Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-13
Black Creek Falls.

Black Creek Falls, two and a half
miles from Gadsden, is one of the great
est natural curiosities in the State; yet
comparatively few have ever seen or
even heard of it. This is owing to the
fact that this section of country has been
heretofore out of the great lines Of travel.
All this will soon be changed when the
railways now in contemplation and in
process of construction, are completed
10 Gadsden. Then every season we
shall see hundreds of visitors from this
and other States, seeking these Falls as
delightful retreat from the sultry hea
of our Southern latitudes
1t is difficult to give an adequate idf "a
of this Fall from any written descriptic n.
Leaving Gadsen, you ascend to an le-
waited plateau of the Lookout Mouns ain.
Four or five hundred feet below 20 as
far as the eye can see, the Coosa is wind
ing its way in graceful curves like a
riband of silver its waters alternately
sleeping in the shade aud waking in the
sun. In the distance, the view being
now and then broken by the primeval
forest, the river seems to Tor m Q success
ion OF lakes embosomed in the thick
surrounding foliage On this ridge,
valley winds beyond valley, fair and
beautiful as the prospects that burst
upon the enraptured vision of the pro-
phet, when standing ON the sacred noun
tain.
On the other side, hill rises above hill,
covered with giant woods and trailing
vines. Your ear catches the sound of
waterfall, and few steps bring you to
where a large creek, which at the North
would be termed river, is precipitated
over ledge of rocks, in one unbroken
descent more than hundred feet, into
the boiling abyss below. From thence
for perhaps mile, either by some terrible
coDvulsion of nature or by the constant
action of the waters through the lapse of
ages, deep gorge has been worn in the
solid rock, varying in depth from fifty to
one hundred and fifty feet Vast masses
of rock, of almost every conceivable
shape, have been torn from their beds and
scattered in indescribable confusion on
either side. Walking along the side of
the chasm, you look down on the tops of
tall trees growing at the bottom of the
gorge. Descending to the bed of the
stream by artificial steps four or FIVE hun
bred yards below the falls, you find the
current dashing over its rocky bed, foam.
ing and roaring as if dashed into fury BY
the tremendous leap it has just made.
Reaching the Falls, you pass behind
and enter great amphitheatre, capable
of seating FIVE thousand persons. 1t is
Of circular form, and the floor, sides
and roof of solid rock. The roof at the
farther extremity arising from the floor
by graceful curve, gradually ascends
until it meets the waterfall when il
reaches the hight of ninety feet Here
every day when the sun strikes the side
of the falling water, rainbows Of daz-
zling beauty are reflected on the vanlted
ceiling. The amphitheatre is perfectly
light, dry and cool in the hottest day in
midsummer, always affording a delight
full siesta, where, after drinking in the
indescribable beauty Of the scene, you
can sink into oblivion, lulled to rest by
the gentle sound Of falling waters
We have given but faint picture of
this romantic fall, and the picturesque,
beautiful scenery around it. Language,
or at least any language we can COM
mand, is wholly inadequate to the task.
--GadSden (AId) Times.