The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-07-03
PROF. TYNDALL At NIAGARA


PROF. TYEDALL At NIAGARA.
CFrom Popular Science AIonthlyl
On the first evening of my visit, I
met, at the head of Biddle's stair, the
guide to the cave of the Winds. He
WAS in the prime of manhood, large,
well-built, firm and pleasant in mouth
and eye. My interest in the scene
stirred up his, and made him communi-
cative. Turning to a photograph, he
described, by reference to it, a feat
which he had accomplished, some time
previously, and which had brought him
almost under the green water of the
Horseshoe fall. q Can you lead me
there tomorrow" I asked. He eyed
me inquiringly, weighing, perhaps, the
chances of a man of Light build and
with gray in his whiskers in such an
undertaking. wish, I added, "to
see as much of tine fall as can be seen,
and where you lead viii endeavor to
follow" His scrutiny relaxed into a
smile, and he said, every well; shall
be ready for you, tomorrow"
On the morrow, accordingly, came.
In the hut at the head of Biddle's stair
j stripped wholly, and redrcssed accord
ing to instructions, drawing on two pairs
of wooden pantaloons, three wooden
jackets, two pairs of socks and pair of
felt shoes. Even if wet, my guide
urged that the clothes would keep me
from being chilled, and he was right.
A suit and hood of yellow oil-eloth
covered all. Most laudable precautions
were taken by the youhg assistant of the
guide to keep the water out, but his
devices broke down Immediately when
severely tested.
We descended the stair the handle
of pitehfork doing in my case the duty
of an alpenstcck. At the bottom, my
guide inquired whether we should go
first to the cave of the Winds, or to the
Horseshoe, remarl1ing that the latter
would try us most. I decided to get
the toughest done first, and he turned
to the left over the stones, They were
sharp and trying. The base of the first
portion of the cataract is covered with
huge powders, obviously the ruins of
the limestone ledge above. The water
does not distribute itself uniformly
among these, but seeks for itself chan
nels through which it pours torrentially.
We passed some of these with wettel
feet, but without difficulty. At length
we came 10 the side of more formid.
able current My guide walked along
the edge until he reached its least. tur
bulent portion. Hating, he said, ''This
is our greatest difficulty; if we car
cross here, we shall get far toward ths
Horseshoe"
We waded IN. It evidently required
all his strength to steady him. Th,
water rose above his loins, and it foamec
still higher He had to search for foot
ingamid unseen boulders, against which
the torrents rose violently. He strug
gled and swayed, but he struggled sue
cessfully, and finally reached the shal
lower water at the other side. Stretch
ing out his arm, he said to me, " Now
come on" looked down the torrent
as it rushed to the river below, which
was seething with the tumult of ths
cataract. De Saussure recommended
the inspection of Alpine dangers Will
the view OF making them familiar to tn,
eye before they are encountered; and j
is wholesome custom, in places o.
difficulty, to put the possibility of Al
accident clearly before the mind, and K
decide beforehand what ought to b,
done should the accident occur. Thu
wound up in the present instance,
entered the water. Even where it wa,
not more than bnee-deep ita power wa
manifest AS it rose around me,
sought TO split the torrent by presenting
side to it; but the insecurity of tn,
footing enabled it to grasp the loins
twist me fairly round, and bring its i'm
petus to bear upon my back. Farthe
struggle was impossible; and feelin,
my balance hoPelessly gone, Turned
flung myself toward the bank had Jus
quilted, and was instantly swept int,
slIallower water.
The oil-cloth covering was a great in
much stouter man, and, standing up
right after my submersion, my legs oc
cupied the centres Of two bags OF water
My guide exhorted me to try again
Prudence was at my elbow, whisperin
discussion; but, taking everything int
account. it appeared more immoral I
retreat than 70 proceed. Instructed b
the first misadventure, once nor
entered the stream. Had the alper
stock been Of iron it might have helpe
me but. as it was. the tendency of tn
water 10 sweep il out Of my hand
rendered it worse than useless. I, how
ever, olung to it by habit Again tn
torrent rose, and again vavered but
by keeping the left hip we'll against il
remained upright, and at lengtl
grasped the hand Of my leader at th
other side. he laughed pleasantly
The first victory was gained, and he en-
ioyed it. No traveller, he said, wa
ever here before" Soon afterward. b
trusting 10 a iece Of drift-wood whic
seemed firm. was again taken of m
feet, but was Immediately caught by
protruding rsok
We clambered over the boulders K
ward the thickest spray, which soon b,
came so weighty as to cause us t
sssgger under its shock For the mos
part nothing could be seen we were
the midst Of bewildering tumnlt, lashe
by the water, which sounded at time
ike the cracking of innumerable whips
Underneath this was the deep, resonan