Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-04-04
Wilkes's Dislodging Table Rock.
George Wilkes writes /:

George Wilkes writes:
/" / said had something to with the fall Of
Table Rock, that broad shell OF the Canada
side which ia 1850 looked over the very cal
drou Of the seethiug waters, but which tambI-
ed into it on q certain day in the month Of
June OF that, by me well-remfmbersd year.
About noon on that day / accompanied .
lady from the Clifton House to the Falls. Ar
irving at Table Rock, we left our carriage, and
as we approached the projecting platform,
pointed out TO ny companion a vast crack or
fssure which traVersed the entire base Of the
rock, remarking that it had never appeared to
me before The lady almost shuddered as she
looked at it, shrinking back, declared she did
not care about going near the edge. Ah,'
said !, taking her hand. you might IS we'll
come on, now that yon are here. hardly
think the rock will take notion 10 fall mere
i because We are on it."
"The platform jntted from the main land
some sixty feet bat to give the visitor O still
more fearful projection over the raging Rater6
wooden bridge, or staging. had been thrust
beyond the extreme edge for some ten feet
This terminated in small box for visitors to
stand in, and was kept in its position, aud ens-
bled to bear its weight, by ponderous load
Of stone beaped upou its inner ends. The day
was very bright and hot, and it being almost
lunch time at the hotels. but very few visitors
were oat, so We occupied the dizzy perch alone.
We gazed fearfully upon the awful waters, We
stretched oGr heads timidly over the fFightfnl
depth below, and ge felt our natures quail ia
every fbre by the deafening roar. that seemed
30 sGtGrate ne, as it we're. With an inde6nabls
dread.
This is terrible place" said !, Lock
under there, snl see what q mere shall We
stand upon. For years and years the teeth
of tie torrent, in that iettiug, angry stream,
have been gnawing ct the hollow, aud Eous
day this plane must fall"
Nv companion shuddered, and drew her,
self to ether in alarm. Our eyes swept the
roaring circle Of the waters once again; Es
gazed about in feartal fscinatien, when snd-
denly tuning our looks upon each other each
recognized a corresponding fear. l do not like
this place " exclaimed |, quickly The whole
base O! this rock is probably -diSiategrsted Ind
perhaps sits EOised in a succession Of steps or
notches, ready TO fall Oh: and topple down at
any unusual pertarbatioB. That fSsare there
seems to ne unusually large to-dsF. / think
We had better Leave for | do not fancy gGch o
finish; AMI. besides, ny paper aust be pabli4h.
Cd next week .-.s
With these very words-the latter uttered
iocosely, though not without alarm-I seized
ny companions hand, and 10 absolute panic,
We fed as fast as oar feet could carry 1s
towards what might be called the shore. We
6rst burst into laugh when We gained the
land and jumping into cur carriage, felt ae.s-
ally as If we had made fortunate escape.
We rolled back toward the Clifton, bat be-
fore We had proceeded two minutes on our way
q laundering report, Ike the explosion Of an
earthquake, burs: upon Us. and with load
Fosr the groand trembied beneath our wheels
We turned TO End that Table Rock had fal-.
len We were the last upon it, and vas.
doubtless, the unusual perturbation caused by
our fying footsteps that disturbed the e1aeti-
tade OF its equilibrium, and threw it from its
inal poise
In minute uore the road was flled with
aurrying people. and during the following dali
hour We were told hundred times in advance
OF the next morning journals. that lady and
gentleman xbo we're on the Table Rock had
gone down the falls We are told that the
trot OF dog KoaId shake old London bridge
from end to end, when it would not be distur-
bed bT the rolling wheels Of heavily loaded
trains Table Rock had rot been run upon in
the way have been describing for years
perhaps never. aud therefore whenever ara.
il spoken Of, always shQdder aud feel 4s IL
/ had something to do with It's fall"