The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-20
TALLULAH, THE TERRIBLE
THE GREAT GORGE OF THE TALL
LULAH RIVER.
A Wonderful Resort in Georgia and
Some Facts and Legends Connected
with It's History.

Wonderful Resort in Georgia and
sonoe Facts and Legends Connected
With It's History.
From the Nea0 York Times
T.,1r1AH FALLS, GA, March 24.-The
Indian name Tallulah, which signifies terri
ble has been given to narrow river which
,isas in the Blue Ridge Mountains and, after
winding its way through the wilds of North
arnGeorgia. empties its waters into the broad
Savannah. which sweeps them gently to-
~,ord the sea. Generally speaking, the Tai
1nlab does not present terrible appearance.
Oo the contrary, it usually conducts itself
a. &c modest and unassuming manner as
.,y river that ever went in search of the
saa level. At this point, however, it breaks
in on its habits of peaceful monotony and
+otas a little wild diversion. For a short
distance the river Is truly terrible.
7, little more than half a mile the
TaIlulah descends $50 feet. The term ode
scendsn is perhaps rather weak for the pur
nose of expressing the manner in which
Tallulah conducts itself here. Down deep
gorge of huge, winding, and uneven steps
fba river roars, plunges, and thunders,
1890
frotb% white from which arise clouds of
pentle spray that in the sunlight seem to
chapge to gold. Huge preciplces rise on
either side of the river, in some places to
height of 900 feet, and reverbrate with the
II ceaseless roar of the wild waters which for
II ever RACES against their foundations. The
wild grandeur of the great gorge down
which the Tallulah rushes is surpassed no
where except among the grand canons of
the far West.
Talulah Falls has become one of the best
known of the Southern summer watering
places. 1t is patronized entirely by South
erners. Although the falls are of a remark
able description, and are situated amid
some of the most beautiful mountain
scenery in America, few persons in the
North have ever heard of them. In sum
mer the falls attract to their sides enough
regular pleasure and health seekers to fill
three large hotels, and enough transient
visitors Of the same sort tot fill several trains
Of cars every day Just now, however, the
falls are performing to poor houses. The
natives have all seen them before, and the
number of visitors during the winter aver
ages about one month.
The Tallulah river enters the great gorge
in series of rapids known as the Indian
Arrow rapids, and then rushes headlong
down rocky slope 46 feet high. This fall
is called rEau dor. At the foot of this
fall the golden water changes into black,
and revolves into a treacherous- looking
rock bound pool. For a long time this pool
had no name. One bright Summer after
noon, however, an adventurous young man
came along and christened it by his own
name, which was Hawthorne.
4 He began the christening by infor ming
several other tourists who admired the
pool that he 'reckoned he would have a
right smart little swim"
But you have no bathing suit" expostu-
lated one of the others.
Il know it," replied the adventurous
young man, who coolly proceeded to dis
robe himself.
The others modestly but hurriedly with
1 drew from the neighborhood. Hawthorne
having carefully arranged his clothing in a
little heap on the rocky shore, betook him
self into the pool, from which he never
i returned. Some persons came along after
ward and took his clothing, while the pool
was allowed to take his name. 1t has since
! been Hawthorne's Pool 1t is doubtful if
Hawthorne would have ever become famous
had be kept out of the pool.
After few stealthy revolutions in Haw-
! thornes pool the river moves smoothly on
for several yards and then suddenly sweeps
with all the speed and fury of the tempest
down rocky steep 81 feet high. This fall
q is called Tempestia. After the river has
s. dashed itself against the rocky floor at the
base of Tempestia it whirls along for
short distance and then plunges down
q ragged precipice 90 feet high. While max
ing this plunge the water is torn and
Strewn by the jagged rocks like the face of
the sea when swept by hurricane. For
this reason the fall is called Hurricane
After gathering themselves together in
stormy pool at the foot of Hurricane Fall
the waters roll onward to the next great
step in the giant stairs by which the
river descendS the great gorge of
the Tallulah. This step is 50
feet higa. Down this the stream
thunders, striking numerous lodges, which
dash the water outward and cause slight
resemblance to the waves of the ocean.
This fall is, therefore, called Oceana. The
river has now spent much Of It's fury, but
1t surges along, and a short distance further
on 1t leaps gracefully down rocky incline
q feet high. Here the water is churned as
Il INTO folds, which seem to mingle grace
1ully with each other. The volume of
water is well spread out, and from dis
lance 1t resembles a cloth of snowy white
ness. Hence this fall, which is the last of
the grand chain, is called the Bridal Veil
After the Bridal Veil the river sweeps in a
series OF rapids around a curve which is
called the Horseshoe Bend At the inner
Sde Oh this bend great neck of rock COW
cred with pine extends out from the rocky
HeClplce at It's back, and resembles the
mead OF huge turtle-shaped monster. At
me outer side of the bend rises tremend-
Gus wall of rock, circular in shape,
whlch Is called the Grand ChaSm
Below the Horseshoe Bend the terrible
Ilver becomes its old placid self, and moves
uown the valley as peacefully as if it had
never even dreamed of indulging in vio-
lence of any description. Down the sides
Of the precipices which overhang the falls
sush several narrow but beautiful cascades,
whlch lose their waters in the foaning tor
rents at the bottom of the gorge The
river is dotted here and there by huge
o9ulderS which have fallen from the rocks
ABOVE; The most striking of these boulders
resembles giant lion crouching before
wall OF rock over which he cannot hope to
spring. There amid the ceaseless spray and
roar and torrent of Tempestia, with his
SONY gaze fixed on the wall of adamant
Delore HIM, that majestic lion has crouched
through ages that have passed, and there he
VIII crouch and gaze through ages that are
Narrow paths lead up and down the sides
vi vi Pfeclpices and afford grand views.
AXIS nave been built in some places along
Lle slaes OF the river from which the lofty
TTelghts above appear to grand advantage.
from from the Drinks Of the precipices the falls
nave striking appearance, but when you
saze at them from this standpoint your