The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-22
Niagara Falls in Winter.
From the Boston Transcript.

ANiAoAA IA L Akkes JANUARY lZS 1000.
Leaving Buffalo at three this afternoon, de-
scended from the cars at this place at little after
four, in the midst of clustering snow-storm
Far different from the hustle in the summer
months was the scene in the station. house as
passed through. Two or three colored porters
recommended their respective hotels; but, as the
big houses are now closed, put up at the Empire,
opposite the station house, and very we'll
ordered, cleanly and respectable establishment ]
find it. gentleman of very affable address ac-
costed me DIS Quilted the cars; and after some
pleasant remarks about the weather and the small
number of passengers, handed me his card, bear
ing the inscription sc. W. Field, an old resident
and experienced guide" and asked if did not
intend to visit the Falls. There were some forty
passengers besides myself, but, by sort of in
had any intention of seeing the Falls that after
noon. A walk of about half a mile brought us 10
the toll house on the road to Goat Island. Very
cold and dismal was the interior, with its stuffed
my name in the visitors' book, | could not find
that any one had preceded me to-day.
Attended by the "old resident,'' proceeded
yer the bridge, catching a view of the rapidso
through the snow, as they rushed quivering OH
heaving their white caps above the green waters,
and presenting an aspect very different from that
which they wear when the summer sun eilds them
with holiday radiance, and they seem gay and
| Aueuous III tucI StduucuF NOW, IQere was 6OmC-
thing wild, lurid, and strangely gloomy in their
appearance The river is unusually swollen, and
if less turbulent and fretful in the shallow places
is more majestic and strong.
Mr.. Field enlivened our walk through the for est
on Goat leland, which boasts of seventy five acres,
with many particulars in regard to the grounds;
but, as you will find them in any good guide book
will not repeat them The snow was ANGLE deep.
and fast increasing, and cutting blast drove it
in our faces. When we reached the American
Fall the spray had encrusted the snow with ice so
that we had to slide towards the bank to get good
view of the sheet, behind which the adventurous
sometimes pass when the weather ia proptious
Very grand is the view of the Fall from this point
with the steaming clouds of mist light and VIOLA
tile as smoke, rising from the basin below perpet.
ualiy. By making holes through the crusted snow
we ascended to the precipice's edge, and crossed
the little tongue of land to the rapid, where the
guide pointed to the spot, the scene last summer Of
one of those tragedies of which the annals of the
locality are 30 full: young man playful!y lifted
up his sister the whirling water, when she fell
from his arms into the current, ard he plunged in
| after her. Both were precipitated over the cata
ract before their companions could turn to see
them.
My guide being disposed to try the path leading
to the cave "behind the VEIL" we proceeded over
the ice until he thought it the better part of valor
to return. What with the snow and spray we
were pretty well blinded. The path was quite mar
now, and slip on the ice would have sent US
some hundred feet into the river. Reluctantly we
gave up the expedition. and made tracks through
the snow for the Bidde staircase, which we de
scended, and, after enjoying the upward view OF
the Falls, mounted and struck line for Terrapin
Bridge and the Tower. Here the mist had hung all
the trees with shea hing of ice that is perpetual
In cold weather, and immense icicles depended from
the overhanging rocks that seem to threaten hide.
Gus fall one day on somebody's head You get a
fine view of the Horseshoe fall, with its pillar OF
mist, from the Tower. But the extreme portion OF
the bridge, from which the best view was had, has
been swept away with the rocks that supported it.
Other + the rocks have very shaky appearance.
heap of big lie in the bed of the river that
were hurled down last February by the shooting
current.
From the Tower we made an excursion to Moss
Island. The rapids here are rather shallow, and
being frozen in some places, MIR. Field thought
that at the risk of slight wetting we could &C.
complish the transit. Jumping over the floating
ice we succeeded in this; but, in returning, our
success was not quite so brilliant. We found the
ice treacherous, and the water deeper than we had
supposed. The view from the little island amply
repaid me- ,wever, for the inconvenience. You
see the boiling rapids here in all their glory. The
effect OF the mist and snow to increase the ap
parent distance of objects, and the river from one
point, where no land was in sight, seemed like an
angry ocean bursting into foam We retraced our
steps to the main land, through drifting snow and
a violent storm. But exercise had made the wea.
ther, to senses, kindly, though frosty and but
for the darkness would have continued our ex
ploraton of Niagara in its wintry aspects. Let me
commend Mr.. Field as the most accommoda ting
and intelligent of guides He shrinks from no
labor. let the weather be what it may. Ut could
not have been worse than it to day.) He is not
a summer friend merely. Long may this Field
lind favor E.. 8.