The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-10-25

ba1 Ao1e1N l1N0. WA
fifty yards further to the east we discoyere,
a rough abutment OF rock standing on
from the main wall in bass relief-like
chimney built up from the bottom OF th,
cliff against its side. II extended NOR,
than one hundred feet from the verge o
the precipice, and we walked out upon II
thinking 1t possible that we might climl
down its uneven side and thus reach tn,
bottom. When reached it's outer edge,
found the chimney-like structure composeS
Of huge rocks, one upon another. Allwer,
overgrown with vines and shrubs. l iount
little difficulty in climbing down NOR,
than one hundred feet, and believe tina
I could have gone further Il my courag,
had not failed. But, Hooked below ant
saw that the shelving rock on which stoot
oyerhung the gull beneath, and, should tn,
rock give way, | would be precipitated intt
the dark, yawing Ghasm fully fteen hun
dred feet deep from where l stood. With
Q shuddef looked up. The top Of th,
cliff Sas overhanging me. Then The
thought Of how was TO return flashed
upon me. The shelving rocks that hac
furnished me footing coming down, nov
seemed q solid wall whose beetling brow
impended over me, with no crag or jutiinl
stone to furnish me footing In climbing
back. / knew from my feelings that wal
excited, and l eat down where / was anG
closed my eyes.
When the confusion passed away I look.
edaround me. The first cataract OF the
iallwas in full view. 10 was the second
and part Of the third, but further than thai
Icould not trace the course Of the water
It's channel was hidden by passing under
the base Of the column on which | sat
The creek was swollen by the melting
snow, and poured a volume OF water equal
to a small river. The first fall was about
500 feet high. A body Of water fell in nine
seconds. Allowing one.third for resistance
OF the air, this indicated distance oi
S84 feet. But there were other falls imme.
diately below the first. The water after
passing over the first cataract struck rock,
and from 1t bounded down second preci-
pice probably 800 feet high, struck another
rock and passed over a third cliff, the
height OF which could not tell, since II
was hidden by the column on which was
sitting,
MAGNIFICENT WATER FALLS.
The view was truly grand. Over the
first fall the water poured in solid sheet.
It struck the rock at i,s foot with report
like the increasing roar OF thunder. Over
the second cataract it fell only as spray,
except occasionally, when large body el
water would go over together. When such
wave struck the rock at the bottom ol
the second fall the noise was more like the
discharge Of small cannon-quick and
loud. The echoes. on such an occasion,
msgniftd the report by repetition; and the
side Of the mountains were constantly mur.
muring with reuterations.
In going over the first cataract, the water
looked like an avalanche OF snow. In
going over the second, it resembles falling
clouds. But, when 1t struck the rocks al
the foot OF the second fall, similitude oi
water was lost. 1t was whirlpool OF spray
and foam, Gashed hither and thither and
flung aloft to be spattered against the rocks
NV tu6 urn VI IhIus oGCh6iUHHll3t Nhoi
clouds OF this vapor would rise from the
bottom Of the gu.f, and sweep sheer ovel
the rugged sGnmi's Of the surrounding
cliffs. This, caught by the winds and
whulcd iurlUusly hither aud thither, tool
all manner Of shapes and forms till al
melted In the pure air above the mountain
tops.
Tia little Gre aud birthstone were mixed
withthe surging mass of vapor and logs,
think that II would answer to what Miltor
described ia Paradise Lost"
began my ascent Of the cliff. It was s
zlz4g path. l climbed from shelf to shelf
never turning my eyes downward, for
knew to we'll what was below. Hound |;
almost imrnssibleto get back, and Iprom
ised myself II Igot out Of that scrape
would be Glow in getting into sro'her O.
the same kisd. When at last stood upor
the summit again, I looked down into nj
hilvideo, fully resigned to let others rear
the honors OF its exploration. l was salts
fled. 1t looks ss though one might gel
into it by following up or down the Sar
Joaquin; but l never expect to do it.
have seen Nihilvideo for the last time sc
far as l know or care.
We ate our soaked bread, and al 8 p. N
began onr march back 10 Twin Meadow
Greek. Instead Of following up Stephen
soma creek, as We had come, We climbed
over The snowy summit Of Mt. Stephenson
and thence found our way back by The
"old Cedar Bark Cabin Trail" M.M.