The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-01-02
Scralnbles in Wonderland.
By Ono of the Scramblers.
Number Five.
THE FALLS.

to 1000 feet of deposition, Is doubtless
| correct. When the lake rim gave way
at the northern extremity, the impetu-
| Gus waters cut an immense channel out
of the deposited matter, leaving the ba
salt standing in cones and crumbling
walls, or wreatbed in fantastic forms,
with occasional transverse preciricss over
which the waters now plunge.
He says: while the canyon has
somewhat the appearance Of a great cleft
or canyon, it is simply a channel carved
by the river out of pre-deposited materi-
ais after the drainage of the old lakes
basin"
This accounts for the almost incredi-
Bile display of %colors, which are the effects
of mineral decomposit on and pcrcola-
ton. Thus the rock and earth are per-
meated witt. colors like freSco, instead of
being superficial like paint.
The average elevation at the falls Is
about 5000 feet above the sea, while the
primary basin rim ranges from 10000 to
1000 feet. After the rim gave way,
wherever, in the direction of drainage,
there happened vertical transverse sec
tons of the unyieldiug basalt, falls in the
river would be inevitable.
The river above
THE UPPER FALLS
Is very rapid, with occasional cascades,
and the whole volume (300.0W inches,
miners measurement is hurled off with
prodigious velocity, making a grand cat
aract one hun, re- and forty feet in al
titude. These falls are visible from all
points about Il e canyon and may be ap-
preached without much difficulty, thus
afordinC to tourists the advantage of
looking UP as well as down at them.
From a rocky projection half way down,
there is a splendid view, so near that
what seemed in the distance tleecy foam,
here appears a shower oi'pearls, in which
some of the bcady, white globules can
be distinctly seen skipping swiftly
through the Others as If shot forth with n
superior impulse from the emerald arch
above. As this booming cataract i'm
pinges on the rocky basin below, it darts
like a flight of white plumed arrows
through a radius Of 200 feet. This ire
mend0us rebound indicates the immense
cumulative force gathered in the rapids
above. There is a music in the dash and
roar of this dashing and s%urging food
that well accords with the awe inspiring
scene. Between the Upper and Lower
Falls, Cascade creek comes in from the
west. As its name indicates, it reaches
the river by
A SERIES OF PICTURESQUE CASCADES,
Which of themselves constitute a scene
of romantic interest. The basaltic col
intercalated with brcccia, between
which it rushcs and leaps in ioamy spray,
are full of volcanic walnnts' or goodies,
in size from a buckshO, to a
cannon ball. They stick in the fractured
Of the rock like shot in a plank, |
and when broken open are seen TO be
somewhat hollow and lined with crystals
Of quartz.
TUK LOWER FALLS ]
Are quite inaccessible except at the top
most verge, as already mentioned. Pos
they could be approached from the
east side of the canyon-a position We
could not well occupy. Onc-.0urth of a
mile below the falls. however, the canyon
can be entered from the west side and
the descent made with moderate difficulty,
down as far as "A cone shaped hillock of
ferrugiHnatc1 basalt. This cone or butte
is situated half way down the canyons
side, and by its maroon color, contrasting
strangely with the light colurs around it,
soon arrests the attention ofthe observ-
er. From a position near its base are
obtained magnificent views of the can-
yon and the Lower Falls. Still, it does
not afford a near view.
A PERILoUS ADVENTURE.
Urged by an enthusiastic desire 10 get
4 close view Of the Lower Falls from the
ofthc canyon, several Of Us es-
sayed to go down from our position on
the red butte to the bottom of the can
yon and thence, If possible. move up the
bed Of the stream TO the falls. SaIlying
out in the order named, c. 4. McCabe,
ID. p. Newcomer. and Robert
each leaning on IA pine staff. com
menced crossing a wide roof like slide of
sand Oh a substratum Of shale. Near
the further side of this was a rivulet in
whicA the sand had been washed down,
the footing perilous. McCabe
and | finally secured Il fOothold and
crossed, but OH companions went back
not trusting the strength oftheir stages.
After getting around some shelving
edges and over some precipitous ridges.
overlook Rev. - Stanley and w.
IL. Todd, who, by a more circuitous
route, were moving down a rocky rayine
On the taus. When We found ourselves
all on the same slide 4 little rivalry
seemed to spring up az TO who should be
first. Rev. Stanley leading. furnished an
lpt illustration Of the poets thought
On, Stanly, on" Alas! this heroic
phase was brief. We saw. with dismay.
he reverend gentleman with his staff
projecting in the trcachcrous debris at an
lnglc of Is degrees, glide suddenly fo--
yard as if he had struck ice or lie"
as he approached the brink
IF q precipice, he lodged in the narrow
,assage-lodgcd and sat--aad nothing
HERE WAS A ouASDARY.
With commendable presence of mind,
Mr.. Stanley sat quite still. His hold
vas so frail it was dangerous to move.
Standing ten rods above, we dare not 20
Onward to his assistance for fear off
.rowd!ng upon him the talus under our
Get. lie felt around him cautiously
and left, but no friendly niche was
l~ear-nothing but the sliding fragments,
md under it the hard, smooth rock. We
all: DO you want help?' Yes"
How could we give it? The crisis de-
a man Of muscle and of will. and
he demand was promptly met. He
around the adjacent cliffs
md presently approached the imperiled
Getting near enough,h he reached
lis staff, and directly both stood on the
ocks above. What now? The gorge
vas imDracticable on account of the prec-