The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-07-14
NIAGARA FALLS,
Ectsuct Of letter dated at Niagara Falls Nay
25, 1925.

ram descending IN tofrents' We Were eoh-
PEELED to keep house, and conhne ourselves
to indoor amusement.
"Among the vistants who took shelter
from the storm, and formed part OF the
circle at the frcside during the afternoon,
was an aged and venerable man IRON the
American side of the river, living on the
Ridge Road, at the distance OF nine miles
from Lewistown. He was the first settler in
this region, and is minutely acquainted with
the growth and progress of the western part
of the State of New York. In 1887, thirty
eight years ago, he emigrated from New
Jersey, in company with another man and
boy, with their packs upon their backs.
They went by the way of Pennsy sylvania,
through the county of Tioga in New York,
thence through the Genesee countryto Lew
istown, where they crossed the river, and
planted themselves above the Falls in Can
ada. Here these adventurers lived, sur
rounded by the Aborigines, for four years,
when our hardy pioneer re-crossed the NJ
agara, and settled at the place above men
toned.
SIN his day, he has owned land enough al
most to constitute a Kingdom lie was
commissioner for forming several treaties
with the Indians, and large tracts were pre-
sented to him for his active services. ne
land was however at that time OF little value;
and in some instances he declined taking the
trouble of securing title, and in others, dis
posed of it for song. He was once the
proprietor of the rich AMI beautiful tract
now owned by the Messrs. Wansworths, at
Genesee, forming perhaps the most valua-
BILE farm in the United States; but ITS value
was deemed SO trihing, that he would not
be at the expense of surveying II and taking
a deed. According to his own statement,
all these golden opportunities nave slipped
through his fingers unlmproved, leaving nm
comparatively poor One or two OF ms sons
living near him are wealthy
ellis long residence in the vicinity OF the
Falls had made him familiar with every OBJ
jcct, and with the history of the cataract Tor
the last thirty or forty years. lie stated
facts, which had the appearance OF autnen.
ITCHY, to prove that the Falls have receded
at the rate of about foot annually. One
of his neighbours placed mark upon the
Canadian shore above the principal pitch,
and the distance has been diminished thirty
eight feet in as many years. rs the cliffs
are cavernous and friable, the theory OF re-
cesson is by no means improbable. There
are other facts which corro5orate the fore
eoing statement. At a short distance above
the cataract is small piece of alluvial land
which is now arabic, and over which our i'll
fornant has often padded his canoe. AS
the river never rises or falls with the Hoods
of the season, its bed must have permanent
ly sunk to produce this phenomenon. Gun
Island, which is now covered with bushes,
was when first seen mere rect, Iust rising
to the surface of the waters.-Every year IS
making accessions to the little territory; and
as it is in the midst of the rapids, it can
not be increased by illuvion, but must be ex-
tended by the gradual attriton in the bed
Of the river and the sinking of the water
Goat Island also bears evident marks Of hav-
ing been washed by the current of the river
The rocks are full of holes worn by the at
triton Of water, and the pebbles are all per
fctey smooth and polished.
"Our informant was among the first who
ventured to go to Goat Island in a canoe
and was several times nigh being hurried
over the cataract, by navigating too near thl
vortex This island took its name from tit
circumstance of Mr.. Stedman's placing up
on it herd Of goats to secure them iron
the ravages Of wolves and Indian dogs
When it was first explored a solitary rcr
squirrel was apparently the only quadrupit
upon this beautiful spot. Eagles made j
their home, and built their aries in its mac
CGSSlDlc CiliiS. DliICS thC DltNtSC ii"H OSCl
thrown across from the American side, AM
other improvements about the falls, the,
have been driven like the aboriglncs, Still
further into the wilderness"
"On Gull Island, human footsteps neye
trod. Some years since, large buck wa
discovered to have landed upon this insulat
ed rock in the midst of the rapids whcr
he enl.,ined several days, sole lord of til
domain, and then disappeared in the nigh
like some other monarchs, without its bein
known what became OF him. No trace {
him was afterwards found. 1t is probabl
he attemp pted to swim to the shore, and met
tragical death in being swept over the cata
ract
BEARS, deer, and other animals in grei
numbers, nave gone down the falls: but it
not known that any one of them has CON
cut alive. Even ducks, geese, and fishes al
found dead in the abyss below. 1t is sal
that when they have descended the rapit
to a point near the preciplce, they are I
longer able to resume the wing, or stem Il
current but are hurried down with impet
osty like inaninate matter We this NOR
ing found large pike stranded upon Il
rocks. 1t had apparently been killed by Il
violence Of the water, and was in such sta
Of preservation, that a boy picked it up al
carried it home,
"As the Niagara has often been the SC
Of war, and its banks for many years ha
been frequented by crowds of vistants,
is remarkable that so few accidents ha
occurred about the falls. 1t is not know