The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-12-04
THE MAG RA OF THE WEST.

Snake river is the south fork of the
Columbia, having the alternative name
Of Lewis river. The valley of the
Snake lies along an almost direct line
from the South Pass of the Rocky
Mountains, and in the early days it
furnished the most practicable route
overland to the Pacific. In its decent
over the elevated plains of Idaho, a.
rise in the Rocky Mountains, Snake
river forms the great Shoshonee Falls.
The river here runs through narrow,
rocky gorge, which Widens and termi-
mates abruptly in precipitous cliffs,
the summit Of which is about one hun
dred feet above the level of the rapids,
aud so steep that the traveller can de-
seend at only one point-an old Indi-
an trail, its numerous windings max
ing it about a mile in length. Follow
ing this trail slowly and carefully, the
tourist will in due time find himself
standing upon the bank of the river
on a level with the rapids and over
looking the falls The width of the
river at this point has been vari0usly
estimated we thought it at least two
hundred yards,
The rapids here form a series of cas-
eadcs, ranging from thirty to sixty feet
each in height, and just below them
the river, in one unbroken mass, leaps
two hundred and ten feet into the bot
tom!ess pit below. The course of the
river at this point Is almost due east
and west the contour of the fails is
that ofan irregular horse shoe, and
their width, following the course of the
water, Is at least four hundred yards.
Although the river i not quite as wide
at this point As the Niagara river, the
falls are higher aud quite aS beautiful.
The most complete views Of the falls,
including the river above and below
the rapids, cliffs and surrounding
scenery, is obtained from Lookout
Point. Lookout Point is narrow
cape Of rocks projecting from the main
bluff about three hundred yards lower
down on the river than the fall, 50
narrow that two persons cannot walk
abreast.
Standing upon this point, we will
endeayor 10 name the prominent places
of interest. The first object which at
tracts our attention Is Eagle Rock, Il
perpendicular pillar Of rock about one
hundred feet in height, rising from the
midst Of the rapids fifty yards from
/ the south bank Of the river, and al
most oyerhangiag the main cataract.
/ Upon the topmost peak Of this rock an
/ American eagle has built his eyrie, a
/ fitting home for our national bird
long may he live to occupy his unique
/ and romantic abodel Just above and
about the centre of the cataract is Bal
lard Island. a small rocky island COW
cred with cedar and Juniper trees.
/ Several smaller islands to the right
/ and left Of the large one, or Ballard Is
+ land add to the beauty and picturesque
/ ness Of the scene.
/ The Two Sentiucls-twO huge rocky
pillars-one on the north, the other on
/ the south side, overlooking the falls,
and reminding one Of grim sentinels
guarding their object. Lower down
! the river, aHd from a higher stand
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view of the whoIe-the falls, the foam
ing rapids, Eagle Rock, the Two Senti.
( nels, the huge pillars of perpetual spray
arising from the bottom and near the
centre Of the cataract, but extending as
it rises TO either side, ana made beauti-
ful by the many-col0red rainbows
which she'd Il halo of glory upon the
whole scene. Still lower down the
river is Prospect Gulch. Several gen
tIemen Of the party, actGated by the
spirit Of adventure, determined to at
( tempt through the gulch to reach the
river below the falls. They lowered
themselves iifty feet on the rope down
the perpendicular sides of a rocky
cliff. Reaching firm ground, they
managed with but little difficulty to
I scramble down about five hundred
feet TO the banks of the river. ArFiV-
ing there they found that their troub,
les had Just begun: they were six hun
dred yard, from the falls, TO reach
which their path lay around and over
some huge houiders of slippery rock,
winding along the foot of the steep
banks, and then through the foaming
and boiling waters, the heavy swells OF
which reminded them strihingly of the
breakers on the sca-shOTe. Finally
they reached point about thirty feet
from the falls. Their journey here
came to an abrubt termination by the
shelving of the rocks into deep water
The wind struck this point with such
violence that they feared to trust them
/ selves in an erect posture. On theil
knees, they held with their hands tC
the overhanging brush to prevent be
ing blown into the river.
We think that one cannot fully com
prehend the immensity of the sheet o
water and the sublimity of the scene
until he can gaze upward as we did
This point is the cave of the Winds
The ShoshOnee Falls, as a whole, viii
compare favorably with Niagara
Those of our party Who have seen boti
places pronounce the former superio
in many respects. In beauty anC
mildness of scenery, the ShoshOne,
cannot be surpassed. Niagara excel
in magnitude only.
.HnW are Won john? Im deuce