The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-07-27
Special Correspondence of the Courier.
ON THE WING.
From Chicago to Niagara,
LAkE ONfARio,
July, 18th, 1871.

WISE men, JourneyiDg
from tho West to the East, will take
tho fresh water route. The great
lakcs-Niagata--st Lawrence, with
its rapids and thousand isles Cham.
plain-the Wbite Mouhtains-are
mile-stones on tire way, marking the
finest bits Of SCENERY on tho globe.
With health recovered, wasted ener-
gics recuperated, and cheeks Drowned
by exposure to the lake winds,-with
the great national thirst for sight
seeing and wonder gazing more than
satisfied, who will deny the truth of
the proposition
] took passage from Chicago, direct
to Ogdensburgh, OH the St. Law
renee. The propellors plying in this
trade are small, their tonnage being
regulated by the size of the locks Of
the Wclland canal. They are com.
Portable, however, they spread ordin.
airy fare, and, touching at nearly all
of the principal ports, give the pass.
enger frequent runs ashore.
Peck and myself were roomed
together-Peck is an old friend, and
an vx experienced traveller, whom | was
so fortunate rs to meet In Chicago,
bound for New York. He studied
law once, and passed a creditable ex-
animation, but untortuna tely, being
we'll to do, he has turned out to be a
restless vagabond, with no particular
aim In life but TO travel about and
spend money. But, he is an original
character In some respects.
Together, we went over to No. 2
North Clark street, Chicago, to talk
with Green, the agent, about tickets
Green is niisnomer, for which
the first of his line ought to have
been abated. He knows all tho old
tricks, and a few new ones, besides.
Peck asked HIM a few questions
about his boats, and then, remarking
that we would look in at the opposi.
ton Office minute, started out. But
Green said to hold on. "Nice boat
to-night-fare lower than by any
other route" We had heard that
before, and moved on. every nice
company booked for this trip; will
give you choice room" That was
old too. six OF the prettiest young
ladies in Chicago, going around, en-
tirely unattended" That was new,
and Peck stopped. "Fact isl said
Green, dropping into confidential
tone, "these girls are just splendid
four of them from the Chicago
schools, smart MS whips, and brim.
full of fun" My friend told him
TO fill out two tickets for that boat.
Well, the boat didn't leave till
midnight and we were abed and
asleep before those six Young ladies
came aboard. And it was well Tor
Green that we were. AS it was,
Peck wanted to leave the boat at
Milwaukee, and 60 back and recon
struct Green, or, as he expressed it
'.put him in his little bed" but wiser
counsel finally prevailed. To sum Up
the matter--the ''six young ladies'
were abominable. They were utter
ly atrocious; but Green successfully
played them as trun ps, and raked
down the money.
We left Chicago, July 5th, at mid.
night. Tho following Monday NOR
ming found us at Port Colborn, the
entrance to the WeIland canal. The
tour OF lakes Michigan, Huron and
Erie, occupies something over -four
days, including stoprages. Wher
YOU reach Port Colborn, you begin
to feel that you have accomplished
something that good many OF your
countrymen have not accomplished
You have sailed over the great in
land seas of America withou
which, to go abroad for pleasure OF
diversion is wicked and disgraceful
At the entrance to Welland cana
there is lock, and a lift of about foul
fect. Following this there is on.
grand level Of fourteen miles il
length half the distance between
the termlni. These fourteen mile.
are accomplished by nine o'clock il
the morning, which brings the trav.
eler nearly opposite to Niagara falls
distant eight miles. From the sec.
ond lock, the descent TO lake Ontario
begins, involving the passage OF nc
less than iorty-one locks in the 70
naming fourteen miles. This detainf
the boat until midnight. and taking
advantage of tho interregnum, We
charter one of the carriages (that are
always in waiting at this point). fol
the day.
We are whirled across to the Falls
and meet them face to face--we
discuss, examine, crlticize,-we &c
over them, under them and below
we view them in every form, and
from every possible standpoint -ars
made to feel that we are standing in
the presence of a living God. Speech
gives place TO silence, astonishmen,
is succeeded by awe, and awe by
reverence. We stand upon the verge
and peer out upon the reslstles.
flood, ARE held by fascination, pow
erless, speechless, immovable. W.
cross the little Jerry directly in from,
OF the divided torrent,--we recrosf
upon the new suspension bridy 20 two
hundred and fifty feet above the
ferry. From every point the eye
instinctivey reaches for the Wonder
OF the Globe, with an eagerness tha,
no words express. or tongue por
trays. We linger about the verge O
the rapids and about the yawnina
ehastn--stroil about the hotels and
shaded grounds, until the sun with
draws his charms,--leap into oul
carriage aud are driven swiftly off
across AS tine a stretch Of country a.
exists, to, intercept the boat near the
entrance to lake Ontario. We have
done Niagara!
Peck is enthusiastic. Ofthe views
he took of the great waterfall, he
thinks the one at the Cataract house
through piece of finely cut glass
was preferable to all. 1t seemed tc
be popular with everybody. Eff.
The Mt. Pleasant journal says
A rumor is on the wing that the
3D. NJ. machine shops are to be re
moved from Burlington and that New
London is to get them.