Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-08
A RISKY ADVENTURE.
CROSSING THE NIAGARA RIVER on AN ICE
BRIDGE.

An Oswego paper is permitted to make
public the following extract from private
letter from Niagara, dated the 10Th inst.
MANY have never seen the beauties OF
the Niagara in winter. The wonders it
presents 10 summer are far beyond ade-
auate description. Those of winter if they
do not surpass the summer, present new
and varied aspects equally beyond ade-
ouate description. Among these may be
mentioned the ice formation, particu-
larly the ice bridge. The river above the
Falls freezes over generally several times
during The winter, but sudden rise in the
river, which frequently occurs from a
southwest wind or other cause breaks up
the ice and carries it down the river from
above and sometimes from Lake Erie in
immense quantities.
During the very cold weather OF last
week ice formed across the river nearly
all the way from the falls to Buffalo, and
probably for some distance out of Buffalo
Harbor, This was during north and east
winds, which made the water very low.
The first of this week strong winds from
the southwest raised the river several feet
below the falls-the rise was fully twelve
felI-and broke up all the ice, sending it
down over the fall in immense quantities.
The river below was actually full OF it and
after running while it became choked
Just below the upper bridge, and holding
nearly all that came afterwards it soon
formed bridge half mile along the
river, from 20, to so feet thick.
Tuesday morning number of persons
gathered in Prospect Park to see the ice
formations which were magnificent and
brilliant beyond description. The spray
had frozen on the twigs and branches OF
the trees, so that they formed almost a
mass of powdered crystals. branches oc-
casionally breaking with the weight. Mr..
Charles Bierstadt, was there on the lookout
for views for pictures. He could. of course
point out the finest views. A friend
attached himself to him for the purpose OF
getting in the best position to appreciate
the wonderful scene. He soon led the way
down the ferry stair to the foot OF the
American fall, Here the ice mounds were
piled half way up the fall. These were
easily climbed and passed. In front of the
main fall the bridge had formed across
the river. The bridge was new, and
there had been no design to cross.
Mr.. Bierstadt led the way nearly to the
centre of the river. and up to within one
hundred feet of the fall. and then conclud-
ed to attempt to cross. His companions
here, of course, became impressed with an
interest not wholly inspired by the won
deriul magniicence of the spectacle The
bridge was formed of ice cakes not frozen
together, but piled up into vast mass,
and when each side of the shore, appeared
about equally distant.
Absorbed with the scene. he had hardly
noticed their progress until they reached
the middle of the river. There was moth
ing to do but follow Bierstadt. The sun
was shining brightly, and it was qnite
warm there in the gorge when quite cold
on the cliff. The bridge was very rough,
having been joined gradually by blocked
ice. In some places there were breaks
and assures that they could look down in
to fifteen feet. The last half of the pas
sage was fastened by the frequent sounds
of the cracking and crushing OF the ice
in fact, it was rapid as the rough broken
surface would permit. They were met
little distance out by the ferryman's boy
and dog. This quoted the residue OF the
passage.
1t was the first trip over and likely the
last for some time for hardly had they
reached the top of the cliff, when the crush
ing and grinning pieces had become evil
dent over the whole mass. In a few min
utes the whole began to move. The noise
of the cracking was like thunder; the edg-
es were ground to powder, and blocks
were heaved up into little mountains. The
broken masses were carried rapidly into
the whirlpool, where the whirling, crush
ing, grinding process was carried on in a
wonderful manner.