Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-08-17
mig. BENNETT's LETTERS.
No. XII.

Lunar Boo passing under the Shscf-Ihe Suo'
Arae Sight seen bv Signor Guibilei, the Vocalist
Srcimming IN the Rapids
! Last night we had another splendid moonlight eve
nng-with the moon broader and fuller than ON the
previous night. 1t had been showery through the
day, with snatches of sunshine TO dry the grass
! Around these Falls there are frequent ana dehcious
showers in the warm days OF summer which cool
the air and moisten the dry heat of the sun. To-
wards night the sky cleared up, and the moon rose
up IN unclouded majesty, strcwing living pearls
and moving diamonds over the rushing rapids that
sweep past the outskirts of the village. 1t was
most delicious moment TO take walk along the ro'
mantle path, across the Island that leads to the
,reat falls and conducts the traveller to Prospect
Tower, Immediately on the verge OF the vast abyss
We crossed the bridge, surrounded as 1t was
above and below, with the sparkling rapids We
ascended the bapk-ws walked along the soft path
threaded the deep gloomy grove, where the moon
shone through the towering branches like chande-
! lier burning high in heaven-we rounded the pro-
| montory-and found ourselves on the steep brink,
near the edge of the great falls on the American
side. The prospect now was most beautiful Stand
ing before the falls, you the great rapids spark
liag like diamonds in the bright moenlight-then the
huge dark curve Of the great sheet sweeping be-
meath you down the awful cliff to the gulf below
then the white sivery cloud of spray and mist-and
then the great lunar bow of $50 degrees, composed
Of four distinct prismatc colors with one abatment
rising frem the foam of the Canadian falls the other
abutment Of the arch resting on the foam Of the
American falls, the lofty arch reaching luminous
point of 10 degrees in the northern sky, with stars
Clouds trees, houses, shts, and the high banks
der its brilliant expanse.
| This view is beautiful and magnificent, but differs
altogether in it's outward form from that the
! Canada side. The elements the same, but the
result is wide &sunder. In only one point is this
view superior, in every other it is inferior On the
British side, the whole scenery of the RAPIDS falls,
spray, and chasm below, are placed or adjusted TO
the moonlight a good picture is placed in an ex
hibition room-tne light striking the object in the
proper angle. The coup d'qH in this respect is
more splendid and magnificent on the Canada side
but there is only lunar bow describing an arch OF
80 degrees from the bottom of the falls up to the
bank above-whie the American side the lunar
bow forms a semi-circle Of $50 degrees as perfect
and com pete Of tn. kind as ever saw
The two hetels crowded with travellers,
and vet only about dozen in all visited this spen
did scenery in such splendid nj ght-of whom, only
two were ladies. II it had been shop" all would
have been changed.
Neither were we content to look at the scene
from the brnk-we descended the bank, crossed
the fra bridge across the rapids, and mounted the
cupola of the tower, built in the rapids the
very verge Of the high cliff In every position the
view was somewhat varied, but equally splendid.
Passing under the sheet of water is of the few
fets Of enterprise which travellers attempt at Nj
a.ara According to the guide books-and one of
the best of these is Steee's. published in Buffalo
the rock called Termination Rock is the remote
boundary OF those travels. This rock is situated
go feet under the great sheet Of water, flowing
Table Rock, entering from the Canada side.
! The popularity Of this feat arises from the rocky
formation over which the river is projected
The height Of the horseshoe cataract is about $50
| feet-commonly called Isl or l5S feet-all rock If
different formations and degrees Of hardness. The
upper layer is limestone, 20 feet thick. hard and
horizontal The under layer is dark -colored for
nation called shaie, in geolcgy, soft, friabe, and
ea.ily di,ntegra,ed by the action Of the water In
consequence Of the soft nature Of the under layer il
wears away by the action Of the spray, and leaves
the limestone TO overhang the bank about 10 or Is
feet.
II is under this overhanging mass OF limestone
that the traveller proceeds towards Termination
Rock, with the sheet Of water his left, and the
limestone formation on his right Heretofore this
rock so denominatsd, has been the furhest bounda-
| nv of admiration and romance-but dsri g the pre-.
sent summer, a Polish emigrf, now married TO the
| daughter Of General Whitney Of this village, and
now residing here has pushed his discoveries under
the great sheet fall IS or ~ feet beyond Tcrmina-
| ton Rock The name OF this gentleman is Piotr
Kowalenski Being a man Of education, taste and
enterprise he has entered into the poetic beauty and
submlty Of these falls, far beyond the usual hum
drum unintelectual men who attempt to point out
their beauties Under his care, Signor Guibile and
two other gentlemen. passed under the sheet, beyond
Termination Rock 81 feet to the grand gothic dome
Of terror submi,y and beauty, which stretches be-
yond and under the deep-green sheet Of water.
The description given Of this feat novel
Enveoped IN the uncouth savage looking dress,
impervous to the water, they descend the stair
cas and proceed along the foot path, TO the great
entrance Over head, the cliff hangs out about 20
feet On reaching the entrance, the wind and spray
are always blowing outwards, with great violence,
almost equal to a hurricane You proceed along
slippery footpath, the rock the right, the sheet
on the left wind, water spray blowing in your face,
the thunders Of the cataract around, above and be-
low you. Many get frightened after the first thirty
feet particularly ladies, and return to the light Of
day.
Proceeding onward, you take breath at intervals,
holding on to the rock, and endesvorng TO weather
the terrible hurricane. The path runs along tho
horizontal ledge formed at the junction Of the .hale
| and limestone. On reaching Termination Rock, the