Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-07

Niagara Fort and rode to the Falls, which ap-
peared much higher and more beautiful than
from the opposite side.
We had got rope, and resolved, by its as
sistance, to go to the bottom of the Falls; but
some accident happening to the horse of the
man who had charge of the rope, he was
obliged to stop on the road, and endeayoring
to overtake us, he lost his way; so we should
have been second time disappointed of the
pleasure of seeing the Falls from the bottom,
had we not resolved to go down at all events
without rope. Before this resolution could
be executed, it was necessary to find out a
proper place from which we might make an
attempt with some probability of success
This was no easy matter; and we examined
the banks of the river for at least an hour and
a half before any such place could be found.
Nothing but the bare face of a rock was to be
seen. At last an opening appeared between
some trees and bushes, which, though danger
Gus to 90 down, seemed the most likely place
for.our purpose of any we had seen. A coun.
ell was now held, whether an attempt should
be made there. We all seemed pretty well
agreed that if any one of us would jump down
a smooth perpendicular rock, about twenty
feet in height, when he got to the bottom it was
likely he might find a place where we might
descend lower with ease. Nothing was now
wanting but mouse hardy enough to tie the
bell about the cats neck. At last one of the
company, after having made one or two fruit
less attempts, fixed forked pole to the branch
of a tree that hung over the rock, and by that
means let himself down to the bottom. The
fork of the pole broke as he was going down,
and think it is wonder he did not break his
neck.
After looking about him some time, he found
some notched logs, not twenty yards from the
Il, la b.l rio ctaIh hraa Ic
that served as a ladder by which the whole
company went down easily to the place where
he was.
We then scrambled down, holding by stumps
and roots, and tufts - grass, to the bottom,
and terrible piece of work we had before we
got there. Our labor, however, was in a great
measure recompensed by sight of the falls,
which appear much higher and much more
beautiful than from above, on either side.
We went so near as to be wet through with the
spray. After getting to the bottom OF the pre-
cipice our anxiety to be near the falls was SO
great that we forgot to mark the place where
we came down; and so, after our curiosity was
satisfied with looking, we were obliged to wan
der up and down for three hours, and scramble
over many dangerous places, before we could
find our way. The night approaching, gave
us comfortable prospect of staying there TIL
morning; and the appearance of wolves tracks
in many places added much to our pleasant
situation We were informed that those ami
mails frequently travelled about that place in
companies of about twenty or thirty at time,
and were so fierce as to attack men even III the
middle of the day. As we had nothing with
us to defend ourselves, nor flint and steel to
make a FIRE, think the odds were above hve
to four that no part of us, except our bones,
would have ever got to the top of the hill undi-
boJ lncl ly
Upon the whole, our jaunt was difficult and
dangerous, and although sight OF the Falls
from below affords great pleasure, yet it is not
adequate to the trouble and hazard necessary to
the obtaining it.
The Falls of Niagara have been measured
several times by line, let down from rock
near the top of the Falls From the best ac-
counts could get, think they are about one
hundred and forty feet perpendicular. They are
extremely grand, and are well worth seeing.
During our stay in this part of the world, we
went to Fort Erie, which is situated on the mouth
of the lake of that name. Lake Erie is about
three hundred miles long, and about one hun
dred and twenty broad.
AT the northwest corner of Lake Erie is De-
troit, on the straits between that lake and Lake
Huron eighteen miles up these straits is Fort
Pontchartrain.
Niagara seems to be the key of all our north
ern possessions in America; yet so fond are the
ministry of the appearance of economy, that :
this fort for want of trihing annual expense.
is suffered to go to ruin. fireworks are all built
of turf; they are very extensive, and very much
out of repair The commanding officer assured
me- that if the fort was attacked it must fall, as
he did not think it tenable. There is, indeed,
in the fort large stone house, ninety by forty
five feet, which is proof against any Indian at
tacks, even though they were in possession OF
the fort, vet if therdwere three or four French
men, with these Indians, who could show them
the use of the cannon in the fort; the house
would soon be leveed to the ground This
large house was built by the French, under the
pretence of its being trading house, the In
dams refusing then to permit them to build
fort. Soon after the house was built they raised
a stockade about it, and by degrees constructed
the regular fortifcation, which is now seen here.
The officers fresh provisions were entirely
out and they had not drop of wine; we luck
ily had little which we brought up with US.
When we first arrived, we were told that the
schooner that carries provisions between Mag
ara and Oswegachy, would certainly arrive in
two or three days; we waited with the utmost
expectation for her, but she did not appear until
Saturday, 10th August, when to our great JOY
she arrived.
ITO be conttnuedl