Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-04-06
Wilkes Dislodging Table Rock.
George Wilkeo writes:


"I said had something TO Go with the fall
Of Table Rock, that broad shell on the Cana.
do side, which in 1850 looked over the very
caldron Of the seetbiDg waters, but which
tumbled into it on n certain day in the month
OF June Of that, by me, well remembered year.
A bout noon on that day, | accompanied a
lady from the Clifton House to the Falls
Arriving at Table Rock. we left our carriage,
and bs We approached the projecting platform
| pointed out to my companion q vast crack
or fissure which tIaversed the entire base OF
the rock, remarkiDg that it had never appear.
ed to ne before. The lady almost sbuddered
as she looked at it, shrinking back, declared
she did not care about going Deor the edge.
All, 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 mere.
ly because We are on it,
"rhe platform jutted from the main land
some sixty feet; but to give the visitor still
more fearful projection over the raging wa.
J tiers, wooden bridge, or staging, had been
thrust beyond the extreme edge for some ten
feet. This terminated 10 small box for visi.
tors to stand in, and was kept ~ its position,
and enabled TO bear its weight, by punde.
rous load of stone heaped upon its inner ends
The day was very bright and hot, and it being
| almost lunch time at the hotels, but very few
visitors were out, so We occupied the dizzy
perch alone. We gazed ieurlully upon the
awful waters, we stretched our heads timdly
over the frgbtGul depth below, and we felt
our natures quail in every fibre by the deafeu.
ing roar, that seemed to saturate US, es il
we're, with on indefnable dread.
This is terrible place. said !, Look
under there, aud see what mere shell we
stand upon. For years and years the teeth
of the torrent, in that jettlpg angry stream,
have been gnawing at That hollow, and some
day this plane must ial.'
My companion shuddered, and drew her,
self together in alarm. Our eyes swept the
roaring circle Of the waters ouce again we
gaZed about in fearful iacnation, when sud.
denly turning our looks upon each other, each
recognized corresponding fear. i do not
like this place J exclaimed j quickly. The
whole base Of this rock is probably disiDte.
grated, and perhaps sits poised in success.
sion OF steps or notches, ready to fail out and
topple down OF any unusual perturbation
That fssUre there seems 70 me unusually
large to day. think we had better leave
for do not fancy such a finish aud, besides
my paper must be published next week
With these very words-the latter uttered
jocosely, though not without alarm-I seized
my companions hand, and 10 absolute panic
We fed US fast as our feet could carry us to.
wards what might be called the shore. We
first burst into laugh when we gained the
land, and Jumping into our carriage, felt ac
tualy ps II We had made fortunate escape
We rolled back toward the Clifton, but
before we bad proceeded two minutes on our
way, athuuderIng report, like the explosion
oil an earthquake, burst upon US, aud with O
loud roar the ground troubled beneath our
wheels. We turned to tud that Table Rock
had fallen. We were the last upon il. snd
was, doubtless, the unusual perturbation
caused BY our flying footsteps that disturbed
the oxsctltude Of its equilibrium, and threw
it from its final pose.
In q minute more the road was filed with
hurryng people, auG during the following half
hour We were told a bundred times IN advance
! OF the next morning journals, that lady aud
gentleman who were on the Table Rock Lad
gone down the falls. We ore told that tue
trot of dog would shake old London bridge
from end to end, when it would not be DIS.
turbed by the rolling wheels Of heavily load
trains. Table Rock had not been run upon
in the way l have been describing for years
perhaps never, aud therefore, whenever
hear 1t spoken of, ! always shudder and feel
as ii | had something to do with It's fall