Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-08-28

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the grand prospect which rewarded
them. Necedah lying nearly at our
feet, and Council Bluff and Plot Knob
seem in the distance across the beaati
full valley. Our MONDAY meals were
taken on some grassy bank, net so
high but that We could easily carry
up the things from the boat. One OF
: the number felt rather delicate at first
about having our sugar done up in,
and our butter covered ever with
newspapers but he got bravely over
it, and wiped his spoon on inky pa
per, and could get along very vel
when he found for the nonce tina
there was no knife or spoon for him.
Early in the afternoon of Thursday we
come in sight of the great Dens. Here
We passed the "Shelving Rocks" re
sembling on small scale the pillared
rocks on lake Superior The soft
sand stone is here followed out into
series of low arches, separated from
each other by curiously wrought col
umns of tender texture. Under many
of these arches a skiff can lie, while
upon the numerous shelves which COW
er their walls DELICATE ferns grow in
great prafusion, and birds find : shell
ter and burd their nests. We lay for
some little time in one of these pretty
hooks and were in no hurry to depart
from the cool recess That evening
we were late in finding good camping
place, but after skirting along the
cliff, which rises here some two hun
dTed feet above the river, we landed
near the lonely graves, which lie at
the foot of McEwens rock. l think
it was here that out OF respect to the
mosquitoes one of as stood up to cat
his crackers and milk but though
we were not protected by mosquItoc
bars and doors we had this advan-
tage, that we could step all over our
table without breaking any china. 1t
was lovely night the moon shining
bright, rocks loom ing up behind US.
the dark river flowing by our side, the
woods so quiet around, and We had
an opportunity to learn something of
the poets words
One impulse from a verna weed
Will teach You moro of man,
ormoral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.
The morning found as within hail
ing distance Of Stand Rock, and soon
part of our number were off across ths
meadow to explore it. We found that
several had been there before us, and
in order to let folks know that we had
travelled too, cut our names in the
yielding stone We climbed up the
rocks and stood looking at the little
chasm quite while. knowing that we
could jump it easy enough, but feel
ing as though we didn't want to- Not
being posted, we came away without
seeing many Places of interest that
were close by, Soon we started for
Witches Gulch, the steamer came up
soon after we reached there, and We
were surrounded by pleasure seekers
Joining the crowd we commenced to
explore the wonderful caverns. We
saw several with note books, trying
doubtless to put into words same idea
of their beauty, but we will not at
tempt to describe them. AS You wan
der through the dark, cool, passages,
now walking on narrow plank, placed
over deep round well, now climbing
slippery stair case, by the side of
which the water dashes your eyes
see new beauties and wonders at every
step. Everywhere the beautiful curve
line, everywhere miniature columns
; and arches, and the cold rocks; are
covered with lichens, which receive
their sunlight from narrow openings
far above. Friday evening, one of the
party babe the others adieu, standing
on the shore, while the Steamer bore
them away in the darkness; towards
Cold Water Canyon. The plan was
to go up the river to Cold Water Can
yon, spend the night and proceed to
Witches Gulch the next morning, then
to spend two days in camp, or in such
expeditions as might seem most tempt
ing; But. ''the best laid plan. of
mice and men gang aft aglee," and
ours was no exception. Arriving at
the canyon we found dance in pro-
gress, but we're fortunate enough to
learn that there was barn, just filled
with new sweet hay, at no great dis
lance, and soon we were all there and
sound asleep. Towards evening the
next day. the skif was headed up the