The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-11-12

az II they had by some mighty power been torn
asundcr. Here bridge spans the stream, which
we cross to the other side aud up steep pair OF
rustic stars then pass on at the base of hang
ing rock, whose rickety construction, as itseems,
needs but II gentle push to send the entire wall
totterlng TO the ground. From our standpoint
we look down into the maddcning stream as ii
goes foamlng and dashing at least fifty feet be-
meath u.s. while hundred feet above our rocky
elevation the green foliage and leafy branches
present Il striking contrast to the scene below.
| short distance onward and we come to
mighty rift, or parting in the rock, something
like a gorge and known blythe cuphonious name
| OF
| THE DEVILS SLIDE.
II extends back at an angle Of about forty-hve
degrees and reaches the summit about three hun
dred feet back. A few yards below on the OPP
postc side is another rift, which, II placed TO-
gether, the two sides would tit exactly, showing
what a mighty CONFUSION must have taken place
here during some remote period. The magnl-
tude OF these ritts is simply awful and rather
puzzing TO understand.
After short walk along the projecting lodges,
we find ourselves in large chamber at least two
hundred feet in diameter, and perhaps double
that number in length! All within this vast YES
tibule is solitude, mystery and grandeur, the
rocky walls closing in all sides so that apparent.
ly the river has no passage or outlet. Sixty feet
above the level OF the stream is cave some sixty
feet In depth called
| THE DEVILS OVEN,
above which the rocks tower in ladder-like form,
and all, apparently, more the work OF man than
o. nature. Descending pair OF stairs OF ever
o-many" steps and short walk along rocky
path we find ourselves standing beside
TEE DEVILS PUNCH BOWL,
though from personal experience we know that
II contained nothing but water! Somewhat dis
appointing, Of course, but satisfied that so long
as his "Nibbs" imbbed as "thin" a beverage as
"the bright and sparkling water" he is sure to
keep level head, and fact that might suggest
the question as to which temperance organiza-
ton he is most interested in? Near this point
we find the first formation OF any pretention TO-
wards the fantastic; indeed, there are tut few in
the chasm, for it would seem that nature was on
is called she) formed the chasm. Those for.
nations are
GREAT WELLS,
something like those in Deer Park glen, but
round or circulation med and not SO deep. They
are about five feet in diameter and not less than
fifteen feet in depth. Evidently, they were form
ed by the action Of revolving stones, kept whirl-
ing by the high waters Of the stream.
Opposite these q projecting rock towers two
hundred feet above, while half as many feet be-
low and not over ten feet in width, the river
rushes over a rocky bottom, causing grand sue
cession of rapids, as 1t goes lashng and foaming
in its mad career, ard forming a water scene,
surpassed only by the great whirlpool rapids OF
Niagara. This is called
THE BATTLE OF THE WATERS.
A walk along narrow ledge Of rock, guarded
by an iron rail- brings US to another stairs, de-
scending which we enter mighty gulch or cav.
ern called
MYSTIC GORGE,
which extends back from the river at an angle OF
forty-five degrees, and reaches the summit some
four hundred feet back Opposite this is anoth-
CIR slide called
SHADY GORGE,
and is OF similar style, with the exception that
this has profusion OF ferns, masses and foliage,
which grow luxuriant from base to summit Both
these gorges have something OF the lawful
about them; their dark, dull and dismal interiors
are chilling to gaze into, and from their dreary
appearance it is evident that a ray OF sunshine
never penetrated their depths. There is one
thing remarkable about this chasm, and that is
the frequent lateral gorges; III almost every in
stance where one occurs, on the opposite side is
Of Ia
wonderful condition of things is hard to tell, but
there It Is in all its mysterious and surprising
grandeur.
Now we cross bridge where the river makes
turn. At this point We stop and take in the
situation. Here we are confronted with all the
magnlfcence and grandeur OF natures handi.
work in this particular line. The scene Is one
of wild sublimity. A hundred feet below the
river dashes on in a foaming torrent over rocks
whose magnitude are simply immense. From
the waters edge and one hundred and fifty feet
above our head the rocks rise in block like for.
nation with such regularity in size and shape Ms
to almost convince one that the work is that OF
man instead Of (as we presume) a spontaneous
outburst OF nature. AS we round the bend a
betting formation of overhanging rock called
CAPE ETERNITY
stands before us. 1t is huge formation of this
same style OF rock; and as we scan its gigantic
proportions, thrill of awe passes through our
frame, for 1t looks rs though a gentle push or
the disturbing of single ledge would bring the
entire wall lettering to our feet
| Again we are on the move, this time ascend.
ing long stairway aud now traversing along a
ledge of rocks called
| THE LONG GALLERY,
though not so wild and terrific as other sections
of the chasm, II has features that are truly sub
lime. II the reader can draw upon the imagina.
ton and contemplate a ledge Of rock just wide
enough for one individual at time to pass along,
and this for distance OF two hundred feet with
an iron railing in front to protect you from fall