Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-29
LETTER FROM NIAGARA.
Correspondence ef dc Richmond E"2"'FF'
INTERNATIONAL %lloTEi,
NIAGARA FALLS, July %, 1888,

McsSrs. Editors-ln visiting the great works
of Nature we are too apt to ra'Se our eXpccta-
tons too high. Whether this arises from the
too highly colorcd pictures given by Others, or
from too lofty anticipationS created 10y our
selves, it is impossible to say; but be that as it
NAV, il naturally leads 10 disappointment, and
often mars the pleasure which We would other
wise receive. This, however. is not the case
with Niagara-;hc mighty cataract OF the UNI
verse. Though poets may sins It's praise IN the
muses. %lofticst strains, ana prose writers SOUND
its masniticcncc and wax eloquent or ITS gran
deur. vet, the reality is so far in advance OF 1t
all, that to be disappointed Is almost imnoSsl'
Die.
Tho first object OF interest. or rather the orc
first visited, Is the Grand Rapids. Crossing
the hotel grounds, it is but a few steps to the
bridge leading TO Bath Island, from whence the
best view of this great wonder Is Obtained
Nothing can exceed their grandeur and impress
sivcnes>. TO see this angry flood, rushing past
us in all is wild and tuinuituous fury, dashplg
and ioarn;nc amidst the enormous rocks, yet,
always 80 regular in It's very irrc.ularltv. fills
the mind with feelings OF awe. and cXcltes emo
tons Of reverence not cquallcd by any other
siyht-not surpassed by the great Fall ITSELF
Passing over the bridge We find ourselves upon
Bath Island. which Is again connected by 4
bridge TO Goat Island. From this latter place
the visitor first obtains a view Of the Falls. and,
as emerging from the dcnsely wooded path he
catches a view Of this natural wonder,
Whose majs Gnd nigh:
Fir,. .az.!e.: then enrsp;ures; then o'eraT.s ihe sight
he can but remain silent, and gaze with mute
establishment. The view from this point is one
that remains indelibly fixed upon our memory
one that in future Years we can call before Us.
rs distinctly as if it were but yesterday, or in
fac, rs il we were in reality gazing upon tine
scene. While at this spot, the Cave oil the
Winds demands our attention Directly under
the American Fall, the view here presented,
, taken in connection with the tremendous and
astounding roar Of waters. is sublime IN the
extreme. We can hardly realize our situation,
so wrapt are we in the contemplation OF Naturcs
grandeur. Connected with Goat Island by a
bridge of about twenty feet span, Is Lunar
Island. so. called since the Lunar Bow can bc
there seen to the greatest advantage. The
extremity of this small island is within a foot
of the Fail, and. as the gushing waters rush on
either side Of the isle. we can often ieti II
trcrnble beneath our feet. causing n cold >!lud'
! der of fear to run through US AZ We think oi
our doom. should it give way beneath lis.
Rctracing our steps, we wcnd our way t"
| Prospect Tower, situated within a few feet oi
the rrcat Horse Shoe Fall. The view from this
/ point is magnificent, a. you look below upon
the angry water as it passes over the brink OF
! the fall and resolves itself into a HISS Of foam,
like sudS, below. Here we must mention the
beautiful contrast between the green and white
water rs it rolls over the falls
",n Eneral green Of the cleare''. pure-, hue:
Sci round with waves OF SNOW ajlr foam and spray
o.: .calh'ry hue
From Prospect Tower We also have a fine
view Of Gull Island and the Three Sisters. The
| former takes It's name from the great number Of
yu!lS which hover round it in the spring and
fall. Day by dav, however. the island has grown
smaller. Till at the present time nought remains
save one or two small trees aud Il cluster of
rocks of a few feet in extent. The Three SIS
ters were so named from three Indian maldciIS.
daughters Of the chief who first visited the
islands. In winter, when the ice blocks the in
,crycnipc channel, visits are often made TO
! them. but in summer the rushing waters prevent
them from 50 doing.
While upon Goat Island. the traveller car but
remark upon the beauty and diStinctneSs Of
tine numerous rainbows. Each fall and each
cascade has its own, and the view, when taking
in them all, i, unsurpassed. The Lunar Bow,
also. which We saw Il few nights since, was well
worthy of a visit, and Niagara is in all proba-
biiitv the only place where a rainbow can he
seen at the dead Of night. Ii is worth goln:
thousands Of miles 10 see, and am surprised that
80 fcw persons take the trouble to view IL
Returning again to the main land. the sllS-
pcnsion bridge first claims our attention. 10
appreciate is greatness and magnitude, it must
he sccl-a description, however vivid, cannot
make us realise the actual work. The bold
daring Of the design. and the still boidcr exc
cutjon Of the work. cannot be, and is not sur
passed by any work Of a similar character on
! the globe. Crossing this >tupcndou> structure
we find ourselves in Canada. and proceeding TO
the Clifton House, We, a. i'll duty bound, drank
the health OF her most gracious Majesty Queen
Victoria. From the upper piazza "i this hotel
A sulcnGiI view OF the Falls i obtained, and
wien the wind blows from that quarter, the
.prav. which rises like cloud> from the abyss
below. falls like 4 shower Of rain upon you.
Still onward. We soon reached Table Rock.
and the tower leading 10 the loot oil the laii.
Although the greater part Of the rock has
fallen. vet still enough remains to SNOW how
grand il must have been when in It's beauty.
Pieces are continually falling, and III a ic"
years nought will Inc left 10 mark the spot
where once stood the greatest wonder oil the
world. Here persons wishing TO so under
Meath the falls and traverse the rocks beneath
the Immense food of waters. arc furnished
with guides and clothing (at all expense OF
one dollar so to do. Having such 4 desire, we
prepared 10 descend. Divcsting ourselves Of
our coat, hat and boots, we were cnvcioped IN
a yellow suit of waterproof canvass, which,
though not in the least picturesque, was very
useful and absolutely necessary. 50 dressed,
we looked more like the pictures Of E%SquimaIx
that ] have seen. than like civilized beings.
But, letting that pas, we descended the l33
steps leading 10 the bottom, and then found
ourselves under the mighty fall. At first the
water did not reach us, but As we advanced the
spray aid water almost blinded u>-oi,cn taking
away orr breath. Looking up, the sight was
magniiiccnt-thc rushing water. as it lcapcd
over the messy rocks. the mighty ciia,m below
us, and the stony precipicc behind us, was a
sigh, that one can only see under the great
horseshoe fall Of Niagara.
The Burning Springs and Lundy'> Lane are
next visited. and, after an examination OF the
..whirlpool" and the devils hole the tour Of
NIAGARA is completed. The Indian village. scy-
on miles above. is we'll worthy of a visit, though
the inhabitants do not live in their original
SIMPLICITY. SquawS adorn themselves in crino-
line and all the other new fashioned notions of
ciyil,zation, while the ''braveS' deck themselves
, in the most approved beavers and trock coats
Of the newest style.
The rope upon which NJ. Biondin made ms
pcrilouS passage across the river stu stands
and at the present time is an object oil interest
lie prouoSeS to take a little girl in his barrow,
ON the 18th of August; but there are doubts a.
TO his obtaining one 10 accompany him. Sure
Is no human mother would entrust her child
10 him for such a purpose.
The Indian stores. Of which there are a great
number. arc also well worthy of a visit. The
Quantity Of goods displayed and the beauty Of
the orkmanship is not to be surpassed, and, al
though the price demanded is often twice their