The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-09-03
NUMBER
NUMBER 81.

LAKE SUPERIOR SCENERY.-The pictured rocks
form the most attractive object of interest nm
on Lake Superior; they commence about li0
miles from the Saut, and upon the ordinary
time Of leaving they are passed very early in
the morning. Although rising upon the gaze
of the spectator in surprising beauty and gran
deur, as he views them from the deck of pas
sing steamer, yet he fails entirely to receive
full or just appreciation of them under those
circumstances. To be seen to advantage-nay
to attain to anything like just idea of their
majesty and beauty, they should be slowly skr-
ted in canoe or yawl boat, from which somc-
thing like just idea of their stnpcndous pro-
portions may be realized In dry season like
the present, they arc seen to i'll advantage un-
der any circumstances, as their effect depends
much upon the water that percolates them, from
which they mainly derive the characteristic
feature which gives rise to their name, and
winch like varnlsh upon an artificial picture,
brings out the tints, deepens the shadows en-
livens the salient points, and fills the eve with
the presence of an endless succession of bright
and varying tints, the effect of which is merg-
ed in dry time into dull and uniform topic.
Through the kindness of Capt Shook, the
passengers upon the Baltimore were treated to
little adventure, which formed most delight
ful episode to the trip and helped indclibly to
impress up( u the minds of those who witnessed
it, at least one of the most prominent features
Of the pictured rocks Arriving about nine
O'Clock, p. NJ, off the Arcbcd rock" which
forms the lower extremity of the range, the
steamer lay to with a calm sea, and a gentle
breeze just perceptiblc, blowing Off land, the
yawl boat was got out and such Of the ladies'
and gentleman as wished. were invited to get
aboard and form an expedition into the "penc-
trala" of that magnificent cave ; four ladies',
Mrs. S, of Buffalo, Mrs P, Miss T,
and Miss c., of gainesville, Ohio, with some
H., Al.
Shocks kind Offer and getting into the boat
were rowed towards the shore, about three
quarters of mile distant
The ''Arched Rock " rcscmbled in size and
form large old fashioned fire place, and even
as we approached more nearly we formed no
adequate conception of its real dimensions
When within fifteen rods as it seemed TO us,
Sheriff Gray, who was standing up on thwart
remarked that " he could touch the top of the
arch with fifteen foot oar;' and it was only
when within few feet of the entrance that,
looking up in perpendicular direction we be-
came aware that the Overbanging rock was one
hundred feet above our heads. The arch is
one hundred and siXty-three feet from side to
side, anc the water at the entrance is fifteen
feet in depth, as we sounded it with an oar
We penetrated the cave about three times the
length of our thirty foot yaw boat, when the
kelson struck boulder, and stopped US. BY
the aid of three of the steamer lanters, which
we took with us; We were enabled to define
with tOlerable accuracy the size and shape of
the cavern, which, seen under the Circumstance
es which we visited it, is one of the grandest,
most picturesque, and startling of sights. The
depth of the cave is about one hundred and fif-
ty feet and aside from the main entrance, there
are two others smaller and more circuitous and
difficult, but practicable for small canoe
The sound of our voices as we combined them
in giving three cheers, rang and reverberated
through the arches of the rocky cavern, and
died away only after long interval in the fain
ter and more distant echoes through the halls
and entrances into the open air. Imagine in
stead of calm summer night, wintcry tenn
pest and the towering waves of old Superior
rolling into this cave, with the full sweep of
the broad lake, and issuing thence driven back
in foam by its rocky and impenetrable barriers!
Cor Detroit .4dr.