The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-19
The Falls of Saint Anthony.
BY rHEsnrv. JOHN A. MERRlcK, NJ.

"Land OF the West! green forest la ad. +"
-f.e .-........,. ..t ..........t. Gallagher.
"The FALLS OF SAINT ANTHONY received
their name from Louis Hennepn, a Missionary
Priest Of the Order Of st. Francis Of Assist, who
first visited them in 1880, and conferred upon them
the name fone ofthe most lustrious of his Order,
Anthony of Padua.*
BY the Dakota or Sioux Indians, they are
called MINNE-HA-HA, or MINNE-RA-RA,
CLaushing water;) aud also MINNE-owAH,
V'alling water,) general expressions, applied TO
all water falls; but par eminence, MINNE-HA-
HAE ToNK-AH, (the great laughing water BY
the Ojbwas they are termed HAKAu-BIKAH
(the broken rocks.) In common with all other
objects of unusual interest or mystery these Indi-
ans believe this vast cataract to be the embodi-
ment Of WAUKAN,t spirit to whom they
offer their devo,ions,t either to avert his anger
obtain his favor:
''The trembling Indian brings
Belts Of porcelain, pipes and rings,
Tributes, to be hung in air, -a. w. rs,-.. .
To the fiend presiding there''-T. Moore.
The Falls of St. Anthony. How many associ-
alfonso are stirred up by this mngic name! How
ture are recalled 10 mind--as gaze upon the
scene, now reaizcd. Our schoolboy dreams ofthe
wide and rolling prairies, the mighty Mississippi,
aud the far famed Falls, aro now realitiesi We
are boys once aga!h
"rhe Falls are on the Mississippi river, d5a..i
seven or eight miles above the confluence of the
Mnnesota,s or ST. Peters Latitude AID So
n. Long s3d I5' wy e'" lf. %
As one approaches St. Anthony, the scene is
hidden from sight until emerging from margin Of
oak openings on the beautiful highland prairie be-
low, the whole perspective, distant upon your
left, less than mile, bursts suddenly upon the
being the confused, sullen roar Of the foaming
torrent. W f'. @
t'One instinctivey pauses, filed with admira-
ton and awe. 1t IS true, he does not experience
the emotions which inspire the soul with deep
thought of the ma jesty Of Him who poureih the
vast floods from the hollow of His hand!'---he
does not feel the trembling dread which the mighty
thunderings Of Niagara raise in the mind--the
deep, appalling tone Of the voice Of many waters
These falls present attractions Of different kind,
vision of pleasing beauty passes before the eye
-an inviting sublimity inspires the soul with
thoughts, not Of dread, but Of peace. 1t seems
creation not Of earth. -. ...r ....-..
''Majestical,
Harmonious as heaven, unutterably beautiful
"Niaga.a, with its vast volume Of food shakes
the earth--the diapason of the deep-toned organ
these soothe the troubled breast with the music
ofthe spheres. One who has visited the Genesee,
Montmorenci and Niagara, may, Notwithstanding,
experience hours of new delight at St. Anthony.
each being SO different in its character. t
In the spring months duriug the high floods of
the Father Of Waters, II which pours its entire
body over the falls, this cataract attains measure
of greater sublimity--though but the echo Of Nj
agara--owing to the increased volume and tu-
multi Of the waters, and the accumulated debris
which presents at this time rugged an aspect.
II, tna cln nCe .l,, -. -
volutions from the bosom of the torrent, like the
sacred frankncense from the alters of faith, the
Bow Of the Covenant, ever and anon appears,
displaying its respendent hues, and renewing in
the mind of the pious beboider, rerospections ot
grateful import; the Bow Of the Covenant nt**-a
covenant of mercy to- man; its seven-fold iints,
the seven Graces Of the Spirit Of Mercy. Earth
and its trials, home and its joys, alike forgot
ten. We feel as if we could ever watch untiring
these clouds of incense which are ascending there
forever. Musing we - .le
rGs "Gaze on that arch Of coloured light, "
ss,a And read Gods mercy ,here.''--le 81 e-ra
.,s. dan, .,... .....- f.- -..l Mrs. Hemaas.
"Tbis panorama Of flowing, Ieaping, surging
and laughing waters, imminging clouds Of spray.
wild shrubbery ana the bold, rocky confusion oi
the vicinity the most enchanting and fascinating
part Of the scene. The dashng play and unending
aurmoii of the waief-lood, with MS whitened cres
and ceaseless song, take 6ral hold Of ones soul
and impel him, eniranced, to plunge in and reyo
in the charm.'' ''
a"After the eye drinks in the scene, and begins
to analyze the picture. we may draw nearer the
cataract. An island appropriately named after
Iennepin, the fourth Of mile in length, clothed
with trees and shrubbery, the brink of the falls
divides the current into two unequal channels, the
larger Of which passes on the west Of the island
The rapide below is filled with huge fragment:
of rock piled one upon another, and thrown abou
in ndescribable confusion, in the interslices o
which, sufficient ailuriun, has accumulated to aE
ford subsistence 10 stinted growth Of mountain
cedar. This rapid extends nearly half mile be-
low the falls and has a descent OF about ten O.
twelve feet, in the distance OF above one-sixth O
a mile Above the fall the river runs with swift
but almost umufiled course, over smooth stra
tum Of rock, until within few rods Of the preci
picc.
Here, in mimicry, maddened into rage, witt
unceasng roar, the wild waiers, as a thing of iiie
leap upward on.the very verge of the fall, befor'
taking the final plunge, and with froth and foam
play the tempest's mood without control; or, i
you will. dance on the rocky ledge, laughing ii
their glee, rsllicking and gsmboliing with tn