Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-08
AuSabIe ChaSm.


l.nc. bitter winter
I-,y.. lust returned f; ON visit to that
wonderful glen" Ausable Chasm, that
wqs opened to the public Il short time since,
bv some energetic far-seeing Philadelphia
s.n,lemcn,
Loving burlington by steamer, a very
,.i.va,le trip of ten miles, across what
-s.ni~ like a land-locked lake, and we
reach the old. picturesque town of Port
Kent. with lis dilapidated dock. At this
p..n; we take IIarper's stages for the
a. Lake View House. three miles distant.
Til. hotel belongs to and was erected by
,lr Philadelphians, and is completely up to
modern requirements, having every room
lighted with gas. and hot and cold baths
IN each floor: every thing seems to have
= comfortable, home-like look, spring beds
in every room. and nothing wanting for
tie comfort Of guests.
The view from the house is superb.
M Mansfield, forty miles distant to tho
est. the Chateaugay Hills to the north,
,Ar Alilondacks to the west, are plainly
visible. whilst twenty miles of Lake
Champlain are spread before you. a
more charming and enjoyable sight can
rarely he found. The " Chasm - is about
500 wards distant. On reaching the
Brown Lodge we noticed the head of a
Buck" which was set up magnificently
hv Mrs. Wardner of Rainbow Lake. 1t
II. .,
very lifr-like look Passing through the
I.cdge, We descend five flights of steps,and
with short lurn to the left, all give an
exclamation of wonder and delight. Biz
Iuin.ham Falls, 80 feet wide and GO feet
prrpendicular, is short distance from us
with it. mass Of waters. This is the be-
inning Of the chasm. After satisfying, rs
lar - possible, our delighted vision, we
cross a bridge a little lower down, ut the
head Of charming little Fall, called Horse
shoe Gathering on the rock a little be-
.ly We have a fine view of both = Birm-
iu-lam and Horse Shoe and are really
fu the i. Chasm" But we must not lingcr,
a. we have something of u Job before us.
Ascending winding flight of stairs, we
stand on Pulpit Rock, an eminence l33
feet above the river. From this point fine
Jews NJ, and down the river can be had.
From here, those not sufficiently robust
f. take all the stairs and galleries, take n
shady path, coming out again on the Chasm
bank, at 4 very fine point called Belle
10 Sh0III =
ov,r MI the stairs and galleries OF they miss
some very fine points. We, feeling amply
able, take the entire route. Leaving
Pulpit Rock" we soon begin to pass
aIong galleries keyed to the rock and over
hanging the river. One of the notable
things here is, that though many points
You pass would seem inaccessible Il great
feeling of security is had, every place is sc
guarded fl ON accident
soon after reaching the river again, We
lu-s on the Water Galleries. These ars
very fine. Looking to the left. n double
.-ar.rc !, close to us. Under our feet tho
wl,er roars and boils. forming splendid
rapids, we'll named by the accomplished
dclphia. The Battle Of the Waters We
are now in quite a large chamber, the
rock towering in strata rs evenly laid u
il done by mason, more than 100 fee
above 1,,. (Potsdam Samante or Brow
Sludstonc) with evergrcens and fern:
Standing ont from every jutting spot.
On the opposite side Of the river is
ave about l. feet in heighth, and abou
-r feet deep, called Devils Oven" We
lu-t pas on. Climbing a long. winding
stairway, We reach " Bellevue" This is fit
.u-7v named. The views up and down th
river from this point are grand,-lookln:
iarh. the Battle of Waters" Water Gal
..ri.,. Stairs and Pulpit Rock are in full
view. Casting our eve forward, and we Sc
tie wonderful tlume stairs and long gal
.rrv Passing down two short flights O
r,Is, We lean over rail, and Il wonder
t,lv exquisite little nook breaks on on
'-u.h,rd vision We long since ceased be
la- a~toni>hed, as this place is so gran
aul imprt s-ivc it almost awes one. Abou
- tc,t below is Il chamber. triangular i
Shape, hcmmed in by rocks perfect
-,mMcd with moses and ferns. This is th
Place that puts the ladies into ecstaslcs
aud, by the way, they are by odds tn
most enthusiastic and warmest IN the
l,vr Of nature Passing the Fernery an
Jacobs Ladder. opposite Bellevue,
soon reach Mystic Gorge" immediatel
opposite 10 which is " Shady Gorge,
which 'hc sun seldom OF never penetrate
his Is c;rpetcd with moss and ferns
Mystic Gorge" about 40 feet back frol
t.rsueam,is large log, one end supporte
most i'll Il perpendicular against the sic
d.. ID" wall, placed there by the rise
"a.rr. lhi- shows what a mad mountai
an this sometimes is. Just before yo
b =" Mystic Gorge" if Your nerve IN
.-r.c i sufficient, the guide will clamb,
SIKH You up the rock and show a wonde
D.. well, OF pot hole" 40 feet above Il
t.m. Il Is circular, i feet in ,liamete
''.. TIE rubbish has been cleared out 6 fe
A depth already. and apparently fe
". will be- removed before the bottom
"..l. Nothing more clearly prov
,iH' 'Ao" Cha,m was created by wearir
away. and not hy urhcaval, rs some 4
sert
l'c'cliHg the rock walk below, we GRO
"t~.e GoI@o, and passing up a flight
;I.~. Ia~~ over = me rock galleries, vieN
"n the other SIDE of the river Colun
"". IS. and looking down the f1ume, till Y
'-.'Hd i stairway and pass few yard
."'H mp another stair Here we pause
m'n'. and looking across the river, s
''"' Cave. This is a double cave,
.'. nation Ike the nest Of an enormo
.. Wasp. 1t il bat few feet deep, al
"'' y 'liou, f,m the dividing wa