Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-09-03
The Fall Of the Table Rock, by the Last
Man who stood Upon 1t.

A0"ss ~ w. 49, ~ - ~. 80
George Wilkes writes this week from
Niagara to he SPIRIT:
said had Something to do with the
falling Of Table Rock, that broad shell,
on the Canada side, which in 1850 jut-
ted over the very cauldron Of the sceth-
ing waters, but which tumbled into it
on a certain day in the month of June
of that, by NE, well remembered year.
About noon on that day, accompanied
lady from the Clifton House to the
Fails. Arriving at Table Rock, VIC left
our carriage, and as we approached the
projecting p. atform / ro,"tsd out to nv
Companion vast crack or fissure which
traversed The entire base of the rock, ,e-
marking that it looked wider than i:
had ever before appeared 70 me. TIE
lady almost shuddered as she looked at
1t, and shrinking lack declared she did
not care about going to the edge. "Ah,"
SAID |, taking her hand, "you might as
we'll come on, now that you are here, /
hardly think the rock will take notion
to fall merely because we are on it."
The platform ju,tcd from the main
land some 60 feet, but to give the visitor
still more fearful p election over the
raging waters, wooden bridge, or sta
gi"g, had been thrust beyond the ex-
IRENE edge for some ten feet. Thi. ter
minated IN small box for visltors to
stand in, and WI kept in it's position
and enabled to bear weight by pom
derous load OF stones heaped npon its in.
ner nd. The day was very bright and
hot, and it being almost lunch time at
the hotels, but a few visitors were out, 80
we occupied the dlzzv perch alone. We
gazed fca'fulIy out upon the awful wa.
tiers, we stretched our heads timidy over
the fti.httul depth below, and we felt
our natures queIled in every fibre BY the
deafen ng roar that seemed to saturate
us. rs it were, with All indefnable dread.
This is terrible plsce!" said L.
"Look under there, and see on what q
mere shell we stand For years the
teeth Of the torrent, in that jetting, an
CRY stream have been gnawlng out that
hollow, and some day tlrs plane must
fall" My companion sbndLered, and
drew herselftogether in alarm. Our eyes
SWEPT the roaring circle Of the waters
once again F; We gazed about in fearful
f"ci"at'on, when suddenly, turning our
looks upon each other, each recognized
a corresponding tear. II do not like
this place - exclaimed quickly. "rhe
~hole base of this rock is probably dis.
'nteg'ated. and perhaps sits poised in
succession Of steps or notches. ready 10
ia'l out at and topple down at any Nh
usual perturbation. That assure there
seems to me to be more than usually
wide to-day l think We had better
leave, for l do not fancy such finish
and besides my paper must be publish
ed next week."
With these very words-the latter
uttered halt jocostly, thong. not with
ont alarm Il seized my companions
hand. and, in absolute panic, we fed a.
ia t as our feet could carry rs toward
what m ght DO called the shore. We
burst into a lond laugh when We re.
gained the land, and jumping into our
carriage, felt actually A. il We had made
fo'tunate escape. We rolled back 10
ward the Clifton, but before We had
proceeded on our way two minutes, .
laundering report, ke the exp o-ion Of
an e'rt.. quake, burst upon us, aud, with
. long roar. the ground tremb' ed be-
reath our wheels. We turned to find
that Table Rock had fallen. We were
the last upon it, and it was doubtless
the unusual perturbation caused by our
ny'ng footsteps t.lat disturbed the ex.
actitude OF ito final poise. In . minute
moro the road was tiled With hur,yiog
people, and during the following hall
hour we we're told . hundred tim. a in
advance OF the next morning j,urnsI.,
mat 2 lady and gentleman who were on
sns Table Rock, had gone down Il ) |
Iaiis. We ere told that the trot Of ! doc
would shake old London Bridge fion
I'D . end, whsa i Veeld - - ~.