Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-25
NO. 253
Miseellany.
THE PICTURED ROCKS OF SUPERIOR.

THE PICTURED ROCKS OF SUPERIOR.
Among the many resorts about Lake Su-
perior, none are more attractive to the
tourist than the Pictured Rocks, situated
upon the south shore, some sixty miles
eastward from Marquette.
From the Lake, writes tourist to the
Toledo Blade, and at distance, the So
called Pictured Rocks appear as a huge
sea wall rising abruptly from the lakes
margin, extending many miles, and vary
ing in height from fifty to three hundred
feet Approaching nearer, we find all
manner OF unique formations and fantastic
rocky structures, reared by Natures hand.
There are the chimneys-tall, slender
columns of rock, rising among the trees,
and so very like factory chimneys that one
almosts expects to see dense columns Of
smoke issuing therefrom.
Then comes the sail rock, composed of
gigantic slabs of sandstone, rising seventy
five feet above the water, This is few
rods into the lake, entirely detached from
the main cliff, SO that when viewed from
the east, at a distance, one takes it to be
schooner with sails set The illusion is
complete without the aid of imagination.
The SO called miners castle bears
strong likeness to some ancient structure
OF knghtly days. Lofty towers, solid
walls, doorways, embrasures, all lend so
much the appearance of an old Norman
castle that we quite naturally gaze about
in quest of a grim, mail-clad knight who,
after the most orthodox story-book pattern
shall be equally ready to welcome US with
hearty good cheer, or run his lance through
our carcass
But our Aladdn's lamp failed to bring
forth even ghost of genas loci. So we
sail on past mile after mile of this vast sea
wall, where new beauties meet the eye at
every turn, where hurryng streams dash
over the cliff into the lake below, forming
beautiful cascades, where fantastic walls
OF rock, carved, sculptured and stained
in many colors by Natures workmen-
frost and storm-all serve to keep us more
than interested, until we reach the chapel
which is one of the main features of the
Pictured Rocks.
1t is quite appropriately named. A bold
promontory jutting forward from the main
cliff, a single mass of sandstone about one
hundred and seventy by sixty feet, sup
ported from the east side and rear by the
cliff and by huge columnar masses in front
and on the west side Such is the chapel.
Viewed from the city side, it conveys
the idea of some vast and ancient temple
!
greens are mingled with column and pillar
with picturesque effect. Indeed all along
the cliff from east to west, trees, mostly
evergreens, crown the smmit, giving
beautiful border to this rocky wall. One
may enter the chapel from the rear. but
the lake being calm, we may climb the
rocks in front, reaching the entrance at
height of thirty or forty feet above the
water.
Here we are, within a temple not made
with hands. So very like church is this
huge vaulted apartment, with its pulpit
and alter, all complete, that as we enter
we almost expect a dapper little usher to
offer his services No wonder that the
Indians locate Maniton in the chapel and
in their crude way people it with ghostly
forms. 1t only requires Grecian biith, or
Il location in the Holy Land, with fimsy
tissue of monkish stories thrown about it,
to render the place classical.
The heavy sea beating against the base
of the cliff, singing its majestic, never
ceasing anthem, fills the chapel with
solemn music. 1t is natures organ rivall-
ing the grandest tones heard within some
vast cathedral. The storm king with his
winds and waves is the orator of this tenn
pie. The strong contrast carries us back
ings in California A wild, weird sensa-
ton thrilled us throughout the night as we
camped by the long deserted mission. San
Luis Rey, far down the Pacific coast. The
whitewash walls of the mission staring at
us like some giant ghost, the mournful
cries of the whipporwill, the grand Pacific
signing and sobbing upon the beach below
as if grieving over the sides of the land
which it washed, all spoke more eloquent
| ly than did the bigoted priestly fathers who
once ruled that land. So we cared not
that
The Mission is more, upon its walls
The golden lizards slip, or Dresthless pause.
| still as the sunshine brokenly that falls
| Through cranned roof and spider webs of gauze
| No more the bell in solemn warning calls
! a holier silence thrills, and overawes:
| And the sharp light and shadow of to-day
Outlye the mission of San Luis Key"
The grand portal is a huge segment of
rock protruding into the lake from the
main sea wall, with a bold lofty front,
and Il passage-way leading out upon either
side so that one may row beneath the vast
arch.
Imagine yourself in room 400 feet long
by $50 wide, and $50 to 200 feet in height
from the water to the arched roof
All too hastily must we tell you that to
row within this grand amphitheatre where
the waves play and dash about, where the
ever varying shades Of light picture the
walls with grotesque forms, the deep
emerald of the waters, the never ceasing
music of the waves, the strange, unearthly
reverberations of ones own voice, alto
gether afford pleasure which one must
experience in order to fully appreciate the
beauties Of the place.
Grand Island lies to seaward. within
easy vie'' of the Pictured Rocks. Camp
ing upon bold cliff, we have before us
the Pictured Rocks, tinged with royal
colors from the setting sun. and pictured
to US rs the far off, shadowy shores of
dreamland, where golden hopes are to be
realized.