Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-08-17
Correspondence Of the Baltimore eatr lot ,
Cataract House, :
NltCADi FAILS IL. 40 800 [

4>lANhlSA A1.LS, July ", IS4S.t
10 day, IN con- panv with s,ine friends visited this
bridge. II spans the river abos. ae mike below the
Falls 1t Is however, only temporary structure hav-
ing been built as an experiment, with view, if
tui OF building another on a extended plan 1t
crosses al the narrowes point Of the river and where
toe embankmens highest. The experiment has
been e7ninen,ly successful. Yesterday, for the first
time, morse was rode it; and tU-av at eleven o.
clock precisely, the architect and builder Mr. Eet
drove horse aid carriage | had the good fur
tune OF being an eyewitness to this novel feet. The
Horse was rather actous and blind Of an eye
Mr. r.. stepped into the carriage with great compeure,
started his horse, and rode triumph from the
me tcan 10 The Canada side and back being enhlsias
tcIly cheered at each end by the srsctatos In few
lnInu rs at erwards, not satisfied with his first splendid
achievement, he bJroA ed the carriage in which myself
and Company were riding, and drove trumphanty a.
cross and back with two horsss.-Thus had the plea
sure also OF seeing the first and Carriage and or
driven this pendid structure 1t was tru
y an exciting The distance from the bridre to
the water Is two hundred and thirty feet, aud from the
water 10 he bottom go feet or more making AGO feet
As the horses and vehicle passed over the bridge would
gradually give way under their feet, bending and rails
ing up again, like thin when veuiuresome boys are
skating nn II.
The hoses carriage aud driver as seen from the vast
depths below, ls,kej like Tom Thumb and his mi
Nature eqlpage, being diminished by distance, than
anything else can now think Of comparing them with.
lie full Df terrific ient
however Mr. E!iet the stIeuyih and security of
his bridge, that he rude upon without the slightest ap-
parent emotion Vi fear. This bridge will be used only
for carriages aud foot passengers.-rhe conieul-
laiion to be built close by II Is designed for the Cruising
Of railroad cars, and will about 500, 0OO NV Gu
RUSTY induced me TO the bridge myself There
were probably nifty or more men at work i al The
time " hen asout half way over, there is presented
the most beautiful view imaginable. The river is seen
below flaming and roaring the rocks at dis ance
which makes the head sIddy 10 look down upm. The
falls in view above in all their subliniy and The
river in opposite direction rushing on in lis wild wide
chasm, until lost in the celebrated whirlpool three guar
tiers of mile below. The embankmenis on each side
appear though they had been cut out Of sid rock to
the depth of 2t'O feet Thus the behoder stands as If
suspended with the blue aTced heavens above the
deep flaming awful abyss below the laundering cataract
On one side The eternal whirlpool the other aud wild
ness; grandeur, sublimty all around The Cube may
be iraverse1 tom centre to CT cunerence, and nothing
either IN nature art, both combined, can be una
tn hold the slightest comparison with what have here
attempted, but failed 10 describe Let ne urge upon
all who possibly can, 10 the and make vis~
IL here. The whole roue is full Of interest.
The bridge at distance does not look larger compar
avely speaking, than piece OF tape, rather resem
bes rbband stretched from shore shore with Lillipn-
tians passing and fro The wires which suspend il are
almost invisible and it would seem To hang in air. Nv
nerves are t'leraby strong and my Courage easily
dauned. but must confess. while Standing upin this
structure. midway over the awful ctasm. feeling 1t
eg and trcnble ben at my feet, felt degree oi awe