The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-09-11
THE CANYON OF NIAGARA.
More Mysterious than the Falls. Them-
soIves--Tho Depth of the Water--Ex-
citing Explorations.

Inc canyon Oh NltgdIt, suyo q" SoiL
spondent of the Syracuse Standard, is far
more mysterious than the falls them
selves. Within the era of 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 it
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 awl<-
ward instruments were attached to long
lines and cast off from the 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 undercur-
rent way to buoy them upon the sur
face, or near it. The United States
Corps of Engineers, however, with a
small lead of only twelve pounds
weight attached to a 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 rs they presented themselves.
One day he launched in small boat
IOb I'LL DelOW bilc Hills ;tlllt cHbtl tu Oll b
most exciting and perilous exploration
of the canyon. The old guide, long in
charge of the miniature ferry situated
here, accompanied the party. With
great difficulty we approached within
short distance of the American falls
which darted 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 to one an
other. could be heard. The leadsman
cast the line, which passed rapidly down
and told off eighty three feet. This was
quite near the shore. Passing out of the
so near the falls, we shot rapidly down
stream. The next cast of the lead told
of 100 feet, deepening to 1872 feet at the
inclined railway. The average depth to
the Swift Drift, where the river suddenly
becomes narrow, with velocity too
great to be measured, was 1853 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 of twenty feet. At
this point our correspondent, at the
time of the survey, computed the depth
at 2ln feet, which is accepted as approxi-
mately correct.
The terrors of the gorge below this
the foot of man scarcely ever treads this
Internal legion, where almost perpen-
dicular walls rise on each side of the
verge of the river from 27O to 36O feet in
height. Here the continually crumbling
of the rocks has formed a precipitous
pathway in places on the rivers edge !;
elsewhere one must cling to the crevices
in the rock. to .jutting crags, or other
wise to get along. A party Of four of us
made IA survey ofthe interior of this can
yon from Lewiston to Suspension Bridge
With great difficulty we clambcred
along. 1t was fearful yet exciting ex-
ploration. At times the river would
rise suddenly some ten and even fifteen
feet as if a great dam above had broken,
causing a hasty retreat of the parties
up the side of the canyon. From points
above, rocks and stones frequently fell
causing lively apprehension, and, to add
to the catalogue of embarrassments an
occasional rattlesnake attempted to re-
tard our progress, and one of them was
killed and his rattles preserved in com.
memOration of the evert. Getting into
the canyon at Lewiston was compara-
lively easy. but making ones way out
was another thing. Nearly mile be.
low Deveaux College, which is situated
half II mile north of Suspension Bridge
the possibility of making our way alona
the rivers edge ceased. Night was just
approaching, and it was days hard
work, nearly, to make Lewiston. Above
the TO k 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 o
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 ou,
way to within 100 feet of the top. whcr,
just a narrow ridge formed by tht
crumbled debris seemed to extend. w,
followed this perhaps half Il rod, whei
it came to an abrupt termination. Sew
eral rods beyond was broad pathwa,
leading up to the rocks. but in the interim
only the bare walls of rock, almost per
pendicu'nr from the top to the rushing
water, 2 feet below, met the despair
ing gaze of our party. Just above on
heads was IL crevice in the rocks whicl
s"em"d to cross the intervening space
With almost certain doom staring II
directly in the face, we determined t,
try to cross by standing tiptoe in til
crevice and cling to the outings of til
rocks. The various implements Of tn
party were divided up, heavy theudo
iitN W yool
was strapped OH his back. The TALES
clambered up to the crevice first, til
Others assisting and following, and til
writer getting up last. Then began /
perilous struggle to reach the pathwa,
beyond. All arrived there safely, whel
YOUR correspondent, with the heav
burden on his back, was but midwa
across. Here a sharp rock just the heigh
of the breast impedcd the way. In nj
tempting to get around this the boo
failed to find resting place. The heav
instrument was pulling me off my bal
ance. The fingers were loosening thri
slender hold; 100 feet above was th
calm, safe world. l07 below the roarin
of the waters. One foot slipped off an
was going downtown; mist cam
over the eyes when my foot caught o
a slender gooseberry- and a han
suddenly grasped back and drew IN
around to a safe standing place. In
moment more the pathway was reache
and the safely of all assured, but neve
will the frightful scene leave the senses
One of the party saw the danger an
rescued the participant, or else tn
gooseberry-bush was the saving means
we have never quite understood which
Humors of the Paris Exposition.
Among the humors of the late Par
Exposition, says Washington co