The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-11-18
The Niagara of the West.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT sHosHoNE
4 FALLS.
1Fromthe Salt Lake vidette.l

tween Salt Lakeland Oregon, the airis thunder
| ing and earth is rent by cataract as imposing
as Niagara. Situate on the sagebrush plains
| which calmly sleep between the Rocky Noun
tains and the Cascade range, and are alike un.
tenanted by Ceres or the god of gold, the great
Shoshone is world wonder, which for savage
scenery and power sublime stands unrivalled
| in America. These falls ofthe Snake or Lewis
| fork Of the Columbia have been but two wears
| discovered, and have been seen as yet by scarce
as many scores of white men. e
This majestic masterpiece Of natures en-.
cheering lies few miles off from the over
land stage route running north westerly be-
tween Salt Lake and Boise cities, and halt
way, or about 200 miles, from those said CAPT
tails of the Idaho and Utah. North of it and
distant fifty miles, though seeming closely
near, the Salmon mountains show their shin
ing peaks: grey with the cares Of countless
ages. East and west, as far as the eye can
see, the sagebrush prairie loads the desert all
with its perfume. Southerly the Great Salt
Lake, 100 miles away, is hidden by the Goose
Greek mountains.
The river, about 200 yards in width, coming
slowly from the southeast, overtowered by per.
pendicuIar walls of basaltic rock, over 800
feet high, suddenly expands into basin Of
twice it's width, and there is divided into hall
dozen streams by dark looking rocks which
raise their gloomy crests above the sparkling
surf Of the maddened waters. Every stream
rushes over fall of 80 feet, and every fall is
ofadifferent shape seeming fanciful and huctu,
ating yet physically fixed, as they have ever
been while centuries like shadows have flown
over them.
The river resuming its course is again 'di-
vided and takes a second tumble of 60 feet
further, but this time only three different
streams. Three falls are the result one on
each side, unbroken and falling in solid sheets;
the central one being formed by seven fan
shaped steppes Of rock. From the one Of
these benches to the other underneath, water
falls in smooth, transparent sheet, forming
cascade unsurpassed in the world aid con
trasting strangely, by its dark, transparent
color, with the rustling, roaring foaming
streams surrounding it both above and at the
sides. 4
The river becomes one more smooth and
dark in color. Its banks suddenly lot out
from both sides, narrowing the channel to 400
feet; and through this gap the confined mass
Of water precipitates in one whole volume,
without break or hindrance, into an ominous
abyss almost 300 feet in Depth No pen can
describe this scene This is, in reality, the
g great fall,'' and is well worthy Of its name
leapng as it does from the loom of nature
like colossal sheet Of silver.
Forming a slight horse shoe, its central
waters appear blue until they meet the spray
that rises ever heavenward from the foot Of
the foaming cataract. The sides are frayed
into foam, and remind one of the pictured
avalanches in the Alps. Right on the edge
OF the falls stands lone pillar OF gray sand
stone, on whose summit, undisturbed by the
whiz Of waters or the fear of fate fast yawn.
ing on their eyrie, pair of bald headed
eagles have built their nest, and are now rear
ing their young, secure in the sight Of the
sublimity and solitude surrounding.
The cataracts sound-but slightly heard
abeve-is absolutely deafening as YOU reach
the rivers base, the roar Of the falls confined,
az it is. by the high walls of the, canon, rush
ing down the chasm and increasing in volume
as it rolls, so as to be heard full thirty miles
southwest. Close to the cataract is square
shaped cave of fifteen feet each side and
twenty high. whose walls arc supported by
basaltic columns, the regularity Of whose for
nation is unsurpassed by anything in the
Isle Of Staffa or the Giants Causeway. Slid
ing out of this cave, aud falling about eight
feet over grassy slope that leads to the wat
ers edge, within 900 feet of the foot of the
falls, you are right IN the middle of she mist,
and wet through in an instant.
1t is here that, by looking up, the enormous
altitude of the fall can be realized and the first
feeling is one of sell. preservation, an involun-
tary drawing back, for the whole mass seems
ready to drop. and crush you where you stand
Never can the weird beauty of this scene be
forgotten by beholdsrs. Rainbows of tAous-
and hues seem to surround you, and their
lrlses to arch you in the Skies
The white foaming waters form brilliant
background for the magic prisms pictured by
the spray. The dark frowning rocks, relieved
by the bright green jumpers, make fitting
frame for this magnificent sight, second to none
in point Of volume, as it is second to none in
savage grandeur.
As measured by officers Of the 1st Oregon
infantry, encamped adjoining, the main fail is
zlO feet from the edge to the level of the
&A~ A.t