Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-21
THE FALL OF TABLE ROCK.
BY THE LAST MAN THAT STOOD on IT.


George Wilkes writes: 81 said had some
thing to do with the falling of Table Rotk that
broad shell on the Canada side, which in 1850
looked over the very cauldron of the seethng
waters, but which tumbled into it on certain
day in the month of June of that, by me- we'll
remem cred year. About noon on that day |
accompanied young lady from the Clifton
House to the Falls. Arriving at Table II Ick,
we left the carriage, and as we approached the
projecting platform, | pointed out to nv com
panun 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 it, and shrink
ing back, declared that she did not care about
going to the edge. All" said |, taking her
hand, "luu may as well come on on, now that
YOU are here | hardly think the rock will
take IA notion to fall merely because we are on
it."
The platform utied from the mainland some
sixty feet, but, to give the visitor still more
fearful projection over the raging waters, a
wooden bridge, or staging, had been thrus; be-
You'd the extreme edge for some ten feet. This
terminated in small box for visitors to stand
in, and was kept in its position and enabled to
bear its weight hy ponderous load of stones
heaped upon its inner ends. The day was
very bright and hot, and it being almost lunch
so We occupied the dizzy perch alone. We
gazed feartully out upon the awful waters, we
stretched our heads timidly over the irightful
depths below, and we felt our natures quail in
every fibre by the deaiening roar that seemed
to satugate us. as it were, with an indetinable
dread.
"lhis is a terrible place :" said "Iook un-
der there and see ON what mere she'll we
stand. For wears and years the teeth nf the
torrent, in that jetting, angry stream, have been
gnawing at thi: hollow, and some day day thi,
plane must fall"
My companion shuddered, and drew herself
together in alarm. Our eyes swept the roaring
circle of the waters once again, we gazed about
in fearful fascination. when suddenly, turning
our looks upon each other, each recognized II
corresponding fear IL do no, like this place."
exclaimed !, quickly. "rhe whole base OF this
rock is probIoy di>idteIrateI, and perhaps sits
poised in succession of steps or hotchrs, ready
TO fall out and topic down at any unusual per
turbation. That assure there seems to me un.
usually wild" to-day! | think we had better
leave for DO not fancy such finish; and, be-
sides, my paper must be published next week. -
With these very wurds-the latter uttered
half iocos'y, though not without alarm
seized my cumPanlru hand, and, in absolute
panic, we fled as fast us our feet could carry Us,
towards what might be called he shore. We first
burst into a laugh when we gained The land and
jumping into our carriage ict actually as if we
had made II fortunate escape. We rolled back
toward the Clifton, but before We had proceeded
two minutes on our way, 4 laundering report,
like the explosion of an earthquake, burst upon
us, and With loud ROAR the ground tremb ed
beneath our wheels. We turned to find tina,
Table Rock had fallen. We we're the last upon
it, and ii was dnubtlesS the unusual perlurba-
ton caused by our dying footsteps that dis
turb"d the eXactitude of its eqibium and threw
it from It's final pni>e. In minute more tn.
road WAS filled with hurrling people, and during
the following half hour we were told hundred
ines in advance Of the next morning Journals
that Lady and gentleman who were ON the
Table Rock had gone down the falls. We are
told that the trot of dog would shake oil
London Bridge from end, to end, when it woult
not be disturbed ny the rolling wheels of hra,i
ly loaded trains. Table Rock had not been ran
apon in the way | have described for years
perhaps perhIps never, and therefore, whenever
hear 1t spoken of. always Shudder and feel
as If had something to do with its fall"