Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-10-21

A Walk Probabi, Unsurpassed In The
World for Wondcr aud beauty.

INltA NNAA hh'
Other human impertincnces, the olo-
mental turmoil Increased, and thcy
seemed entering a world the founda-
tions Of which werO broken up. This
must have been n good deal Of matter
Of Impressions for otkef parties ~ Elgilt.
seats We're coming and going, appar-
ohtly dnawcd, and inteht simply Oh
visiting ctciS point sp92eh Of III the
gdide-sdck, add probably unconscious
of the all-pcrvading terror. Standing
upon the platform at the top, the spec
tator realizes for the first time the inn
mcnse might OF the down-pOur of the
American fall, and notes the pale green
color, with here anj there violet tsne,
and the whild cloud filass squirting out
from the solid color. On the foam-
crested fiycr lay 4 talubdw, formitg
nearly I .coriblcte bifclB. The little
stcarhor Maid OF the Mist was coming
up, riding the waves, dashed here and
there by conflicting currents, but rcso-
mtely steaming on-such Is the audacity
of man and poking her vcnturesome
nose into the boiling foam under the
Horseshoe On the deck nre righiy
'passenscra ia oil-skn suits, clumsy
iigNrcs, like Arctic explorers. The
boat tosses about like chip, II hest
tates and quiyors, and then slowly
swinging, darts away down the cur
rent, fleeing from the wrath of the
waters, and pursued by the angry roar
Surely Il is an island Of magic, I'M
substantial, liable ID 90 adfift and
bluhge into the canyon. Even in the
forest path, where the greattroe trunks
assure one of stability and long immu-
nifty, this feeling can not be shaken OF
Our party descended the winding stair
case in the tower, and walked on the
shelf under the mighty ledge to the
cntraucU Jl the Cave of the winds
The curtain of water covering this en-
trance was blown back and forth by
the wind, now leaving the platform
dry and now dcluging it. From this
platform one looks down the narrow
slippery stains that are lost in the DOLL
ing mist. and Eondefs at the daring
that built these stops down into that
hell. and carried the frail walks of
planks over the powders outside the
fall. A party in oil-skins making their
way there, looked like lost men and
women in Dante Inferno. The tur-
bulcnt waters dashed all Gbout thomi
tho mist occasionally wrapped them
from sight; they cldng to the rails; they
tried to speak TO each otheri their
gestures seemed motions of despair.
Could that be Purydice whom the
rough guide was tenderly dragging
out of the hell of waters, up the stony
path. that singular figure in oil-skin
.-Ouscrs, who disclosed n pretty face
inside her hood as she emergedP One
might venture into the Internal re-
gions to rescue such a woman; but
why take her there? The group Of adj
vcnturors stopped moment on the
platform. with the opening into the
misty cavern for d background, aud
the artist said that the picture was,
beyond all power OF pencil. strange
and fantastic. There is nothing, after
all, that the human race will not dare
for n new sensation.
The walk around Goat Island is prob
ably unsurpassed in the world forwon-
der and bcauty. The Americans have
every reason TO be satisfied with their
share of the fall; they get nowhere one
single grand view like that from the
Canada side, but infinitely the deepest
of majesty aud power is OBJ
talned on Goat Island. There the spec
tator is in the midst of the war OF
nature From the point over the
Horseshoe Fall our friends, speak ng
not much, but more and more deeply
moved, strolled along In the love y for
est, In a rural solcmnIty, in a local
calm, almost scclusion, except for
The evcr-prescnt shuddcring roar in the
air. On the shore above the Horseshoe
they first comprchcndcd the breadth,
the great sweep OF the rapi Is. Tho
white crrsts OF the waves in the west
were coming ont from under II black,
lowering sky; all the foreground was
IN bright sunlight, d ncing, sparkling.
.eaping, hurrying CA, convcrging 20
The angle whore the water becomes
deep emerald at the break and plunge
The rapids above are a series Of shelves.
brisiling with iutting rocks and lodged
trunks Of trees, and the wildncss of the
seen, is intensified by the ragged fringe
Of cyergreens ON the opposite shore.
Over the whole island the mist, ris-
Ing from the caldron, drifts in spray
when the wind is favorable; but on this
day the forest was brigh, and cheerful
aud as the strollcrs went farther away
rom the Great Fall, the beauty Of the
scene began 90 steal away It's terror.
The roar was still dominant, but far
ofr and softencd, and did not crush the
.uw .f..1a. fa1...l.
.ar' In their picturesque willness APP
peared like playful frcaSs Of nature in
1 mOmentary relaxation OF the savage
mood. Here is the finest view Of the
liver; 30 one standing on the outer
most island the great food seems
out Of the sky. They con-
inued along the bank Of the river.
The shallow stream races by headlong.
Jut close to the clgc are numerous ed
lies, and places whore one might step
n and not be swept away. At length |
hey reached the point where the river
liyilcs. and the water stands for an
Instant almost still. hcsitating Hhcthcr
O take the Canadian or the American
,lungr. Ont a little way from the
hore the waves leap and tumble, and !
he two currents are like racc-hOrscs !
lartc on two ways 10 the goal. Just
u this point the water swirls and lin
,ers, having lost all It's iierccnes, und |
iuste, and spreads itself out placdly, |
iimpiing in the sun. II may be q |
rcacherOus pause, this water may be |
IS cruel rs that which RACES below and |
'xults in catching boat or a man and |
pounding with the victim over the cat |
tract; but the calm was very grateful |
o the stunned and bulleted visitors;
IpOn their Jared nerves il was like the |
'eace Of God. - Charic5 Dudiey Ila,uer,
n Harper's Magazine.
a NOBLE BOY.