The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-10-12
A TURKIsH wAToH TowEE.

A little below MoldAva tho "Babatai"
rock rises from the head Of ths river. about
the middle Of the stream and standing
upon lie high platform Il q watch tower.
connected with which l. also q very sad ls-
conduit hsn you must remember that ID
ia only legend At ono timo-so the story
/ goes very handsome Turkish maiden.
having run away with gallant Hungarian
knight, was ovsrtAkon and brought bask BY
/ the AgAs JAuiaaarios, who led her 10 ne
BabAkAi rock 10 be put 10 death. Hsrpirt
wa often Seon wandering over the ruins %
the old tower and lsaping over the cataracta.
But steam navigation, with othor marks o.
/ progressive civilization, have dilaipated for
ever these silly Turkish stories. After pass
/ Ing this rock tho shores close In again With
granite cliffs on ono side aud loytly green
hills on the other. On tho right bank arc
seen the beautiful ruins Of Castle Columbaoa
| in Turkish, Gogordschinik- hich was
the koy Of tho navigation Of that section o.
the Danube as far a. the Iron Gate Tho
Iron Gates Of the Danube are aot iron. but
aOOntinuadon Of rocks and heavy bouldsrs
that obstruci the channel by nearly closing
Il In some places, causing powerful oddica
aud immense whirlpools, that make Il a very
difaeult and dangerous passage 70 navigate.
Soon after leaving Columbacs the steamer
clears tho hut IN the numerous rapids
which, ~ far A. The Turn SEVERN. form
quite a Esrios Of natural lmpcdimsna; aud
The high pointed rocks that loom up every
where must be passed with great caution.
As soon a. these rapids are crossed and 40
have rounded q giant rock on the edge Of
sharp Promontory, the river expands until
Il forms quite an inland soa-oalm aud
ImoOth-until you near the famous passage
called "GrobOn." Thsu on both shores
rise abruptly two tremendous walls q rock,
with lofty peaks and prscipitous inclinos--
showing mighty cracks and rents Ike the
eyolopean gunvalea Of n volcanic citadel
Hanging boldly over tho waters edge, they
seem ready 10 pouneo upon the nvor aud
gulP Il up In ono supreme, horculcan
draughL But our steamer IL equal 10 tho
task and runs through the narrow pass aud
comes out into broader whlor unhannod
and ready for another trial A few miles
further down the stream, on tho loft shore,
We pass Troculo, which appears 10 have
been one Of tho eliminating points o. Ro-
man domination In these parts, aud directly
After Treculs you reach tie imposing cu-
trance Of the KAsam Pass-tho grundssi and
most remarkable sight on the Danube.
Tho stream hsrs-as n driven by somo un.
accountable povsr-cmmpod In q space o.
about two hundred yards, PUSHES with a
violent roar Of despair into a natural pas
sage, which resembles n breach made BY
giants through a wall Of lofty rocts, and
for nearly half q mile Il rolls H. grooming
waves over granite bed two hundred feet
deep, bounding and ieaping, striking and
lashing the obHlruoiing enemy with ila
mighty breakers and Shimmering spray.
The comparative darkness, owing 70 tho
height OF The hideous cliaa, which hem
In the narrow channel and The mysterious
stiffness, broken only BY the convulsivo
moan Of the rushing stream, gives an A.
poct Of indes0ribabis grandeur and fright.
ful beauty, and the whole scene is 20 im-
Pressivs that Il can never DO forgotsn.--
BaltiH'0rs American.