Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-01
GATES arro Sketlbes.
On the Brink OF Niagara.
A PHILADELPHIA LAWYER TELLS How
He CREPT OUI ON AN Ice PROJECTION.

A PHILADELPHIA LAWYER TELLS no"
He CREPT Our On AN Ice PROJECTION.
"Did YOU ever hear of mans standing
on top of Niagara Falls without losing MS
life ~ asked Mr.. c. P. Sherman, yester-
day, well. did, You have heard OF
the magnificent ice-bridge below the rails
Having business at Buffalo | ran up to
look at the ice gorge. The ice. which
had poured down from the upper lakes.
piled up at the foot of the Horseshoe ana
froze under the spray. | clambered ever
the bridge. and. going up on the Canadian
side, went down under the Horseshoe tall
into the Cave of the Winds What superb
stalagmites and stalactites of ice there
were there. reaching from roof to floor,
with the laundering curtain OF the tall De-
tween US and the light. After had re-
crossed the river by the suspension bridge
crossed the bridge above the American
! Fall to Goat Island, which was covered
with snow and deserted. The shrubbery
and trees near the Falls were coated with
ice-in places, on some OF the trunks.
several inches in misunderstanding as II
thew had been cut out OF marble or were
the ghosts of dead trees. Wandering
across the island. | crossed over to the
Three Sisters, and by means of a Jam OF
great blocks OF ice. out 70 the old canal
boat. past which the water was rushing
swiftly.
Going back to Goat Island. | went
down to the foot-bridge TO Terrapin Rock.
where the old tower used to stand, and
out on the rock. When | got there ob-
served that quantity of ice covered with
snow had by some, means become fixed
upon the projecting rocks on the edge OF
the Horseshoe Fall beyond the rock where
stood. forming bridge on the extreme
edge of the tall, about 100 feet long by
10 or - feet wide. Instantly 'he desire
to 90 upon this bridge and look over the
fall seized me. dug out a stone from
the snow, as heavy as | could lift, and.
stepping ont as far as | dare, threw
it with all nv force upon the
bridge which stood firm, the stone
sticking fast in the snow. Then
| ran back to the island and broke off
good stout staff, and, coming back to
Terrapin Rock, commenced the rather
irving Journey. The snow which covered
the ice was itself covered with a thin coat
ing of ice. which broke beneath my feet,
thus giving me good foothold, and as to
nv head | was sure of that. as | had
thoroughly tested its anti-dizziness the
preceding summer on shipboard and among
the Swiss glaciers and precipices. Prod
ding my staff or alpinestOck heavily into
the snow before me to try the way,
walked out until had reached about the
middle of my ice bridge, and then i
stopped to look. The sight was the grand
est and most awe inspiring | have ever
beheld. AS l looked up the river the
curve of the on-coming water seemed al
most as high as my head. and, steadying
my eye upon some floating particle, the
whole mass seemed coming down upon
me with an irresistible power that must in
evitably carry me over the brink and into
eternity; but, with a swift, Kissing rush.
it swept under me, leaped out and, with
a horrible roar, plunged into the awful
chasm, whence huge clouds of spray, like
the smoke of its torment, ascending,
swept back and over me.
''Sieadying myself by my staff, sank
quietly upon my knees, then stretched my
self flat upon my stomach, and looked
down over the fall. You can imagine
what | saw. When the spray would
clear away, the water. rushing so swiftly
as to appear to be drawn into lines and
burrows, and springing out under my very
| face. could be seen to fall. at first solid,
greenish mass. then broken into foam. into
a chaos which the eyes could not pene-
trate. could feel my bridge tempting with
the rush of the water. and realizing that
any moment might see it and me follow
ing the descending flood. arose. took
one look up and down-a look to last for
a lifetime-and retraced my steps. As I
passed the rock | had thrown on the
bridge. could not resist the temptation
of disloging it and seeing it whirl away
over the liquid precipice. = Philadelphia
Press of FEB. 20.