Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-09
THE CANYON OF NIAGARA.
Wore Mysterious than the Falls Them
selvea--Ths Depth Of the tvnter--Ex
citing EEDloratIona.

| bfiEes. w ltliln tne era oil civilization
In America no one was able TO success
fully pierce through the fierce and terri
BILE undercurrent To the bottom, until re-
Gently the government itself thought IL
necessary, in behalfof science, TO under
take the task. All the great schemes
imagined TO be strictly scientific were
put in operation by bunglers TO obtain
the depth of water beneath the falls
Bars OF railroad iron, pals of stones,
and all unreasonable, bulky and awk-
ward instruments were attached to long
lines and east off from tho railway bridge
and elsewhere, but positively refused to
sink. The very bulk of the instrument
was sufficient, no matter what their
weight, To give the powerful undcrcur-
rent a way to buoy them upon the sur
face, or near it, The United States
Corps of Engineers, however with
small lead of only twelve pounds
weight attached TO slender rope. or
sounding-cord, easily obtained the depths
from the falls to the lower bridge. As
your correspondent assisted in the hy-
biographical operations the facts may be
given as they presented themselves.
One day he launched in n small boat
not far below the falls and entered on a
most exciting and perilous exploration
OF the canyon. The old guide, long in
charge OF the miniature ferry situated
here, accompanied the party. With
ftcat difficulty we approached within a
short distance Of the American falls
which darted great Jets Of water on us
and far out into the stream Tie roar
was 80 terrible that no voice or human
sound, however near we were 10 one an
other. could be heard The lcadsman
cast the line, which passed r,pidly down
and told of eighty-three feet. This was
quite near the shore. Passing out of the
friendly eddy which had assisted us up
so near the falls, we shot rapidly down
stream. The next cast Of tie lead told
OF 100 feet, deepening TO lg2 feet Mt the
inclined railway. The average depth TO
the Swift Drift. where the river suddenly
becomes narrow, with velocity too
great to be measured, was l53 feet. Just
under the lower bridge the whirlpool
rapids set in, and so violently are the
waters moved that they rise like ocean
waves to the height oftwcnty Fee. At
this point our Corresponde.t. at the
time Of the survey, computed the depth
at 2l0 feet which is accepted rs approx
mately correct.
The tcrrors of the gorge below this
point nrc known 10 but few. Indeed
the foot of man scarcely ever tTcads this
Internal Icgion. where lmost pcrpcn-
verge Of the river from go TO SEQ feet in
height Here the continually crumbling
of the rocks has formed n prccipiious
pathway in places on the rivers edge:
elsewhere one must cling { o the creviccs
in the rock. TO iutting crags, or other
wise 20 get along. 4 party Of four OF US
made survey ofthe interior Of this can
yon from Lewiston 20 Suspension Bridge.
With great difficulty we Clambo red
along. 1t was fearful yet exciting cx-
ploTation. At times the river would
rise suddenly some ten and even fifteen
feet ~ II n great dam above had broken.
causing hasty retreat Of the parties
up the side Of tho canyon. From points
above. rocks and stones frequently fcu.
causing lively apprehension. and, TO add
to the catalogue Of cmbarrassmcnts. an
occasional Tattlcsnake nttcmrted TO re-
taTd our progress. and one 1f them was
killed and his rattlcs preserved in COM
mcmora.ion Of the eycrt. Getting into
the canyon at Lewiston was compare
lively easy but making ones way out
was another thing. Nearly mile be-
low DevcauX College. which Is situated
half a mile north OF Suspension Bridge.
the possibility Of making our way along
the rivers edge ceased. Night was Just
approaching. and II was days hard
I " y
the rock lowered nearly 300 feet. We
had the alternative of remaining in this
abode Of terrors over night and return
ing TO Lewiston the following day. or of
fighting an almost impossible passage
TO the steps leading down from the col
lege. We determined 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
CTumblcd debris seemed to extend We
followed this perhaps half rod. when
IL came 10 An abrupt termination. Sew
.ral rods beyond was broad pathway
leading up 10 the rocks hut In the interim
only the bare walls Of rock. almost per-
pendiCular from the top to the rushing
water. go feet below. met tho despair
Ing gaze Of our party. Just above cur
heads was a crevicC in the rocks which
seemed TO cross the intervening space.
With almost certain doom staring us
directly in the face. we determined 20
try 10 cross by standing tiptoe in the
cTcvicc and cling to the iu tings of the
rocks. The various implements Of the
party were divided Lp. a heavy thcodo.
lite falling 20 your correspondent. which
was strapped on his back. The tallcst
clambered up to the crcvice first. the
Z bAtlfIs assisting ana iOHoMtng, anu the
writer getting up last. Then began a
pcrilous struggle to reach the pathway
beyond. All arrived there safely. when
your correspondent. with the heavy
burden an his back. was but midway
across. Here sharp rock just the height
of the breast impedcd the way. In at-
tempting 10 get around this the boot
failed to find resting place. The heavy
instrument was pulling me off my bal
ance. The fingers were loosening their
slender hold; 100 feet above was the
calm, safe world. l07 below the roaring
of the waters. One foot slipped Off and
was going down-down; n mist came
over the eyes when my foot caught on
= slender goosebcrry-b and hand
suddenly grasped back and drew me
around TO safe standing place. In n
moment more the pathway was reached
and the safely Of all assured, but never
will the friUhf ftfl acane leava fho acnaea