on
the right side of the river We were regal
ed about ten o'clock, P NJ with thunder
storm of rain and hail. which lasted for an
hour, but during the day in this con
nned valley, through which we are passing.
the heat is almost insupport able; vet
whenever we obtain glimpse of the lofty
tops OF the mountains, we are tantalized
with view of the snow. These mountains
have their sides and SUBMITS partially vari
ed with little copses of pine, cedar and bal
sam fir. A mile and half beyond this
creek. the rocks approach the river on bot h
SIDES, forming most sublime and extraor-
binary spectacle. For five and three quar-
Ter mics. these rocks rise perpendcnlarly
from the waters edge to the height of near
~ twelve hundred eet. Thev are composed
Of black granite near is base, but from
ITS lighter colour above, and from the frag-
ments, we suppose The upper part to be flint
Of yel.owlsh brown and cream colour. -
Nothing can be imagined more tremendous
than the frowning darkness of these
rocks, which project over the river and me-
mace US with destruction TIE river, of ono
hundred yards in width. seems to have for.
ced its channel down this solid mass, but so
reluctantly has it given way, that during
the whole distance the water is very deep
even at the edges, and for the tirst three
miles there is not spot except one of few
yards, In which man could stand between
The water and the towering pc rpendicuIar of
the mountain the convulson of the passage
must have been terrible, since at its outlet
there are vast columns of rock torn from
the mountains, which are strewed on both
sides OF the river, the trophies as it were Of
the victory. Several fine springs burst out
from the chasms of the rock. and contri
butte to increase tie river, which has now
a strong current but very fortunately we
are able TO overcon ne Il with our oars. since
II would be i'm 9ossible to use either the cord
or the pole. We were Obliged TO go on
some time after dark. not being able to fad
spot large enough to encamp on. but at
length, about two miles above small is
land 10 the middle of the river, we met
with a spot on the eft side, where we pro
cured plenty Of liz Y wood and pitcl-pine
This extraordinary range of rocks we caH
ed the Gates offlle Rocky Mountains. We
had made twenty-five nailes. and four am
quarieH miles from the entrance of the
Gates. The moun>,ins are higher TO day
than they were yesterday We saw some
big horns, few antelopes and beaver, but
since entering the mountains have found no
buffalo: the otter however are in great
plenty: the mosquitoes have become less
troublesome than they were Vol |
p. $40, 3ll.