Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-07-07
A Cataract Id the White Mountains.

A Cataraet.i the White Mountains.
The name ''Nancy's Brook" is doubtless
familiar to the ears of many of our readers
who have visited the White Mountains, as
the scene of an old aud touching legend.
1t is the name of q stream which crosses
the road leading from Conway to the
Notch, within few rods of the hospiiable
mansion known as Mount Crawford House,
and the residence Of the venerable patri.
arch Of the mountains, Abel Crawford. -
It's course is short-be!ng only five miles in
length from the spot where it takes its rise
among the icy mountain springs, sixteen or
eighteen hundred feet above The level Of the
hotel, to where its turbulent waters mingle
in iraternal union with those Of the rupid
Saco-but, says writer in the Boston
Journal, it embraces within the limits of
its course all the sublimest characteristics
OF mountain scenery. 1t presents but lit
tie inducement 10 the angler. and is there
fore but rarely explored by human wan.
derers, yet the enthusiast who is willing 10
undergo the fatigue of three mile walk
over the rough bed Of a mountain stream,
will be amply repaid for all his exertion.
Alter passing number Of smaller streams,
which unite in the common course with
their larger neighbor, he arrives at spot
where the wild majestic grandeur of the
scenery is, probably, rot TO be surpassed in
New England, if, indeed, in the country.
Above him, and extending as far upwards
as the eye can reach, among The trees, is q
magnificent cataract, or rather succession
OF cataracts, hundreds of feet in height,
formed by the walers numbering from rock
10 rock over steep granite bed, and max
ing the old.woods ring again in responsive
chorus. At the foot Of the lower fall,
which is between sixty and seventy feet
high, over smooth, nearly perpendicu.
lar rock, is still basin. into which the
foamy waters, environed on every side by
breastwork Of miniature rainbows, tum
Bile, occasionally dashing a refreshing show
er Of spray over the spectator, and then af-
ter resting moment to recruit their ex.
hausled energies, noisily resume their race.
The ascent Of this acclivity seems at first
sight impossible; but by making detour
to the right, through the brush and over the
fallen trees, an experienced climber will
eventually be enabled to surmount the prec-
ipice, (Which is between three and four
hundred feet in height and finding him
self gazing at one of the widest and most
beautiful prospects in New Hampshire.
In the distance, Mount Crawford rears its
hoary head, and little to the left Stair
Mountain shows conspicuously its gian,
steps. Above and around the observer, the
sombre spruces wave their green branches,
while at his feet the crystal waters pause
for q moment ere they take the fearful leap,
and then plunge madly over the rock and
disappear among the tree tops far below.
This cataract, owing to the difficulty Of
access, is known but to few; yet we advise
all lovers Of the grand aud beautiful, who
would not be dishearlened by fatigueing
walk Of some miles, to tarry day longer
on their route ard visit this lovely and ro-
mantle spot in the White Mountains.