The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-04-21
" onders of tho wcst--A Cataract {
Greater than Niagara Falls.

The wonderful natusal formation and
manifestations of the great West have been
vividly portrayed III the letters of \. d.
Richmond of the New York Tribune, who
went across the continent with the Coliax
party, and remained upon the Pacific slope
tor further explorations. Ia recent letter
he gives an account of a visit 10 a cataract
of forty feet greater height than Niagara, anu
surrouudei with elements Of grandeur which
! the latter lacks. We extract from the letter
| as follows:
"Next morning al O'Clock start for the
>hoshonee Fall. called by the Indians Pu,-
cist lax a, or Gift OF the Great Spirit, which
have never before been approached by q
vehicle or seen by so white men. Six miles
out turn from the stage road northward upon
the desert, where the tall sage brush, crushed
by our slow wheels, loads the air with heavy
perfume. through the dim dawn we are
guided by the everlasting pillar Of cloud
rising tCom the Fall. six miles AWAY. aud
soon We hear family ihe eternal roar of the
cataract
"Still. the ri er is invisible in its wniiny
chasn, 1000 feet below the surface of the
plain but now, a. three miles more clearly
we hear its thrilling roar, and s.e the INST
with its violate tinge of rainbow which arises
forever and ever, as if old Shoshouee were
taking vapor bath or smoking his pipe.
At last we leave coach and mules on a bi oxen
floor of brown lava; press forward few
yards /; descend Z precipice for 300 feet BY u
natural rock stairway; walk quarter al
mile across a terrace of grass and cedar5,
and stand upon a second precipice. Peering
itc ada l... IaI.,v Ill IL
the river, after its terrific leap. peaceful and
placid as 4 mirror. Half mile above u. in
full view, is the Great Fall. 1t IS uneduailei
in the world save Niagara, Of which it viyldly
reminds one. II has the same horse shoe
form, the sam, undying rainbow. The VOL
ume Of water ls not more than one fourth as
large, for its crescent summit is only 500
feet in width bI. the descent GOO ieei) is
| one,third greater, while just above the brink
vast sulleu portals oflava. rising for hundreds
of feet on each bank, supply an element Of
grandeur which the greatest of ca;aracts alto
gether lacks. One of these lava columns is
crowned with an eagles nest. Below the
F.ll, over the canon 5 side, stun;ed. shrivelel
cedars cling to the rock with roots like claws.
/ Upon the witherel branch Of one perches q
whitetailed magpie, while on another, statu-
esque and mo;ionless, rests an enormous
I raven, DtdGh aS JcL
"Not daring u atten pt TIE des cent cf the
upright, almost unbroken wall, without the
aid of ropes. walked up along the edge of
the chasm past curious rock formations, one
| a natural area or tunnel, large enough to
admit sugar ho-sheai. 1t a point Just
below tie ttlnk, | Crept gu! - the elge of =
projecting rock. CIinging to hardy cedar,
! saw the peaceful waters 2j0 fee: below me !;
| the river, gliding swiftly, but calm and smooth
! to the edge F.; the long plunge. and the witch
e. cauldron which boiled beneath under
waiting clouds Of spray. The Fall itself is
| efthe Fure5t white. intcrsperse1 with mvriads
of glittcring, glassy drops, 4 cataract offs
with avalanche OF jewels. Mockirg and
helttiing all earthly sendor, Nature is here
il, her lace and pearls, her robe Of GiaEa ond5
and tiara of rain5ow-
al night, descending a perilous dug-wav
to the ShOshonce, we crossed by the Overland
Ferry, and after supper at the log station,
wen; out by moonlight to view da tx gorge
in its rear, shut in By basaltic walls $40 feet
high. From one of these, 80 feet a hovc the
ground. gush 20 springs, varying in .ize from
| ones arm to flour barrel, all lashed into
.ilvery spray as they leap down the iutting
rocks, at whose base they blend into one,
forming stream hundred feet wide, which
| discharges into tie ShosLonee This won>
derful spring or fountain is supposed to be the
resurrection and new life Of the Mahlade
| River which died and was buried in the deser t
60 miles away. | know of no equal or paral-
lei for it. 1t is 10 miles from Boise City
and within half day ride The Great Fall. =