The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-20
NUMBER ~.

witness the wild tumult of the waters.
"From the narrowness Of the pass, the
height of the rocks, and the superadded
towering Of the trees above, but a small
portion of the heavens was to be seen,
and this was not blue, but of a misty.
murky gray. The first sensation was
that of dizziness and confusion, from the
unusual absence of the sky above, and
the dashlng frantic speed Of the angry
boiling waters. The rocks on each side
have been blasted so as to form a path by
which you may walk up to the frs, fall
but this path was at times very narrow,
and you have to cling to the chain which
is let INTO the rock The heavy storm
of the day before had swelled the torren,
so that it rose nearly a foot above this
path and before had proceeded far,
found that the flood swept between my
legs with force which would have taken
some people off their feet. The rapids
below the Falls are much grander than
the Falls themselves there was one
down in chasm between two riven rocks,
which it was painful to look upon and
watch with what deep plunge-with ir.
reslstlblc force-the waters dashed down
and then returned to their own surface,
as II struggling out of breath. As stood
over them in their wild career, listening
to their roaring as if in anger, and watch.
ing the madness of their speed, | felt a
sensation of awe-an inward acknow.
Judgement of the tremendous power of
Nature; and after time departed with
feelings of gladness TO escape from thought
which became painful when so near dan.
ger.
IL gained the lower falls, which now
covered the whole width of the rock,
which they seldom do except during the
ireshets. They were extraordinary from
their variety. On the side where | stood,
poured down a rapid column of water
about one half the width of the fall; ON
the other it was running over in clear,
thin STERN, as gentle aud amiable as We.
ter could be. That part of the fall re.
minded me of ladies' hair in flowing ring
lets, and the one nearest me Of the Lord
Chancellor Eldon, in all the pomposity
and frowning dignity of his full-buttoned
wig. And then thought Of the lion and
The lamb, not lying down bu, falling down
together; and then | thought | was wet
through, which was fact so | climbed
up ladder, and came to wooden bridge
above the FAY, which conveyed me TO the
other side. The bridge passes over
staircase Of little falls, sometimes diago-
nally, sometimes alright angles, with the
sites, aid is very picturesque.
son the other side you climb up lad.
der of one hundred feet, and arrive at
little building with por,ico. where ira
vellers are refreshed. Here you have a
view Of all the upper falls, but these seem
tame after Witnessing the savage impetu-
osty of the rapids below. You ascend
another ladder of one hundred feet and
you arrive at the path pointed out to you
by the broad chip of the woodman's axe.
Follow the chips and you will arrive four
or five feet above both the bridge and the
level of the upper fall. This scene is
splendid. The black perpendicular rocks
on the other side the succession Of falls,
the rapids roaring below; the forest trees
rising to the clouds and spreading with
their majestic boughs; the vapor ascend
ing from the falling waters; together with
the occasional glmpses of the skies here
and there-al this induces you to wander
with your eyes from one point Of view to
another, never firing with its beauty,
wildness and vastness and il you do not
eXclaim with the Mussulman, God is
great! You feel it through every sense, at
every pulsaton of the heart
"The mountain was still above me,
and | continued my ascent; but the chips
now disappeared, and, like Tom Thumb,
| lost my way. | attempted to retreat,
but in vain: | was no longer among forest
trees, but in maze Of young mountain
ash, from which could not extrica,e my.
SELF so stood still TO think what should
do. rccollected that the usual course Of
proceeding on such occasions, was either
to SIT down and cry, or attempt to get out
of your scrape. Tom Thumb did both;
but had no time to indulge in the former
luxury, so | pushed and pushed, till |
pushed myself out of the scrape, and
found myself in more respectable part
of the woods. then stopped to take
breath. | heard a rustling behind me.
and made sure it was panther--it was
beautiful little palm squirrel, who came