Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-04

Since my last despatch, have made flying
excursion to the mountainous regions Of Lakes
George and Ticonderoaa; and it i, therefore now
my hint to speak
..---Of antres vast, and deserts dle,-
| Rough qiarres, rocks and hills, whose heads touch
| lleav'n"
Il is couatry rich in its historical associations,
and striking in the wild and picturesque magnl-
ticence Of its own glorious scenery. 1t was on a
bright aud beautiful morning last week that our
party slowed themselves into Postcoach, to
| make this favorite excursion. Leaving the bat
tc.ground Of Saratoga, -" field OF the grounded
arms, upon the right, as well as Bakers Falls
at Sandy Hill, we wheeled directly over the sand
plains from the Spring to Gleu's Falls-eighteen
miles These falls form an interesting point of
| observation. The descent of the river is sixty
three feet. The cataract, however, is not alb
rupt, but is exceedingly irregular-he water
| leapins from rock to rock-now dashing violent
| ly against masses yet obstructing its course-and
now plunsins precipitously into deep and appar-
entity fathom!css cavi,ies, wrought by the action
of the water, and boiling up in miik.white foam.
From one of these CULTS cloud ofspray perpetu-
ally ascends, exhibiting what Counsellor u 30.
therum calls - the Schismaftc taints of the rain
bow" in ali their gorgeous dies. Recent rains
had swollen the Hudson much beyond its usual
volume in summer, and the spectacle was conse-
quenty far more imposing than during any form
ct visit, In 1924 Still, the channels among the
rocks are so deep that the bare surfaces of the
! Limestone above the tumblIng waters. afforded
ample space Tor climbing among the ciefts, and
viewing every point Of curiosity or interest
| About 500 feet south Of the first prIruption, and
near the termination Of the fall, is the celebrated
assure in the rocks, whirh mas been magn,tled IN
| to an extensive cavern in Conper'S Romance OF
! The Last Of the Mohicans." 1t was into this
leave, as the novel-reader will Tecorct, the Lea.
| Their Stocking aud Unvas conducted the fair Al
! ice and her dark favored sister Cora, with the
everlasting bore named Dar,d Gamut, to hide
| them from the Indians attached TO the army OF
the Marquis Montcaim. IN the campaign OF 1893
, IL vas here that honest David taught his TAR
bearers, with nasal twang few slaves o! church
music, one dark night, amidst the far more musi-
cal howlings Of winds, and rushing OF waters
And il was from the mouth of tins cave, on the
morning after the .'S,nsng Meeung," that the
battle of the romance was fought with such skill
and effect. between a cloud Of Indians on the one
hand, and Natty aud Uncas on the other. The
fiction, however, has already assumed the
character of veritabehlstory in the neiShborhood;
and the little haxenhaired cirer0RCs who tell the
marvels of the place, in exchange for expected
sixpences, now point you with all possible assur-
ance. to the cleft in which misunderstanding
stood, aud the tree on the opposite bank from
which the Indian tumbed at the last fatal lire oil
the hunter. 1t is advisable net to examine this
memorable cavern too closely, because the mo.
meut the beholder ascertains that the inte-
resting choir could not have squeezed them
selves into it, incredulIty imprudently rises up
and spells the legend But too many local e
sends. ot a more imposing character, both cias'
steal and sacred, will not bear the test Of such
lmpenitent scrutiny. These falls offer admira'
Die sites for mills. Of various descriptions, mum
bcrs of which have been erected, aud are buslly
eupn:ed.
Among them is one for cutting marbIe-a
dark quality of which is qnarried upon the spot,
taking , good polish; which will probably be ex'
.ensycls used Tor masterpieces, instead OF the
more expensive aud certainly more beautiful,
E"yp,ian. II is Curinus geological tact, that
the Marble is chiefly composed OF shells anil other
marine petriiactions. lateral cana, serving
as feeder to the Champ!an, has been cnt from
this Understanding the river above the falls,
and connecting itself with the Champaign Canal
at Fort Fdward--five miles south This work
has been of much adv antage TO the village, which
has increased rapidly during the last eight years.
II bears evidence of thrift aud enterprise, and
has good hotel-a desideratum with all hungry
travellers.
On passing "THE BLOODY PoNp"-a small
pool covering space of some half an acre, Sc
called from the fact that after the defeat OF Bar
on Dieskau, the numerous slain OF both armie-
were cas-, in It's then cool bright wate:s.-i va
mortified 10 find that the barbarians inhabitna
these parts have cut away all the trees and
,hruhbsrv in the midst of which it has heretofore
been emboSomed The wretches. have ne
patience with them, after the commission oil such
an assault aud battery upon taste. and romance
aud chivalry, aud all that! When was here
eipht years ago, the Pond looked like ha'lowed
fountain. deepin the tangled forest, whose um
tbraseuos arms intrrockins each Other, formed
gratefr! canopy above il; while. as could ina
g;ae, the spirits OF the mighty dead-the Briton
the lone Indian, and the Gaui-were fistn:
about upon ITS sNmbre-margin. But now alas
the illusion is gone! And alas! poor spirits
there are no trees or shrubs to shelter you. The
sun was beating down vehemently: the waters
looked green and stagnant; aud all would have