Newbern weekly progress., 1859-07-26
From u Flying Correspondent.
NIAGARA FALLS, n. Y,
july llth, 1859

terday, believe, made you an indirect promise
to write to you again, and give you an additional
account of the interesting objects and localities
round about here First, you are aware that u
miles below the Falls is the great wire Suspen-
sion Bridge, which is 800 feet long, and hangs
$50 feet above the river one end resting upon the
soil of America, the other upon that of Canada.
| This bridge has two floors. Over the upper one
! the Railroad train passes back and forth daily,
! (this being the route TO Toronto, &c) and over
the lower floor, which is level with the earth,
carriages, &C., pass. 1nis bridge is said to be
the greatest mechanical or l may say artstical,
construction in America, perhaps, in the world.
Yesterday party hired carriages and a
guide, and we crossed over this bridge into Cana
da, the dominion of Queen Victoria; and i will
here mention that we were not long in finding out
that we had left blessed America,
Land of the free, and home of the brave,
for we had not gone very far when we were stop
ped at a sort of Custom House, and our carriages
did not proceed until we had payed tribute to her
Majesty for the privilege of passing gate which
opened upon a common road. We then proceed
ed way up the river road, a distance of two
miles halted awhile, and then walked down a
steep bank to the Burning Spring. This spring
is certainly of the most curious wonders of
nature, the waters of which, It's said, are highly
charged with sulphurated hydrogen gas and as
soon guide applied lighted match blue
ish flame flashed up from the tube, and burned
some time, after which he removed the gas re-
ceiver, lighted paper and held it down to the
water, which was bubbling up, and Immediately
the whole surface was in blaze. The guide
proving g. ''beyond the shadow of doubt f" that he
could set spring fire, if not a river.
The battle of Chippewa was fought near this
spring, July 5th, 1914. And two miles above
here is the Canadian village of Chippewa. From
the Burning Spring our guide drove to Lundy's
Lane battle ground. This is about one and half
miles from the Falls, on the Canada side. On
this field was fought the great battle on the 25th
July, 1914. twenty days after the battle of Chip
pewa, Col. now Gen. Scott commanding the Amer
lean, and Gen. Drummond commanding the Brit
ish forces.
History tells of its being fierce contest, the
story of which is too familiar to need a detailed
account here. There is an observatory here from
which can be seen the whole battle field, and, in
fact the country round about for many miles, the
tower being several hundred feet high. Here we
met an old Canadian soldier, who gave graph
ical account of the battle, he himself being en-
gagged in it. He showed several souls, part of
an old musket, cannon balls, bombshells, and an
old copper sword scabbard, which he said were
found by ploughmen years after the battle. He
showed us also, the very spot where bayonets
crossed n fiercest fight, that eventful
night, adding that the dead and dying lay there
next morning in heaps and piles. He acknowl-
edged that the British were whipped in fair
fight. It's very likely, however, he knew or be-
lieved US to be Americans. Hence this version |
From Lundy's Lane we journeyed down to |
Queenston Heights and visited Brooks Monr- |
ment which was erected to commemorate the |
memory of the British Gen. Brock who fell in an
action fought on the 18th of October, 1912. The |
height of this column, (Which is of freestone and
uted,) is 1S5 feet. and is thirty feet in circum-
ference, (the base being 40 feet square,) taperng
to the top, upon which stands statue of Brock |
with his arm extended pointing towards Lake
Ontario. The view from this monument is very
fine. The eye is filled with the most gorgeous
scenery of woodland and water Imaginable, which
is terminated by magnificent view of Lake On
tario, which stretches away like flood of light |
to the horizon, and upon which is seen the white
wings of numerous vessels, and the foamy track
of passing steamers.
From Queenston we returned, paid our tribute
the Suspension Bridge, and drove down
on the American side [glad once more to breath
it's free air) to Lewiston, which is pretty village
seven miles below the Falls, and at which place
the Lake steamers and trading vessels are often
seen. Three miles from Lewiston, is village or
settlement of Tuscarora Indians, and it being the
day for visitation by their Missionary, who was
to preach to them at 12, NJ, we turned our
A.
time to hear the singing of the first hymn, which
was sung by some ten or twelve indians, both
male and female, who made as fine music as [
ever heard The hymns are printed in both the
English and the Tuscarora tongue, on alternate
pages. There were assembled here some so In
dams, men, women, and children. After pray
er the pulpit being occupied by the Rev. Mr.,
congregationalist, and the Indian in
terpreter, the missionary read his text in English
handed the Bible to the Indian who read it in
MS mother tongue. Then the sermon which was
fine one, holding up 'Christ as the chief corner
stone, was preached in short sentences, and
each sentence Immediately interpreted by the In
1ian, who at times became quite animated, max
ing fine gestures, seeming to understand perfect
y, and showing great anxiety for his red breth-
'en to understand also After the benediction
vas introduced to the Missionary Interpreter, and
he Chief of the Tribe who speaks English, and
Who told me that his Tribe numbered 331. The
most of those present were dressed in the garb of
;ivilization save some few women, among whom
we're some fine bellies with dresses made of alter
late stripes Ga la Byaderc) of red, blue, green and
,elow oiled calico, the stripes being about an
ighth of yard wide. They wore large earrings
nd dark colored fats ornamented with beads
nd lunches of wild flowers To crafty the
aides of party, I took from the arms of a
-oung squaw an infant which was cleanly dress
d. This little papoose had seven light fancy r
olored handkerch1efs (bordered with bead-work) =
pread over it, and upon inquiry we learned that -
j