Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-18

AN old buffalo, whose period was only FASTENED
few days, an old and young bear, fox, ra-
coon, eagle, two geese, and bad dog, that we
understood had bit our friend Day Of the Suffa-
10 Journal.
Either the fox or the racoon-we could not
distinguish which, but it was probably the lat
ter--ran up the m ain-mast as she went over the
first reef, and bruin mounted to foretop as she
bounded over the second, where he was dis
tinctly seen by thousands clinging to the top,
as she lay on her beam, and went by the board
with the mast, suspended by his paws. The
young bear reached The shore about 60 rods a.
bove the cataract, where he was welcomed by a
shouting multitude, and carried in triumph to
Forsyth's for exhibition. The other bear, il
was said, also got TO shore above the falls, but
we did not see him. We neither nor heard
any thing Of the other animals. Major Frazer
recovered one Of the geese. She was taken a.
live, but much exhausted, with her head badly
cut, and one eye out She was taken out of the
river below the falls by The ferrymen, and was
probably the only survivor of the number that
made the descent
The day was exceedingly fine, and nothing
occurred 10 mar lis pleasures. From the great
number constantly descending and ascending
the ladders, and thronging the prccipices, ac-
ciden,s were apprehended, but we believe that
none occurred. Every one seemed anxious TO
assist the view and assure The safety OF his
neiehboc
Upon the whole, the spectators were pleas
anIly disappointed. We all expected TO see
the vessel go 10 pieces in the rapids, leaving on
iy the fragments TO go promscuously over the
falls. The arrangements were skillfully made
and CALAMITY executed. She took the desired
channel, and the spectacle, from the moment
she hove in Sight until she was dashed into, Ii
terally, thousand pieces, was full OF interest
and novelty. Imagination easily impaired a
moral sublimiiy 10 the scene. The power oil
the Almighty was most imposingly displayed
over the workmanship of mere human hands
This ship, which, for years, had w,hsiood the
winds and the waves, was now abandoned to
the mad fury Of its native element. From this
descent information relative TO the Iep,h,power
and channel o. the rapids was obtained. Had
the Michigan been sound, sta-worthy vessel
she would have reached the brow OF the Gaia"
ract uniniured, and many believe, would have
made The descent in safety; but this is imPos-
sible No human power can resist the gigan
tic force of tina, mighty torrent.
II i, impossible TO form any thing like an &C
curate estimate of the number OF persons this
spectacle called together. From the top OF
Forsy,h's house, we could see, in every dlrec-
ton, from which view Of the fall: could be
had, close, solid masses Of people. The banks
on either side of the river, Goat Island and la
sIc Rock, were literally alive with spectators.
Every road and avenue leading to the falls du'
ring the day, was thronged with vehicles OF ev-
cry possible description, from the John Bull
coach and six, with its thirty passengers, down
to the Canadian poney, rode by two Indians,
either OF whom looked bette" able 10 carry,than
10 be carried by the beast.
Amusements. in all their rounds, were 10 he
seen at all ME public houses, and even by the
way-side. There was Mr.. Nichols, with his
ven,riloquial powers, teaching ladies the secret
Of talking without using their own tongues, a
favor, with which the husband OF one OF the la.
dies did not seem TO be gra,fed, from the re-
mark that his wife's organs OF speech already
borlered upon the miraculous! The dog Apoi
10, too, was there, and played cards with, and
gave lectures on astronomy % ladies and gen
,lemeu without number. Grosser amusemen's,
for vulgar tastes, also aboundcd; such as Cara
vans, Mountebanks, learned Pig sc.
Black-legs, from al! quarters, were lowering
like vullurcs about the place. KnaveS were
picking the pockets of fools by the aid OF fou-
lett, Pharo, Keno and Dice tables. Upon the
Green. at midday, lads and lasscs responded,
with Sight fantastic Zoe" TO the sounds OF PIPE
and violin. All amusements, however, ceased
upon the frs, crv, "she is coming" and the eager
rush of thousands, viewed from the roof OF the
Pavilion, was scene which delighted every eye
The public houses, as may be supposed, were
crowded to an overflow. Those who got VIC
tuais and drink were fortunate, but lodgings
were out of the question. Mr. Carey, editor
of the York Observer, who came there TO make
observations, assured us that he counted IA a.
sleep upon, and So under the Billiard table, at
Browns, or Friday night; and other rooms, he
said, contained corresponding numbers.
A party Of US visited Lundys Lane, where
American flints, American steel and American
valor upheld the honor Of our country through
a stubborn, unequal fight, with, "invincible"
,roops.-Hcre SCOTS brigade, the gallan, 9th,
nth, and 2ls, regiments, were thinned 10 mere
battalion. Here Towson's crater mouthcd ar
,illcry appalled, the very Heavens with lis thun.
ders. Here the Spartan Miller said he would
"fry" to silence battery by leading few cho-
sen bayonsts from the intrepid Esd into the
lad