Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-02-12
Niagara in winter.

THR WILMINGTON ExcURsIoNIsTs' TRIP.
The party of wilmingtonians returned from
their visit to Niagara, late Friday night, and
speak in the highest terms of the pleasures of
the excursion.
The whole party numbered 81, OF whom Will
mington sent &c. Twenty left Philadelphia at
o'clock Monday afternoon, on the North Penn
syvania Railroad, reaching Bethlehem in the
evening, and taking quarters at the famous
sun Hotel remained all night. Next morn.
ing they had time to see Bethlehems lions"
the quaint old MoFavian Church. and its ancient
burying ground, the Sisters House, Female
Seminary, nc. before the remainder OF the
party arrived from Philadelphia, at 10 o'clock.
in handsome drawing-room car, furnished ex-
clu-iyey for the excursioniats.
Up the romantic Lehigh, past Allentown, Oata-
hauqna, Mauch Chunk, and into the mountain
country, dinner was had at White Haven, and
then down from beautiful "Fairview," passing
Wilkes Barre, Pittston, Towanda, and Waverley,
Elmlra was reached, in time for supper. Here
it was necessary to wait two hours for the train
on the Erie road but an elegant car was fur
hshed the party, and about 10, they~left for
Buffalo, reaching that city at A. M. This was
travelling all night" but the party enjoyed it
hugely. and the time passed quickly.
Teaching Niagara at about eight o'clock, and
occupying, at once, the comfortable quarters at
the spencer House, engaged in advance. the
company took breakfast, and then stepped into
set ont TO see Niagara in the icy mantle Of Win
ter. One four-horse, and two two-horse sleighs
may well be sure.
The drive included first the crossing of the
new Suspension Bridge, look at the we'll known
features of the Falls on the Canada side, the
drive down to Lundy's Lane battle-ground, and
lhen returning, visit to Goat Island, Terrapin
Tower, the Three Sisters, the Ferry, &c &c.
The appearance of the Falls, at the time Of
Y fha1 aa md ind and 4 "a
SAID to be even finer than is usual in Winter
one OF the beautiful and impressive features is
Tie ice BRIDGE" formed below the Falls ex-
lending from the corner Of the American Fall
uoWn to the new Suspension Bridge. The ice is
piled IN masses above the surface Of the water
ahd is said to be forty feet in thickness, while
below it the whole prodigious volume of the
rails, $50 feet deep, rushes and roars.
Further siegh-rides, were taken in the after
noon and the evening enjoyed socially at the
Hotel. The following morning, (after night
o. rest in the quarters lately occupied by the
uiend Ducal Party,) until noon, was spent as
each preferred, and at o'clock, the Southern
bound train with a handsome car, designed for
the party, arrived and carried them away. Reach
Ins Elmlra, about 1880, very com Portable accom-
modations were found at the Rathbun House,
ahI Friday forenoon was spent in sleigh-rides in
ana about the pleasant metropolis Of the Che
lnung Valley.
At o'clock the train on the Erie road having
arrived the Philadelphia train was made up, and
departed, but owing to the detention at Elmira,
reached the City OF Brotherly Love too late for
ta injection with the 11;3O train on the p. W..
B BY telegraphing ahead, however, Super
intehdent Kenney had been notified of the deten-
,,oh and when the party reached Broad and
Washington Avenue about midnight, they found
Scar and engine ready to take them to Gray's
Ferry to meet the through New York line, and
NUS land them, safely and comfortably, in Will
, The weather at the Falls was very pleasant
thongh cold. The mercury on Wednesday morn.
~ marked degrees, and on the next morning
uegrees above zero. The snow is about IA
inches deep, and the sleighing good.