Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-03
THE EVENING STAR



TIE canyon Of Niagara is far more mysterious
than'the falls themselves. Within the era OF
clNlilZatlon In America 40 one was able to sue
CessIul!y pierce through the fierce and terrible
government itself thought It necessary in be-
nan OF science to undertake the task. All the
sIeat schemes Imagined to be strictly scientific
pTt ln operation BY bunglers to obtain the
uep s vi WAFER beneath the falls. Bars OF rail-
, ,oa9 iron, pals OF stones, and all unreasonable
" uoi ~ anu awkward instruments were attached
10 iohe INES, and cast of the railway bridge
a Gl elseWhere, Out positively refused TO sink
me very bulk OF the Instruments was SUFFICIENT
no matter what their weight, TO Give the noyyer
th h s unqer eoTreas way to buoy them up upon
OF engineers, however, with small lead or only
twelve pounds weight attached to a slender
rope; or sounding cord, easily obtained the
your correspondent assisted In the hydroyranh
zeal operations the facts may be given as they
presented themselves.
below the falls, and entered on a most exc TIM
and perilous exploration of the canyon The
Old guide, long in charge OF the miniature ferry
situated here, accompanied the party. VITA
diStaace CT the American falls, which darteG
great Jets OF water On us and far out into the
stream. The roar was so terrible that no voice
or human sound, however near we were 10 one
another, could be heard. The leadsman cas-
tie line, which passed rapidly down and told
on s. feet. This was quite near the shore
RAISING out OF the friendly eddy which had
assisted Us up so near the falls, we shot rapidly
Gown stream. The next cast OF the lead told
Oh IOo Ieet deepening to 1872 feet az the inclined
I nr,,s ,o me e., average depth to the Swift
row with velocity too great 70 be measured
was l5s feet. Just under the lower bridge tAe
whirlpool rapids set In, and so violently are the
waters moved that they rise like ocean waves
TO the height Of twenty feet AT this point yonr
correspondent, at the time OF the survey, com
puted the depth at 2lo feet, which is accepted
as approximately correct.
TIE terrors OF the gorge below this point are
known to but few. Indeed, the foot OF man
scarcely ever treads this Internal region, where
almost perpendicular walls rise on each side OF
seventy TO three hundred and sixty feet tn
height. Here the continual crumbling of the
rocks has formed preclpitous pathway In
cling to creyceS In the rock, to jotting cragS or
otherwise, to get along. party of four OF US
made survey OF the interior OF this canyon
from Lewiston TO suspension Bridge With
great difficulty We clambered along. 1t was a
fearful yet exciting exploration. At times the
river would rise suddenly some ten or even ff-
cen feet, as II great dam above had broken.
causing hasty retreat OF the parties up the
sides of the canyon. From points above rocks
and stones frequently fell, causing lively ap-
prehensions, and to add TO the Catalogue OF
embarrassments an occasional rattlesnake at.
tempted to retard our progress, and one OF
them was killed and his rattleS preserved in
commemoration OF the event. Getting into the
but making ones way out was another thing.
Nearly mile below Devesux College which
Is situated half mile north OF Suspension
Bridge, the possibility of making our way along
preaching, and 1t was day S hard work, nearly
to make Lewiston. Above the rocks lowered
nearly 300 feet. We had the alternative OF re-
naming In this abode OF terrors over night and
returning to Lewiston the following day, OF
fighting an almost impossible passage to the
steps leading down from the college. We de.
termined to accept the latter. After an hours
climb we made our way to within 100 feet OF
the top. where just narrow ridge formed by
the crumbled debris seemed to extend We
followed this perhaps half mile, when 1t came
was broad pathway leading up to the college
but in the interval only the bare walls OF rock.
almost perpendicular from the top to the rush.
Ing water, go feet below, met the despairing
gaze OF our party. Just above our heads was q
crevice In the rocks which seemed to cross the
Intervening space. With almost certain doom
staring us directly In the face, we determined
to try TO cross by standing uptoe In the crevice
and climbing to the outings OF the rocks. The
various implements Of the party were divided
up, heavy theodOlite falling to your CORE
sp3ndent, which was strapped on hts back. The
others assisting and following, and the writer
getting up last.
Then began a perilous struggle to reach the
your correspondent, with the heavy burden on
his back was but midway across. Here sharp
rock just at the height OF the breast impeded
the way. In attempting to get around this the
boot failed to find resting place. The heavy
lDstf ument was pulling me OF my balance The
fingers were losing their slender hold; one hun
dred feet above was the calm. safe world: Que
uIdred and seven feet below the roaring OF the
water. One foot slipped of and was going down,
down, mist came over the eyes, when my foot
caught on slender gooseberry bush and and
suddenly grasped my back and drew me around
to safe standing place. In moment more the
pathway was reached and the safety or all en-
sured, but never Will the frightfuI Scene leave
the senses. One of the party saw the danger
rescued the participant, or else the gooseberry
bush was the saving means-I have never quite
understood which.-[Nidgar Letter to the Syra.
cuse STANDARD.