The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-06
AT NIAGARA FALLS.


Special correspondence of REPuBLIoAS.
NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y, August 8, 1891.
Here we are at the great wonder oil
the world. We got here at l.S0 to-day.
and were driven Immediately to the
Niagara Falls House, where We domi-
ciled while interviewing this great
wonder OF wonders. When l say we
are here I mean only the advance of
the excursionists, eight In number, who
left Watkins Glen on Monday morn
ing and came through by rail direct,
while the other and much larger party,
wanted q boat ride on Lake Seneca,
and for that purpose took passage on
the steamer Schuyler and rode to Gem
eva at the other end, from whence they
came by rail to Niagara about three
hours later than those who came di-
rect.
We came through magnificent agri-
cultural country. Along each shore
OF lake Seneca, the principal business
OF the farmer seemed to be to raise
grapes at which more money could be
made, 1t is said, Than at any other bust
ness. From Watkins to Canandaigua
Is Al miles and Canandaigua Is 240
miles from Harrisburg. A typograph-
ical error mad me say in my last that
Watkins had IL, 500 Inhabitants. 1t has
Just one tenth that number. The beau
tiful farming countries continues
from Canandaigua en- to Rochester a
distance of go miles more. Judging
from the large number of apple or
chards to be seen this must be a great
apple country, but certainly not this
year, for orchard after orchard was
passed without seeing an apple.
At Rochester we had lay over for
half an hour which gave us time enough
to look around and see that 1t was con-
siderable of city. The census put it
down in 1880 at $1,000 Leaving Ro-
chester at 1880 we are in full swing
for the Falls. Barren orchards con.
tinue all the way, but what country
1t is for raising beans. There are acres
OF them-the real soup kind, but other
truck is largely raised also. At Ito p.
M, we come In sight OF cloudy mist
arising in the air ahead and We know
that we are nearing the Falls. Tho
laundering roar. however, that we
have read SO much about we did not
hear, Expecting to see thesuspension
bridge high up in tho air we looked
for it but it did not appear. We were
surprised to find that it was lower
down than the streets of Niagara, and
had to be reached by descending an
inclined plane instead of an ascending
one and still the railroad track of the
bridge is 25S feet above the rapids be-
low.
The river is 30 deep down in the
gorge that we had to go up to the pre-.
cipice and look over to see it. Other
rivers, like the Delaware and Susque-
hanna, can be seen miles distant glim-
mering in the sunlight, but this raging,
roaring, lcaping Niagara below the
falls constructs itself seliishly Into a
deep narrow gorge, a terror to all who
see 1t. But now we are at the depot
where We are met with a number of
bowling cabmen, each inviting you to
tho best hotel. Our bargain is soon
made. The driver of our oight-seated
open harouche agreed to take our par
ty OF eight for one dollar each, to the
Niagara Falls Hotel TO dine, call for
us in an hour, give us five hours
drive toall the points of INTEREST," and
around the Falls, and return us to our
hotel again. Faithful to his promise,
our cicerone came with his barouche
and we were of to see the sights. A
drive OF mile and half brought us
to the entrance to the whirlpool, which
is abouttwo miles below the Falls.
The trinket seller is here in force and
you have to put on bold front and
run the gauntlet of them IL you want
to save you money. Inside guide is
assigned you, and he takes you to on
where you can look al
most perpendicular 800 feet dowf
upon an apparently caged-in mass oil
water rushing wildly around a circle
as III seeking place of escape. This
distant view not suiting our party We
asked our guide ii we could descend
below. He said yes but he did moi
go along. We went without him but
we afterwards wished we hadn't
Down the rickety steps we zigzagged
'(some of our party turned lack unit
we reached the bottom and felt thu
water to see IL it was like other waters
The whirlpool is basin washed out o.
the Canadian hill in space about two
acres. Into this basin the raging wa t
Iers tumbled and foamed and boiled
and rolled around the circle us If seek
ing foran outlet, which they find aftel
many upheavals and dashes arount
the amphitheatre,
Contrary to most whirlpools this one
had no hollow vortex in the centre bui
was ltlt
ing seen all we could we started OF
our return. This was the hardest of
all. l. was no easy task to go up BOO
steps in broiling sun, but we got to
the top pulling, blowing and sweated.
We concluded we would take no more
walks to the river.
The next place visited was tho rapids
above the whirlpool. Here We were lei
down by ar elevator and brought back
in the same manner. A lot OF trinket
girls were at the top and the photo.
graph man was at tho bottom to take
your money ii you were easy-going
enough to unloose yonr purse strings
and let it go. The rapids;well, we can,
not describe them. They are awfully
grand and sublime. Two miles and q
halt OF spread out river above the
Falls were here compressed in n space
800 feet wide. 1t has to struggle and
wrestle to get out of this narrow de,
file. The water here is lashed into q
continuous fury. 1t seemed to leap as
high us house roofs in its mad effort
to get away 1t was In this gorge that
Captain Webb lost his life.
These rapids are worth seeing every
day in the year. The kind elevator
brings MS back and we pass over the
bridge to the Canadian
side. 1t cost us each ten cents to cross
and the driver had to pay much more.
for his horses and baroche.- Then we
come to the Queens Ontario Park, and
at the entrance were the words "Ad-
mission Free. Passing through this
beautiful park we come close up to the
Canadian Falls and alighting stand
with dripping umbrellas underline fall
ing spray. Here we are right in front
OF this great wonder ofnatnre. Right
before mighty river tumbles over
tour-sixths OF its contents intoan abyss
OF 1853 feet below. Nobody knows any
thing about where the bottom of this
river is, from its leap over the precipice
until far away below tho whirlpool.