The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1869-05-13
DEVILS Gate.

which occurred between North
Platte Bridge and Willow
Springs, by the MinnecOnjOux
Sioux, that several of us deter
mined on a trip to the famed
chasm, yclept, Devils gate. In
dians were quiet and the wealth
er delightful, and everything
contributed 10 the pleasure Of
the trip, SO we started from
North Platte Bridge (afterward
Fort. Casper,) eight Of us, all
mounted on mules except "Club
FooC"-(Club Foot was our
guide) who stuck to his mus
tang with the determination
worthy of "Spalding's Glue"
We started, calnped at Willow
Springs, saw nothing but very
suspicious signs Of Indians; the
line was down, and fresh pony
and moccasin tracks quite pro.
fuse; Our fourth day we hove
in sight OF "Three Crossings of
Sweetwater, and near here was
our temporal destination. We
went into camp in the old Tel
egraph Shanty, our mules
picketed outside, with a sturdy
yeoman" to guard them. Morn
ing came and we, afoot, deter
mined to explore the great nat
ural wonder of the West. A
few hours walk in a hot sun
and our ears were saluted with
the sound of rushing waters,
and a moment later and we
were at the mouth of the Dew
ils Gate; near here is a grave,
one Mary Tod is the occupant
and upon a wide head-board,
made from a cracker box, is the,
following epitaph:
Here lies the remains of Mary Todd,
Who came this lar to find Ter God;
If the day of REDEMPTION don't come
too late
She'll be red eemed at the "Devil's
Gate"
good that! aint it. Poor Ma.
ry is in a peculiar situation,
but, if the "day of redemption
comes during high water |
doubt if "Old. Nick" can mas
ter the current to take her
through the gate. Oh, what &
scene ofresplendent grandeur
sublimity here in all its
strength and might. The
frowning rocks laugh in SEEM
ing derision at the efforts cf the
surging foam Of waters as they
dash and leap far up the rock
bound precipice on either hand,
but to return and with rat,
ting plunge blend into the
great stream Of a mile below.
| would liken this unto the rap
Ids above Niagara Falls, but
the descent is much greater,
and.acute angles project and
recede; thus the waters rush
and return, forming many
whirlpools and eddies, which
move and whirl with fearful
velocity. Great holes are
bored in the rocks, and now
and anon some huge ill-shapen
and far projecting crag will fall
with a deafenlng crash, and the
force of the current is so great
as to carry it quite a distance
down the stream.
Devils Gate is, / would sup
pose about a mile and a half or
three quarters long, and a quar-.
ter of a mile wide. The stream
(Sweetwater) seems to have
cut directly through the noun
tain, absolutely ignoring a
proper water-course, thus iorm-
ing perpendicular walls from
the surface of the water to the
ordinary level of the mountain,
of probably twelve hundred
teetin height The scene from
the base of the chasm is mex
pressibly grand, and from the
glddy heighth of the top you
are easily answered the ques-
tion, "Why is this called 'Dev-
il's Gatep" Adown the mighty
precipice are thousands of flow
ers of every hue and fragrance,
and now and then a stunted
dizzy looking pine, which
seems to say, II am going, 60
ing" Often its hopes are real
lied, and it falls from rock to
rock, and way down the river
several miles, it will bring up
on shore, ready to be consigned
to some camp, fire.
"Club Foot" after we had
looked and sighed awhile, and
sighed and looked again called
us to "grub," we fed and re.
turned to the Raj che and found
two strangers there. l don't
know who they were, but,
vague suspicion said, "Road
a Oantc A 6opblo ,.,,o,1 =: