The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-03
Correspondence New York Commercial Advertiser.
A Winter Scene at Niagara Falls.

n w lHitT cCcHc Ut niagara Fails.
TORONTO, C. W., Feb. It,
On Friday morning / crossed the bridge over
the rapids on Bath Island. In the swiftest of the
current, of course there is no ice formed; but
wherever there is al island, or even little islet
below it is Immediately formed an icy addition in
creased by every days cold.
From the lower end of Bath Island Isaw a man
making his way toward the extreme edge of the
centre of the American fall-the apparent solidity
of the foundation induced me to attempt it like
wise, and safely reached Robinson's Island (Which
at other seasons is entirely insuated) From this
advanced to about midway between it and the
edge of the cataract on the American side and
| there we stood upon a mound of ice, overlooking
the roaring torrent at our side and apparently nm
conscious that at tbs same moment it was
rushing beneath us. A hole was broken in the
ice by party the day before, and the ice was
found to be eight feet and covered with
| foot of snow and heavy crust formed by the
| spray.
| The view at this point was magnificent. We
| were near an immense overhanging iceberg, kept
| from plunging headlong by the superabundant
| mass Of which it formed part. 1t had gained in
| downward length was told, twenty feet during
the previous night and was increasin g in size and
| strength hourly. The huge pendant icicles from
the cliffs around, like inverted church spires, and
the mountainous masses of ice below, all tended TO
render it such a scene as is seldom beheld at Nj
| agara. Returning we dsdaned the assistance of
| Robinson's island, leaving it on right and ap-
| preached within a few steps of Chapin's island
| You will remember poor Chaplin, who was lost af
| ter being swept upon this spot few years ago. A
| flag was helsted on stake firmly set in the
| ground, by the pioneer adventurers who few
| days before had gone ashore here.
| Wemade the tour of Goat Island. The entire
lower part of it around the Bidde staircase seems
| to be massive ice with cones and hills and val
leys of ice on the edge Finding the snow untrod-
den from Goat Island to the Tower, we did not
| venture as we could view all from our standpoint
The American side, L think, far surpassss in
han ~ n1a
| lighter aud there is more spray, which s not dis
| sipated but lights on every object near instantly
freezing and clothing it in robe of silver loading
the grove at the top of the ferry stairs with huge
icy fruit, and making If appear like enchantment.
| We descended the interminable staircase partly
| stepping and partly sliding, as much snow had
| blown in at the side doors and open widows We
could not reach the bottom, es it was completely
choked with snow and ice, so scrambled out of
a side door and made eur way to the rirers edge
if indeed it can be called such. We took no note
of river being there, although we saw the terri
BILE cataract but few rods above US, and knew
that the fatal rapids and whirlpool were less than
three miles below. We walked ON till we came to
the middle of the natural bridge, then turned and
beheld grand and captivating scene on every
side The overhanging cliffs were threatening to
fall with their burdens of great iccles and all the
smaller islands that could see were cleaning
with silvery brightness, miniature Mont Blancs
and glaciers in abundance. One lofty and beauti
fully rounded mound at least hundred feet in d.
ameter, seemed to lis ibeing under it, to equal in
height the extreme top Of the American side-l6f
feet-but from above we afterward found it to be
only about half as high.
We were not blinded and wet by spray as in
Summer, for it ia now changed to an exceedingly
fine, scattered and harmless hail. While cross
ing we heard strange, cracking and runbling
noises beneath US, and saw many assures in cur
ice bridge but concluded it was only the pieces
thrown from above, finding their way far below
us, and occasionally heaving the whole mass
slightly
We felt perfectly safe, as we knew many hours
notice must be given before the breaking up Of
such an immense structure, and the extremely
was told that the ice here is twenty feet thick
How ascertainable cannot tell. Certainly one.
third or quarter of twenty feet would be amply
sufficient for all practical purposes, as whole regi
ments might march over with perfect safety
we found bower of evergreens with seats in
1t erected ON the ice twothirds of the way across
winch, on the first approach of a warm term would
prove anything but d comfortable or safe place
OF repose. We partly assembled the zigzag road
leading to the Clifton House, and after satisfying
our curiosity to the full retraced our steps over the
rushing river, and clambered up the snowy steps,
well convinced that we may never have another
such opportunity of seeing the Falls in their wintry
aspect.
There will be quite an avalanche of ice and snow
from the roof of the ferry staircase as soon as the
weather affects 1t. About third of the way up
from the bottom it Is four or five feet thick and
most of il solid ice, formed by the spray continual
Y falling there and freezing Well satisfied with
me few hours spent at this wonderful spot we re-
turned to the hotel Most of the larger houses are
Closed for the season, as but few strangers ara
found here after the summer excitement ha nass
en- away. But no ono would regret little sacrifice
VI tiiie ana trouble, to visit the Falls during tho
"'nler season Yours truly, S. G.
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