Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-19

u Aoa8a-0s
1918, mass 160 feet long and 40 fee
wide fell from Table Rock into the sbysi
of waters below; in 1926, an enormous
mass fell, shocking the whole region like
an earthquake; in 1850, mass 200 feet
long and 100 feet wide fell into the river,
and in 1859, another large portion fell,
and almost every year it is giving way.
Table Rock has been very much defaced;
has, so far as its grandeur is concerned,
disappeared. The earliest travellers,
| (Henneper and Kalnl,) who visited the
falls in 1878 and ISL, attest the fact thsi
the rocks were suffering from dilapida-
ton. You cannot but observe that they
are giving away; the soft shale under
meath the limestone being removed by
the force of the water, leaves the strata
above no support and exposes it to the
action of the water, which also in course of
time gives way, and hence, year by year,
the cataract is carried back toward Lake
Erie.
AS you approach the village Of the
Falls, you can hear the
THUNDERs OF NIAGARA,
And feel the ground trembling beneath
your feet. Passing into the village, you
can see the mist through the tree tops, as
1t rises from the looming tide below the
cataract. Soon you reach the southeast
ern side of the Rapids, and stand in awe
as you witness mighty flood heaving and
dashiDg with terrible speed down the de-
e.ivity as if fastening to leap the preci-
pice. These rapids are about half mile
in length, and their fall from where the
water breaks to the cataract is 60 feet.
Close upon the edge of the rapids the
CATARACT HOUSE
Is located, and which is q magnificent
hotel and decidedly the best stopping
place for visitors found On the American
side; from its parlors you have most
perfect view of the Rapids, Falls, Goat
Island, Clifton House and all the delight
full scenery in that vicinity. Below this
hotel splendid iron bridge is erected
over the Rapids to both islands from the
American shore. On approaching it,
you can hardly be made to realize that it
will not be swept over the falls by the
billowing waters which so persistently
dash against its slender, fragile looking
piers. You tremble as you enter upon it
and see the river swiftly descending from
above and rushing headlong over the cat
arsct below. The water here falls over
q perpendicular rock q distance of 165
feet, producing trembling of the ground
and sound as of distant thunder. As l
approached this scene l thought to de-
scribe il, but it is impossible, 1t IS
BEYOND DESCRIPTION;
But you will fad faint idea of it in the
following lines, by J. S. Buckingham, on
first witnessing the Falls, Aug. Is, 1887:
''Hanl sovereign Of the world of floods whose
ma jesty and might
First dazzles, then enTaptures, then o'erawes the
aching sight;
The pomp Of kings and emperors, In every cline
Grow dim benea the splendor Of thy glorious
vstery throne.
No fleet can stop thy progress, no armies bid thee
stay,
Bot rd-onward-onward--thy march still
holds its way.
The rising nists that veil thee, as thy beralds go
before,
And the music that prccaims thee Is tie thunder
ing catarscts roar"
Passing over the bridge to Bath Island,
you fLd the largest paper mill in the
United States. Here the publishers of
the New York Tribune get their supply
of paper. From this we pass over the
bridge to Goat Island. The stream here
Central fall which from below looks
like a white veil, is one hundred feet in
width, and beautiful sheet of water.
Goat Island contains about seventy acres,
and is place much visited, as from here
you have splendid view of all the Falls
and everything almost of interest in their
vicinity; among the chief objects the
Horse shoe Falls, Terrapin Tower, Ferry
House, and the place from which Sam
Patch made his famouse leap over the
precipice.
A short distance from the northern
extremity of Goat Island, a scattered
mass of rocks are resting upon the verge
of the catsract and around which the
water breaks, surges, and then dashes
with terrific force over the fall Upon
this mass of rocks the
TERRAPIN TOWER
Is erected. l could hardly realize that
the tower was not swept away willis. l
gazed upon its trembling shaft. Il, how
ever, stands firmly, and has occupied its
position since 1888, at which time it was
erected by Judge Porter. From its sum
nit you have an enchanting view of the
Falls, though the position seems so peril
Gus that but few now make the ascent.
The tower is as feet high. None should
omit to visit this interesting place, even
if they should not go upon the tower.
Here art has doubtless improved the nat
ural scenery of the Fslls and tkeir sur
roundings.
Located at the foot of the rock be-
tween Goat and Luna Islands is the
''CAvE OF THE WINDS"
Considered by visitors place of great in
terest and by the guide one Of enchanting
wonders, and it is such, if person has
a desire to gn into s. hole in the wall and
get completely saturated withsmist ard
spray. The cave is so feet deep 100
feet wide, and $50 feet high. In its
front the water forms curtain, but along
the floor ard up the walls even TO the
roof it is dashed with great force filing
the cave with mist and spray. During
sunshine il summer 9 beautiful rainbow
is visible amid the mist. Near this place
was erected the platform from which
SAM PATCH
Leaped the distance or ninety seven feet
into the river below, uuharmed, in 1929.
Soon after, in an sttemptto leap one hun
bred and twenty five feet at the Genessee
Falls, he lost his life. He went down,
| but never came up alive.
Passing now about two miles below
| the Falls, we come to the cid Suspension
| Bridge, constructed for foot passengers,
carriages, teams and railroad trains. Il
| is not only a beautiful but a most sub.
stantial structure. It's length is eight
hundred feet, width twenty-four feet,
and height above the river two hundred
and fifty feet. About two hundred feet
below the bridge
BLONDIN
| Stretched his rope and crossed the river
! in 1860, to the great amusement of tho
Prince of Wales. The distance he then
walked upon his rope was nine hundred
feet. He FIRST in 1859, stretched hi;
! rope across the river about mile below
/ the catarac!, where he walked upon il {
! distance of twelve hundred feet.
| About the fourth of mile below tht
! Falls
NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE
| Has been constructed, and Is the largest
suspension span in the world. The bridge
I 80 b--f f,,,l9r toryo~o ho hoe