The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-12-05
THE GREAT CATARACT.
AN IMMENSE WATERFALL RIv-
ALiNO NIAGARA.
In IN Almost InsccsssIbls Part OF I.abra-
dor = Party OF Bowdoin College
Students Discovered the
Wonder.

Last summer party Of students from
Bowdoin college went on an expedition
to Labrador The results OF the trip far
exceeded the hopes OF the projectors.
Grand falls were discovered and photo
graphed. and, though not Us high as
reported. presented beautiful sight
The total fall is upward of 500 feet
divided into one fall OF 200 feet and
six rapids and cascades varying from
100 to 20 feet
The exploring party OF four men.
all graduates OF the college headed
by Austin Cary, left their schooner.
provided with two Rushton boats and
all the modern Instruments for meas
uring heights and distances. Their
success in navigating the river far OK
ceeded their expectations. and such
good progress was made that they had
passed Lake Wamininkapou and had
reached point five miles in advance
OF the farthest point reached by Mr..
Holmes in 1888. At this place, on &C.
count of disabled arm. Mr. Young
and Il companion were obliged to turn
back.
Messrs. Cary and Cole proce eded on
toward tho falls. which had been re-
ported TO be distant fifty miles. After
going u short distance they were
obliged, on account of the rapidity OF
the current to leave their boat and
make the journey on foot. From this
point thor progress was necessarily
very slow, the woods being very thick
and the mosquitoes and black flies al
most unbearable. The explorers
found the falls to be much further
cway than they expected. but after
three days tramp their labors were re-
warded by deafening roar in the dis
lance. Their provisions were now
nearly gone, stores having been
cached on the way up. but they pushed
resolutely on to the height OF the
Labrador plateau called the Height
OF Land" 1t is this plateau which is
the source OF the stream and the de-
scent OF the river to the sea forms the
falls and rapids
AS they neared the falls magnifi-
cent sight spread before them. The
spray, which was visible for twenty
miles, rose in u cloud from the descent
OF the water. and the solid rock be-
meath their feet trembled preceptibly.
From the falls the water flows through
a canyon formed of archan rock. the
sides OF which rise to n height OF 500
feet and are heavily wooded at the
top. Through this canyon the water
flows with terrific force, making it alb
solutely impossible for any boat to live
in such sea- The height of the falls
has been exaggerated. and. while pre-
senting n grand and beautiful sight
the falls measure only 200 feet in the
perpendicular. The rapids increase
the total altitude of the falls to 500
feet
Above the falls the width of the
river is 800 yards narrowing until il
reaches the falls to width OF only
fifty yards when it plungcs with Il
terrific roar over tho rapids and falls
into tho narrow gorge below Mr.
Cole descended To the foot of the tails
and succeeded in obtaining some good
pletel tho observation Of the falls. the
explorers kept on a few miles above
10 the height of land where from
peak christencd by them Mount Hyde
Bowdoin, they bad IL tine prospect of
the surrounding country. The plateau
is nearly all wooded with thick.
though not large growth Of soft tim.
bers.
At this point their provisions being
all but gone, they set ont for a return.
On reaching the point whore they left
their boat they found that the camp
fire which they had built had con-
sumed the boat and with il theil.
whole stock Of provisions. a gun and
I'M octant Their position was now
somewhat critical Three hundred
miles on river heretofore UNEMPLOYED.
with no boat. no help and no provis-
ions until they would reach their first
cache. They set bravely to work.
however. and with a small Ratchet for
their only implement constructed u
small raft binding the logs together
wi h spruce roots. On RATS made in
this way they traversed the 800 miles
to the mouth of tho river enduring
the greatest hardship.
Their only weapon was n small re-
volvcr for which they had but twenty
five cartridges. With it they shot
fcw squirrels, making meal on each
animal On the way down five differ
ent RATS were constructed. the max
ing Of which in their wasted condition.
consumed great amount of time and
energy They reached the vessel
safely, however. receiving royal
welcome from thoir friends The falls
which they have discovered are re-
ported to have been seen by two en-
ploycs Of the Hudson Bay company
but no authentic account OF any such
discovery hao been given. The sue
cessful result OF the expedition was
due wholly TO the heroic efforts OF
Messrs Cary and Cole. and Bowdoin
college may we'll be congratulated by
her sister colleges for the addition
which she has made to tho heretofore
scant knowledge OF the geography OF
Labrador
Something Interesting.