The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-02-02
NIAGARA FALLS SURPASSED.
A Grand Cataract Discovered in tho
Wilds of Labrador.

W AANO Va 40 Va 0NAVAs
A despatch from Quebec to the Boston
Herald says: Marvellous stories are related
by the few Montagnsis and Nascapee In
dams who have penetrated far into the
interior of Labrador respecting cataract,
beneath whose terrific leap Niagara pales
into insigni6cance. But one white man
has ever seen these falls, and the Indians
ideas Of measurements and distances are
10 imperfect that, even where their stories
agree, it is exceedingly difficult to deduct
from them anything like reliable data.
An expedition recently undertaken by
Randle F. Holme, F. r. G.. S., and H. Duff,
fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, to
explore the interior of Labrador and in
vestigate these falls unfortunately failed
in its object. the explorers having been
mislead by erroneous calculations as to
distances and the exact location of the
cataract, and compelled to return in con-
sequence of running short of provisions.
They got so near to the object of their
expedition, however, that they were en-
abled, from the general confguration of
the country, to form what must be toll
eroble correct estimate as to both the
location and magnitude Of the cataract.
This estimate agrees with the description
Of the grand falls furnished by Maclean,
who visited them in 1889, and whose
further porgress into the interior was
stopped by them. He gave the width of
the river Immediately above the falls at
1900 feet, but says that the cataract itself
10 not more than $50 feet across. The
height of the falls he estimates at 5000
feet. This estimate is Endorsed by half
breed named Kennedy, met by Messers.
Holme and Duff in the interior and who
30 years ago was in charge OF Fort Mas
capee on Lake Petchikapou. One of the
chef difficulties encountered by explorers
DESTROYS of Preaching the falls is the obstin-
ate refusal by the Labrador Indians to
visit them. They believe them to be
haunted, and think it impossible to look
upon them and live. Kennedy was con-
Quoted to them by an cid Indian named
Louis-over-the fire, who, being and Iro-
quois, did not share the superstitious belief
of the Montagnais and Nascapees. Messrs.
Holme and Duff were principally misIead
by the erroneous statements and calcu- |
Iations as to distances contained in Prof |
Kinds Labrador" the leading authority |
upon this virtually unknown country.
The falls are on the Grand or Petchikapou
river, which flows into Hamilton inlet.
They are 80 miles above Lake Wamini-
kapou, a body of water which is itself 40
miles long, and situated $50 miles inland
from the mouth Of the river. Professor
Hind gives this lake as only 100 miles
from the mouth Of the river, so that the
expedition of Messrs. Holme and Duff
has brought to light the fact that the best
works heretofore published upon this ter
ra incognita contain anything but reliable
data. They agree, however, with Professor
Hind that the elevation Of the immense
lakeland, which form the interior Of
Labrador, is about 2,24O feet. On this
height Of land are succession Of great
lakes, joined by broad, placid streams,
and when these reach the edge Of the
tableland they commence their wild ca
reer to the sea. The Meisie and the Cold
water rivers descend by successive falls,
but toward the southeast the descent from
the elevated tableland is quite sudden.
This is particularly true of the Grand
River, which has drop of over 1000 feet
in the 80 miles, commencing with falls
and ending at Lake Waminikapou. There
is slight rapid below the falls, but none
near the lake, and everything goes to
show that the height of the grand falls is
very little, if anything, short of 1900
feet. They are by great deal the highest
falls in existence that are composed of
any great volume of water. There are
mere mountain torrents that fall from
greater height and the great fall of the
Yosemite Valley measures 1850 feet, but
it is broken into three distinct leaps.
Niagara, on the other hand, has a height
Of 1874 feet ONLY.