The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-08-30

chalk cliff, at times seems to rise as
much from beneath as to fall from
above,w hesitate whether to wonder
most at this grandest effort of ma
ture, or that triumph of man which
has suspended this gossamer bridge,
for a quarter of a mile, in mid-air
250 feet above the rivers bed
below.
Once on the American side, we
proceeded immediately to Goat
Island. In former years we had
thought one of the most impressive
and thrilling points of interest was
the bridge spanning the rapids to
Goat Island. These impressions
were hardly strengthened at this
time, as we drove rather hurriedly
across to the island. From Goat
Island a bridge leads across a por-
ton of the American Falls to Luna
Island, so remarkable for les scenery
especially when clothed with the
SHOWS of winter. And here the la
dies, with a keener appreciation per-
haps of the beautiful in art than the
sublime in nature, seem for a time
more deeply interested in the fancy
work of the impassive Indian wo-
men who in these shady retreats
have set up their small bazaars than
in all the surrounding splendor.
Notwithstanding the placards an
nouneing that lives are sometimes
lost by the falling of rocks in the
descent down Biddle's Stairs to the
Cave of the Winds beneath the
American Falls, with the temerity of
thousands of others, the gentlemen
of our party resolved to make the
descent. Clothed in most outlandish
costume, we left the ladies at the
foot of the stairs, to which point per
sons may go without a change Of
raiment, and commenced what we
soon began to regard a most perilous
descent. Amidst the roar of the ed
dying winds, the thunders of the Cat
aract, the binding dashing spray,
which at times almost took our
breath, we passed timidly along,
clinging to the frail wooden balus-
trade, until we reached the margin
Of that portion of the American
Falls which lies between Goat and
Luna Island. Here, where no bal
ustrade can live in consequence of
the violence of the winds and waters,
we shrank back desirous Of beating
a retreat, but finding remonstrance
with our guide unavailing, we
screwed our courage to the sticking
point, and with the precipitous wall
towering far above US on our right,
the deep chasm and inevitable death
on our left, we dashed with bated
breath across the narrow pathway
twenty feet trough the swirling Cat
aract. to a place of comparative safe
ty. Looking back at this, to us
Beresina passage, we Immediately
enquired of our guide if there were
any more such, and if that passage
was to be repeated on our return.
We were greatly relieved when both
questions were answered in the neg
ative. Clambering down from thi:
point over rocks, we were soon a
the bottom Of the abyss. Never be
fore had Niagara impressed us witt
it's awful grandeur, or inspired in Vi
such feelings of terror as from thiI
point of observation. We coulC
but bow our heads before the aWfu
majesty of this terrible presence
but what are these objects of besutl
lin the mists, and spray all arount
us2 Rainbows, perfect circles ap
pearing and disappearing. Now We
stand in the center of the prismati
circles, and now again as we reacl
forth to them, like tg,aes .fatui the.
are gone.
No one who makes this descen
can ever complain of disappoint
ment in his appreciation of Niagara
4 Our guide assured us that ladie
effected it with less linching ant
more intrepidity than men. Th
philosophy of this consists, perhaps
| in the feeling of safety inspired b.
greater dependence and confidenc
in their masculine guides. We hav
no advice to give to others, but b
who once goes down to the Cave c
the Winds, will carry with him to hi
grave impressions of Niagara n
where else to be obtained.
Our whole party, of course, mad
the ascent of Terrapin Tower, froI
which such fine view can be had
the Canada rapids, and of that vas
volume ofmolten emerald, which pr
cipitates itself at the rate Of twent
: millions cubic feet per minute owe
the Horseshoe Falls.
Our next visit was to the Thrt
Sisters. These islands, which e.
tend far out into the Canada Rapid
have within a few years been col
lnected with each other and Co.
+ Island by three miniature suspel
! sion bridges. They are now ce
tainIy the loveliest places about n
2 agara. One could feast for days {
the beauties which surround the
; islands. The rapids rush in wi
+ precipitancy between each and ii
/ main island, forming the most beal
. tiful cascades. From the Thr'
/ Sisters the eye can sweep in tt
! whole field of the Rapids from the
Q commencement, q mile above, dow
through fifty feet Of descent unt
. the waters make their final plung
= Some of our party Ventured to chm
o a tree leaning over the rapids, for
, farewell view, and then we hasTene
to rejoin our carriage.
v Our next objective point bei1
G the Whirlpool and Whirlpool Rapid
o we ask our boy driver if he ca
! make these points, three miles dl
+ tant in time to make our boat at ,
n Catharine. He thinks it possibl
Z and we resolve to make the attemp
o AS we drive along the rivers ma
4 loin. crossing the hydraulic cana
4 Which has its apotheosis in the Br
!, dal Vail, we mark the deep Placldlt
/ Iof the green waters, as ifresting owe
y their wild leap and gatherin
+ new strength for their last struggl
!. lin the Whirlpool Rapids and tn
!, whirlpool, ere they shall sink t
/ final rest in the bosom of Ontario
E A short distance below the Railroa
. 4 L