The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-06-15
OUR CANYONS.


here, it is well to remind our people that, for
day in the woods among the widest as well
as most picturesque and sublime scenery I'm.
aginablc, there is no use of going to New York
to find Watkins Glen, or to Philadelphia to
find the lovely Wissahicken, nor to Wyoming
or Utah to find great canyons. We have them
within few miles of Ottawa, on the Illinois
and Vermillon rivers, and though perhaps
not as massive, yet in all the essentials of awe
inspiring grandeur quite equal to any OF the
others, for all of them are large enough to fill
the eye, and none, however large, can do more
than that.
The Hon. r. \. Armstrong, OF Morris who
was raised in the vicinity of these sublime
manifestations of natures inconceivable forces,
contributes to the Morris Ttdepeaddht an &C
count of some of the canyons on the Illinois
below Ottawa IN this county, from which we
make the following clippings:
WIDOWS CANYON,
through which flows Widows Run, was so
named nearly half century ago for the late
widow Elsie ). Armstrong, who located at the
point of timber near the head of the creek in
1881. 1t is small stream Of water having its
rise near the dividing ridge between the Big
NermlliOn on the south and the Illinois river
on the north. It's course is very nearly from
south to north. When it reaches point about
one half mile from the bluff of the Illinois
river, it cuts Il deep canyon in the st. Peters
sandstone for distance of about ten rods and
then leaps over Il cascade of about twenty feet |
Here the canyon widens to a uniform width of
about three hundred feet, and runs thence
north in a zigZag course to the Illinois river
bottom. The stream OF water meanders in a
serpentine course through this immense crook
ed canyen-tirst skirting the towering rocky
walls on the one side and then crossing over
to the Other-washing out cavcrns in its pas
sage The stone walls of this canyon are from
one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet
high on both sides, usually perpendicular, but
projecting over at the top many
yards beyond the bottom. The color of this
stone is pure white, of coarse grit, and as a
general thing quite soft. Standing at any
point from one end of the canyon to the other,
md casting your eyes up or down, you see an
immense white stone wall while upon the top
If the rocks on either side and upon the very
brink stand huge white pine trees, like weird
cntinels upon the bulwarks of some old castle
over, keeping watch and ward over the beau
iful canyon below, through which rlpples the
Dlacid stream, like Il silver thread, over Its
,ebbly bottom. The soil at the bottom is of
rich black loan, and is studded by tall,
traight trees black walnut elm and Eastwood
III the dominant kinds, whilst the whole sur
ace. exclusive of the water course, is carpeted
n beautiful green, with brakes and ferns orna-
nenlcd with beautiful wild flowers. Here the
uns rays may never penetrate, and no winds
al rustic the most tiny leatet The trees
row up strai ght rs an arrow and of create
leght, while the brakes and ferns reach up to
mans shoulder There is but one point
bove the mouth of this canyon at which il
an be entered and that is near the falls, and
vas known in early days as the Indian ladder,
which was constructed from the body OF II
mall tree felled by the Indians and It's limbs
lacked off at about six inches from the body,
u as 10 form the steps upon which they were
nabled To ascend and descend to and from this
anyon. That ladder has disappeared, and a
lng pole is substituted therefor, by the aid of
hich together with the assistance To he de-
ived from many small shrubs growing out of
he creviCcs in the rock, persons may, with
ONE risk To life and limb. gain admission to
lis canyon near its head. IL may be explored
v entering from the river bottom, and 10y
Tearing out "a road persons could drive up To
lc falls and thus have view of these grand
I'll ST Peter sandstone walls for half mile
his canyon would make an eXqulsitely nice
lace for picnIcs, "a there are many caverns
large To shelter hundreds of people
ON the sunshine and storm.
ATrM ROCK.
About midway in the canyon on the left
and side passing down, rs YOU turn an acute
ngle. YOU enter l.rge recess, the bottom he.
~ composed of white sand, disintegrated
,Dm the rock, upon which YOU will perceive
coating of some white substance, which upon
pplying to the tongue YOU find is a crustation i
irongly impregna,cd with alum; and in trac !
~ il along the cavern YOU find that IL makes .
: appearance for a distance Of some nifty feet =
crp, Idiculsrly and for several hundred feet i
4 lrnsth. How far il may extend into the
N d. can only bc surmised. Nor is this alum
o. lined to tile eXudations upon the surface Of
&c rock II permeaies the rock To such de. !
rec that it has a strongly pungent taste OF
lin. This canyon is about five miles up the !
lIiiois river from Starved Rock. and com a
,epces nj a point about half a mile south OF