Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-24
PRoF. TyNDAIL ON NIAGARA.

Prof. Tyndall reesntly lectured at the
Royal Institution, London, on some OF his
recent experiences. in the United States,
and especially at Niagara Falls, when be
stated that the geheral description Of the
deafening roar near the Falls was exagger
ated, inasmuch as the noise experienced at
the Devils bridge in Switzerland, where
the Reuss made its plunge, was by far
greater. This was due to the surrounding
mountains, whereas the great American
cataract has no such acoustic advantage.
He described his explorations beneath the
so-calIed Horseshoe Fall, by far the more
formidable of the two generally comprised
under the name of the Niagara
Falls. Wrapped in several wooden
garments, he had to cross
torrents of water, and to pass over the slip
perry ground whence he had q view of the
green masses overhead, the contemplation
of which gave him one of those agreeable
emotions which ne Fad beer told liberated
nerve currents, and assisted in the stihiu-
lating of the system better than ths chemi-
cal preparations used for dispelling bodily
discomforts. He said that, except the
gorge through which the river rushed, the
country around was table-land as far as
Queenstown bridge On one side, and Lew
istown ridge on the other side OF the river.
Here the table-land suddenly descended
into the plain towards the Ontario, and he
drew attention to this fact because it
explained to him the existence and
history of the Niagara Fal g. Many thou
sand years ago the river probably ran along
that table land, and the Falls then were
exactly at the escarpment of the table-land.
The erosive power of the sand and boulders
carried by the river, however, excavated
and cut the extreme end, and thus caused
retrocessinn of the locus of the fall. The
center of the river, having the greatest exca-
waiting power, managed to keep ahead Of
the sides-that is, in going backwards-and
thus the horseshoe form was produced.
The extraordinary whirlpools and up
shots of masses Of water at OnS end OF
the bends he ascribed to the interference
of the central and lstitudinal currents.
In five thousand years people would be
able to see plainly if this theory were cor
rect, and he predicted that in time the Amer
lean fall would be abolished, leaving whirl-
pool, and the Horseshoe Fall would have
receded still further back, at the same time
narrowing the bed of the river behind 1t.
The tumbling over of the barriers had been
and would be fastened by the disposition
of the strata of the tsble-land, In which lime
stone rested on soft shale. The lecture was
illustrated by Photographic and other views,
and by experiments showing the erosion
caused by blast of sand impinging on
glass plate. Some stones resembling flint
Implements were shown, the finish of which
was due to the same Influences, and 1t was
mentioned that the cut on the neck OF the
Egyptian Sphinx was probably owing to
the action of sand. An artificial represen-
tation of what had happened in the history
of the Niagara Falls was also exhibited.
Prof. Tyndsll concluded by saying that dur
ing his recent visit, BE had received a
hearty and almost affectionate reception
from the people of the United States, and
in occurring and living among this -otheT
English-speaking nation be had felt no
break of continuity.