Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-15
A TRIP TO THE FALLS.
[No. W.
To The Editor Of the Ph9niz.
DUBUaUE, June 81, 1916

But 10 return 10 my narrative. Rein.
kindly furnished with horses and wagons Is
the officers Of the fort, early on Mopday
molning we set off TO visit the falls. Tbo
road passes over fine prairie, which stretch,
es away. westward from the Mississippi az e.,
as the eye can reach. Three miles from ,ba
fort, beautiful cleaI stream, the Quite, &c
lake Calhoun, comes winding noiseIessv and
unobserved through this prairie, when sud.
denly it precpitaies itself with deafepn,
roar over perpendicular ledge ofrocks WIKI
a fall of more than 80 feet forming the mos,
beautiful cascade that eye ever witnessed =
An immense body Of spray is continuauv
arising from the foaming depth below, which
when the sun is shining causes a splendid
rainbow TO be formed in shape of a perfect g.
complete elipsis. Having stopped short
time to admire these beautiful, and SO far as
height is concerned, more remarkable lalls
than those ofSt Anthony and some of our
party having performed the feat of passing
under the sheet Of water, at the expense Of
wet suit, we fastened forward to obtain
sight of the great object of our jouruey.-
And amply were we rewarded for our pains
when the immense cataract burst upon our
view.
But how shall describe i'll NY powers
are wholly inadequate to do justice 10 The
scene which this wonderful work of nature
presents. The river, for some distance
above the falls, is about half mile wide
but below becomes contracted within the
space Of 300 yards. Immediately above the
falls is formidable rapid with descent of
10 feet to 800 yards. Then the immense
river, the Father of waters, rushes over
perpendicular precipice of about II feet in
height. forming a stupendous cataract, e.
qualled only by Niagara. The waters then
roll and foam over another rapid for nearly
half a mile the whole Of the descent in the
distance of three-fourths of mile, being 65
feet. The falls are half a mile wide. Of a
slightly semi-circular form, an island at the
brow of the precipice dividing the stream in.
to two parts. The falls, while not as grand
as Niagara, are yet far more picturesque;
and when the river is swollen, considering
their width, and the immense volume Of wa
ter, they present stupendous object of ad-
miration and establishment. 1t is a scene at
once sublime and beautiful, and which one
would not tire to gaze upon for days togeth-
er. As the eye rests upon il something new
is continually discovered in its aspect, while
the mind is carried back 1000 miles 10 the
source of this mighty river, and forward
1000 more to its mouth, where, having
drained country Of more than million Of
square miles, and forming one Of the most
fertile valleys on the globe, and the future
seat of the empire of the west, it is lost in
the bosom of the ocean. Some are disap-
pointed in regard to the perpendicular
height Of the falls, but this is more than con.
n Pvstssu,u-l 10y s,sirrr circumstances connected
J with the view. The surrounding country
is also very delightful. exhibiting many
gentle eminences covered with the finest ver
dure. A few miles distant Is lake Calhoun
a fine, transparent sheet of water, in the
midst of the prairie, and filled with excellent
fish. Nor should | forget to mention that
when we were there we found the greatest
abundance of delicious strawberries upon its
banks.
Having at length accomplished the object
of our trip, at half past o'clock P. NJ. we
re-embarked and commenced our homeward
voyage, which we accomplished in % hours
running time, distance of upwards of 400
miles We could hardly believe our own
senses when we recollected on arriving at
home about 5 o'clock P. NJ, that we were
the day before, at half past 2, at ST. Peters,
400 miles distant, and in the midst of savage
life. 1t is but justice to say that the St.
Croix is not only one of the pleasautest, but
perhaps the fastest boat that has ever run on
the Upper Mississippi. We were absent on
i ly five days, and one and half of them We
spent at ST. Peters, and were allowed ample
time to stop and examine every point of in
terest on the route. On the whole it was q
delightful excursion, which will be long re.
membered with pleasure know of none
which could more strongly recommend TO
3 others. Indeed, am surprised that COM
paratvely so few resort to the Falls during
the summer months. AS an object Of cuii.
} osity there are few to be compared with
: them; while the scenery on the route is I'm.
surpassed, and for convenience and comfort
our boats leave nothing to be desired. The
whole excursion can be accomplished from
! ST. Louis in from ten days to two weeks, a
very moderate expense.
1 ought to have mentioned also, that thu
musicians with which our boat was furnish
) ed added greatly to the pleasure Of the pass
\ age. Nothing could be more enchanting
G than the scene, when just at the close ofday
the passengers were congregated on The
hurricane deck to enjoy the cool air as the
noble boat ploughed her way against the rap
I'd current, some sitting, some standing, and
some promenading back and forth, the rays
' of the setting sun gliding the eastern bluffs
. the western being thrown into deep shade
a the rich tones Of the music were waited in
: the breeze and re-echoed from the distance,