The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-13
ALONG THE ILLINOIS.
Atwoods Glen---Alum Rock-"And Vino cents
Canyon.
For hc Free Trader
AIIrN Rock GLEN"

rDf 'hc fltt lEHhNls
"ALUM Rock GLEN"
The second canyon, or "Alum Rock Cave" ~
It has been formerly called, YVES our point to next
visit From the Armstrong Canyon to Alum
Rock our route lay over passingly good piece
OF road, and continues so from its entrance al
most to It's very end. Entering the grounds by a
gateway and passing along for n few rods to the
right, the beauty and grandeur OF the glen at
once begins to show itself. Just as gateway Is
passed the rocks rise in massiyeness to height
of perhaps eighty feet The huge rock at the en-
trance, which lifts its fora 80 majcstically above
Tie more insignificant ones, we called
"Thc Seatinel"
and regarded it as the presiding genius Of the
entire glen. Rising in solemn dignity, 1t would
seem as though it stands guard over the rest of
this wondrous domain. A little further on and
up a small embauhment to the right we find our
selves in an immense alcove, capable Of contain
ing many hundred people. This is one Of the
haudsomest things Of the kind have ever seen,
and is only equalied in beauty and design by the
"Snowbal Chamber" in the Mammoth Cave of
Kentucky But while it cxcels in beauty, there
is not that awe-nspiring grandeur about it that
30 characterizcs the Armstrong Canyon. The
rock, or sand is remarkably white and the roof,
which is oval shaped, is dotted in various places
with caye.likc constructions. Standing at its
back, down close to the wall, and looking out
along its roof one is struck with the beauty and
submity OF the picture, and then only he notes
the peculiar characteristics Of the scene "llcrc, "
says Perry 4 Armstrong in his charming descrip-
nT tlis t'NuS tbp uauul winter nm
tcIs of the rottawatomics, under Shabona, from
tS3, 20 1885. The shape Of the canyon afforded
shelter from wind and weather, while the heavy
timber along the river bottom attracted the deer
and wild turkey within reach of their hunters
Further up the canyon TO the right handsome
little ravine wind, its way through II romantic
section, dotted with young trees, shrubs and TO-
liagc, but Of no particular note otherwise Al
this 2ointthc usual sparkling little stream, which
plays so important part in canyon, cave and
glen, goes mcandcring on and in due time min
giles with the placid waters of the Illinois. Cross
inL This stream and following up the road, larg,
recess in the rock and the extreme whitencss o
the sand attract our attention. "This sand il
Distinguished from the rocb, upon which you vii
perceive a coating of some white substance, ant
by applying TO the tongue you will find is crus
tlt'on strongly impregnatcd with alum and il
tracing along The cavern you will find that i
makes its appearance for some fifty feet perpen
dicuarly and for several hundred feet in length
How far It may extend into the rock can only b,
5urmised. Nor is this alum confined TO the ey
uca,iOns upon the surface Of the rock 1t penc
trotes TO such degree that it has strangl
pUugcnt taste OF alum"
From this point 10 the omega the road grow
"weary," the canyon narrower, but the scener
more beautiful and grand, with the rocks a llttl
Inclined 10 lc fantastic but not much In tha
line. Indeed, in the entire glen there is but yer
little Of it, and yet one may imagine that nov
ard then he may feast his eyes on ''those castle
IN Spain and all that sort OF thing, you know
But like the other glens, the omega OF this is II
grandes! point. Here We are more than SUI
prlsed il 5eholding
A Double Cdscddc;
aad / am sure If visited In carly spring, when th
creeks arc full and water plentiful, the view her
msst be simply charming; and also, when th
water comes tumblIng over the rocks and IN
sua In the right direction, a rainbow may be VII
ihie when the night observation is taken. TIL
formation OF both rocks and cascade resemble
almost jieLllcslly the famous Triple Cascade
Ia Watkins Glen, at which point the doubl
rainbow is seen. aud which view people admir-