Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-05-26
Wonders Of the West--A Cataract
Greater than Niagara Falls.

manifestations of the great West have been
wildly portrayed in the letters of A. d.
Richardson, of the New York Tribune who
went across the continent with the Colfax
party, and remained upon the Pacific slope
for further explorations. In recent letter
he gives an account Of visit to cataract
of forty feet greater height than Niagara,
and surrounded with elements of, grandeur
which the latter lacks. Weextract from the
letter as follows:
Next morning at o'clock start for the
Shoshonee Fall, called by the Indians Pau
chu-tak a, or Gift of the Great Spirit, which
have never before been approached by a
vehicle or seen by 80 white men. Six miles
ou. turn from the stage road, northward
upon the desert, where the tall sage brush,
crushed by our slow wheels, loads the air
with b eavy perfume. Through the dim
dawn we are guided by the everlasting pillar
of cloud rising from the Fall, SIX miles away,
and soon we hear family the eternal roar of
the. cataract
"Still, the river is invisible in its winding
chasm, 1000 feet below the surface of the
plain; but now, at three miles more clearly
we hear its thrilling roar, and see the mist,
with its violet tinge of rainbow, which arises
forever and ever, rs if old Shoshonce
were taking vapor bath or smoking his
pipe. AT last we leave coach and mules on
broken floor of brown lava press forward
few yards; descend precipice for 800
feet by a natural rock stairway; walk q
quarter of mile across terrace of grass
and cedar, and stand upon a second preciplcc
Peering over its edge, 500 feet below us, we
behold the river, after its terrific leap, peace
full and placid as mirror. Half mile above
us, in full view, Is the Great Fall. 1t is un-
cqualled in the world save Niagara, of which
it wildly reminds one. 1t has the same
undying rainbow. The volume of water is
not more than one-fourth as large, for its
crescent summit is only 800 feet in width
but the descent GOO feet is one-third greater,
while just above the brink vast sullen port
ais of lava, rising for hundreds Of feet on
each bank, supply an element Of grandeur
which the greatest of cataracts altogether
lacks. One of these lava columns is crowned
with an eagles nest. Below the Fall, over
the canon's side wall, stunted, shrve.ed ce-
dars, cling to the rock with roots like claws
Upon the withered branch of one perches a
white tailed magpic, while on another statu-
esque and motionless, rests an enormous,
raven, black as jet
Not caring to attempt the descent
of the upright, almost unbroken wall, with
out the aid of ropes, walked up along the
edge of the chasm past curious rock forma-
tlons, one natural area or tunnel, large
enough to admit sugar hogshead. At point
just below the brink, crept out to the
edge Of a projecting rock. Clinging to
hardy cedar, saw the peaceful waters ESQ
feet below me; the river, gliding swiftly,
but calm and smooth, to the edge; the long
plunge, and the witches cauldron which
boilec beneath under waiting clouds of
spray. The Fall itself is of the purest
white, interspersed with myriads of glitter
ing, CLASSY drops, cataract of snow, with
an avalanche of Jewels Mocking and
belittling all earthly splendor Nature is
here in her lace and and pearls, her robe of
diamonds and tiara of rainbow.
"At night, descending perilous dug-way
to the Shoshonee, we crossed by the Over
land Ferry, and after supper at the log sta
tion, went out by moonlight to view dark
gorge in its rear, shut in by basaltic wall,
800 feet high. From one of these, so feet
above the ground, gush 90 springs, varying
in size from ones arm to flour barrel, all
lashed into silvery spray as they leap down
the jutting rocks, at whose base they blend
into one, forming a stream hundred feet
wide, which discharges into the Shoshonee.
This wonderful spring or fountain is sup
posed to be the resurrection and new life of
the Mahlade river which died and was bur
ried in the deser. go miles away. know of
no equal or parallel for it. 1t is 170 miles
from Boise City and within half days
ride OF the great Fall" . ...