Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-10
AREAL TO NIAGARA FALLS.

'nt i'ee "lohB an almost direct llI
IRON fhe south pass of the Rocl,
monnlains, and in carly days ii fu
nishct the most practical route owe
laud 70 the Pacific In its descer
over lhe elevated plains of Idah
nbouta00 miles from whence il TAX,
ils'qsl In the ltockvmountains, Snal,
River prms the great Shosbone Fall
IherFer here runs through "a narrow
rocxyRorge, which widens and term
nates hbrnptly in precipitale cliffs, th
summit of which is about one hundre
fcet atpve the level of the rapids, an
50 siesp that the Traveller can onl
descefd nt'one point--an old Indin
trail ,ds numerous windings maxim
it alout mile in length. Followin
tn trail slowly and carefully. tn
torrist will in due time find himseI
Standing upon the bank of the rive
o u level with the rapids, and over
boxing the falls. The width Of tn
liver at this point has been variousll
ESTIMATED we thought it at least twl
hundred yards The rapids here form
a series of cascades, ranging from thir
ty TO sixty feet each in height, ant
just below them the river, in an un
broken mess, leaps two hundred an,
ten feet into the bottomless pit below
The course Of the river at this point
is almost due east and west the con
tour Of the falls is that of an irregular
horseshoe, and their width, following
the course Of the water, is at least
four hundred yards. Although the
river is not quite as wide at this point
as the Niagara river, the falls are high.
er and quite as beautiful The most
complete view Of the falls, including
the river above and below the rapids
cliffs, and surrounding scenery, is OBJ.
tanned from Lookout Point-a narrow
cape Of rocks projecting from the
main bluff about 300 yards lower down
on the river than the fall, so narrow
that two persons cannot walk abreast.
Standing upon ehis point, ] will en-
deavor to name the prominent places
Of interest.
The first object which attracts our
attention is Eagle Rock, a perpondicu.
lar pillar of rock, about 100 feet in
rising from the main cat ,ract
On the topmost peak Of this rock an
American eagle has built his eyrie
Just above, and about the centre OF
The cataract, is Ballard Island a small
rocky island covered with cedar and
Juniper trees. Several smaller islands
10 the right and left OF the large one.
rr Ballard Island, ndd 10 the beauty
and picturesqueness OF the scene. The
Two Sentinels-lwo huge pillars-are,
one on the north, the other on the
innih side, overlooking the falls, and
one of grim sentinel- guard
ng their object. Lower down the
liver, and from higher standpoint,
me can observe a fine panoramic view
If the whole-the falls, the foaming
'dpids, Eagle Rock, the Two Sentinels,
he huge pillars Of perpetual spray
Using from the bottom aud near the
entire of the cataract, but extending.
IS it rises, to either side, aud made
'eautiful by the many.colored rain
iows, which shed a halo OF glory upon
he whole scene. Still lower down
he river is Prospect Gulch Several
.entlemcn Of the party, actuated by
he spirit OF adventure, determined to
tempt, through the gulch, to reach
he river below the falls. They low
red themselves fifty feet on the rope
own the perpendicular sides of
ocky cliff Reaching firm ground,
hey managed with bat little difficulty |
0 scramble down about five hundred |
set TO the banks of the river. Arri. /
ing there, they found that their
roubles had just begun. They were |
tx hundred yards IRON the falls, 10 .
each which their path lay around |
nd over some huge boulders of slip
cry rock, winding along the foot OF
he steep banks, and then through the
,aming aud boiling waters, the heavy
wells OF which reminded them stri.
IHgiy Of the breakers from the sea
lore. Finally they reached a point
bont thirty feet from the falls. Their
iurney here came to an abrupt ter
Iinalion by the shelving OF the rocks
10 deep water The wind struck
lis point with such violence that they
AIRED 20 trust themselves ia an erect
osture. On their knees. they beld
ith their hands to the overhanging
rush to prevent being blown into the
yer. We think that one cannot
lily comprehend the immensity Of
10 sheet Of water and the sublmity
the scene, until he can gaze upward
J we did. This point is the Cave of
ie Winds The Shoshone Falls, as a
hole, will compare favorably with
iagara. Those of our party who
lvo seen both places pronounce the
rmer superior in many respects. In
.anty and wildness Of scenery, the
loshone cannot be surpassed Nj
,ara excels in magnitude only.-Or- {
on Statesmen. II