Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-14
Is 1T GREATER THAN NIAGARAs
Mr.. Bryant's Proposed Visit to the Grand
Falls In Labrador.
Phil06slphi1 Record

Mr.. Bryant's Proposed Visit to the Grand
Falls In Labrador.
Philadelphia Record
The mystery which has always hung
over the Grand Falls in the interior OF
Labrador is to be cleared away at last,
and In few months the scientific world
will know whether the falls in Grand or
| Hamilton River are the greatest In the
world, or whether the previous accounts
have been greatly exaggerated. Henry
| G.. Bryant, a member Of the Philadel-
phia bar, accompanied by Prof. kenis-
tor Of Georgetown University, is now
on his way to visit the falls, and will
sail to-day from st. Johns, Newfound-
land, on the next TO the last stage OF the
! journey.
Only two white men have ever seen
| the falls, so far as is known, and they
both place the height Of 1000 feet.
Both of the men stood high in the SER
vice OF the Hudson Bay Company, and,
although they saw the falls at different
times, their accounts agree In nearly
every particular. Maclean, the first to
reach the scene, conducted an expedl-
ton into the interior in 1899, and was
| stopped by these falls. Kennedy reach
! ed them under the guidance Of an lro-
ouois Indian, who had spent most OF his
| life in Labrador. The native Indians
| give the falls wide berth, owing TO a
tradition long current among them that
| they are haunted by evil spirits, and
! that no man can look upon them and
! live.
Above the falls the river is said to be
500 yards broad, contracting TO fifty
yards at the falls themselves. II this
account be true, then in the whole
world there is no other fall having
such a volume of water descending at q
| bound from such a stupendOus bound
| from such a stupendouS height. Mag
ara'S volume of water is far greater,
but its height is only 164 feet. The
famous falls of Zambesi are but 100
feet. In the Yosemite Valley there is 3
fall of 1850 feet, but this is broken in
three leaps, and the volume of water Is
not equal to that of the Grand Falls OF
Labrador. Thus, taking into account
the combination of height and volume,
these Grand Falls OF Labrador throw
all others into the shade.
A fall OF 1900 feet has generally been
regarded as utterly inconcelvable, how
ever, and various efforts have been
made to verify the reports of Maclean
and Kennedy. In 1887 Randle f. Holme
of Oxford University, made an effort TO
reach the falls, but his provisions gave
out when he supposed himself within
fifty miles of his journeys end, and he
was absolutely forced to go back.
Mr.. Bryant has carefully studied the
situation, and has mado his preparations
with so much care that his success is re-
garded rs assured. He sailed from New
York on June %, and reached st. johns
two days later. All his supplies were
purchased there and his final arrange
ments completed, and to-day ne sails
for Battle Harbor, on the Strait of Belle
Islse. Another steamer will take him
to Rigolet, a post of the Hudson Bay
Company, in Hamilton Inlet, from where
a two days sail will land him at North
west, from where he will begin his last
Journey Of 800 miles up the Grand River
Besides himself and Prof. Remission
Mr.. Bryant hopes to take about eight
Indians and white man for guide II he
can get one. The journey uD the river
will be made in canoes, which must be
carried around the many rapids and
falls. 1t is estimated that the trip of
800 miles each way can be made in
about six weeks, and on that estimate
Mr. Bryant will get back to Northwest
about the middle of September, and to
| Philadelphia about October l. His idea
is, however, to come back by different
route if practicable.
In letter to his mother and brothers
in this city Mr.. Bryant speaks very hope
fully of his trip. The French priest, a
very intelligent man who makes pill
grimages through Labrador, estimates
the height of the falls at about 1000
feet.
Mr.. Bryant, the head and front of the
expedition, is a graduate Of Princeton
| College, and was admitted to the Phila-
| delphia bar in 1856. He has not prac-
ticed much, however, devoting most Of
! his time to travel and scientific studies.
His present venture is undertaken solely
on his own responsibility, to settle the
| long disputed question of the height of
the great falls, and, II successful, will
make him famous in the world OF
| science and travel. He has wide field
/ before him, as few portions Of Labrador
beyond the coast have ever been visited
by white men, and only the barest out
/ line of its geography is known.