Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18
FALLS On THE MISSOURI.
Their Phenomenal Extent and Tnri-
vailed Pieturesqueness, Together
With Their Utility.

between Helena and the Great Falls.
space allowed, / would invite the reade
to review, with me, that enchanting triI
by boat, through the 'Gate of the Mount
aims" over ''Half-Breed Rapids thence
by easy stages to the coming metropolis o
Montana This delightful voyage, which
includes the far-famed Missouri canyon
is destined, at no distant day, to become
one OF the very most popular ones IN oul
broad and picturesque country.
The head-waters of the Missouri burst
joyously forth from the bosom of the ever
lasting hills. and flow, untroubled, with
youthful buoyancy, until they reach APPOINT
about fifty miles above our town of Great
Falls Here perceptible change ereeps
over the surface Of the waters. Attaining
mature proportions, they become less pre-
cipitate, apparently having some premoni-
ton of the impending roughness of their
course. Cautiously, almost sluggishly, do
they approach the rapids. their first formal
introduction to this town. But the plunge
made, they beat about upon the rocks, with
reckless abandon, and laugh derisively, as
they pursue their meandering course, over
d constant succession Of steps, down to
BLACK EAGLE FALLS.
Two miles distant. Here the waters throw
off all reserve, spread out to a width of
about six hundred yards and form a cata-
ract of twenty feet. The decent is not
exactly perpendicular, though the waters
fall, generally, with regular and smooth
sheet For about one third of the descent
the waters are curved by large, protrud
ing rock.
Just below the falls is beautiful little
island, well covered with trees, the foliage
Of which is kept green by the welcome
spray which envelops the island in deli
cate, veil-like mist. Here, on solitary
cottonwood tree. in the midst of the island,
an eagle had fixed her nest, and had long
held unelisputed sway over her isolated do
main, when in tS04-5 Lewis 6 Clarke, in
the course Of their expedition, ventured
across the gulf which separates it from the
riyer-bans1 There is something exceed
ingly interesting in the picture of that
band of hardy explorers as they stood
upon the little, lonely island in
the heart of a boundless, wilderness
and christened the grand cataract be-
fore them, ''Black Eagle Falls" in
honor Of that pioneer sentinel who, her
silent watch and ward, was there keep
ing. By the way, should any of
the TRIBUNE readers pine for an
exciting trip to drive dull care away,
let them take light boat and run over
the long series of rapids between town and
the Giant Spring, which is situated about
q mile and a half below Black Eagle
falls You should start above the dam.
the first descent, and would be greatly as
tonished to find how frequently the rapids
be mere ripples upon the waters surface,
prove to be falls, large enough to capsize
Jour boat, unless great skill is exercised |
in handling it. You will rush over them |
with lightning rapidity, exhilarated by the |
intense excitement, momentarily expect
ing your boat to be shattered by some |
rock, carefully concealed by
the foaming waters, from the man on the
lookout. You will experience strangely
fascinating sensation as you approach the
falls, ride over which is certain death.
You will feel as though something was
giving way under your feet, just as you do
when dreaming that you are falling off
from six-story building. From the lofty
hills near the falls, they look as though
,ne could slide over them with perfect
ease; but when you approach the brink
md hear the tremendous roar toward
which you are rapidly being carried nearer
md nearer, the sound becomes an awful
signal OF approaching death. You per-
laps realize for the first time that, 'syoung
nan, the rapids are below you,' and pull
or shore instanter. If you are cautious
nough to cling to the north bank before
'eing drawn into the alI-powerfuI current,
ou can reach shallow water and there let
own your boat which you will find some !
'hat battered, but still, seaworthy enough [
) proceed to the
GIANT SPRINGS. s
In. the language of local poet: e
''Close beside the great Missouri. 1t