The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-08-27
THE THOUSAND ISLANDS.
BEAUTIES OF A TRIP ON THE ST
LAWRENCE RIVER.
From Niagara Falls to Alexandria Bay q
Veritable Kaleidoscope of Beauty-Inter-
esting Account of an Interesting
Tour-An Interesting Letter.
ALEXANDRIA BAY TO WASHINGTON,
AuguSt II. 1901.

Boarding the train at Niagura, il
the early morn, our steam pony tray
els with gallant speed past the Whirl
pool Rapids, where the white foam
losses and the mad torrent roars like
an angry giant past the Whirlpool
over whose swirling bosom only one
navigator has ever been known t.
steer. Past QuccnStOn on the Canada
side, from whose rocky height looms
straight against the sky the lofty
monument erected by the British
government. in memory of Sir Isaac
Brooke, who commanded the army at
the battle of Quecnston Heights, on
the 18th day Of October, 1912, and
yielded his life in the struggle. The
shaft is Of frcestOne, rising seventy
i've feet from base thirty feet; it is
surmounted by Il corinthian capital,
on which stands Il statue of the noted
officer. The view from this point is
exceptionally fine, if one will take the
time to drive down the Canada side.
After Il run of seven miles Lewiston is
reached, and here the customs officer
begins his rounds as you establish
yourself on the spacious steamer,
bound for Toronto. His Investigations
were very limited so far as personal
experience goes, for, placing his hand
upon my satchel he said in sweet, per-
suasive tone: "There is nothing but
personal apparel and toilet articles?'
"Nothing," l answered, and his chalk
crossmark was forthwith placed upon
it without further parley. Some were
not quite so fortunate, for one poor
lady with her three-decked trunk was
compelled to stand by and see the
contents most unceremniously dealt
with, even to the unrolling of little
paper package which contained two
or three crackers.
Here the river is calm and beautiful
as our own Potomac. and one cannot
realize that only a few miles back such
terrible upheaval and down pour Of
the torrent is going on day in, day out
through all the ages.
A mile or so on, we cross to the other
shore and touch the wharf of Niagara
on-the-lake 1.-THE Canadian Chatauqua)
where more eXcursionists join our
boat for the cruise across the lake.
Ssven miles from Lewiston, we pass
between Fort Massasauga, on the
Canada, and Fort Niagara on the
American shore, and reach the broad
bosom of the blue Ontario. We leave
land and sail on the wide waste of wa
tiers where earth and sky meet; the
crested pillows dash high and one
wants no better taste of the ocean than
this sail affords. Far away the white
caps rear their heads; seagulls spread
their pinions, and lave their breasts
in the tossing spray, and u feel
ing of solitude steals over one
as the vast eXpanse of water stretches
away, away beyond AL, bound.
Three and a half hours brings you to
the beautiful bay ON which is situated
Toronto, the capital of the Province OF
Ontario, and termed the queen city OF
Canada. Here close connection is
made with the outgoing palace
steamer Spartan for Alexandria Bay,
Montreal and Quebec. The appoint
mcnts of this steamer are fine and it's
purser and captain delightful English
gentlemen. The afternoon wears
quickly away. Darlington, large
trading place for flour and grain, is
called; then we steam on for more
than sixty miles, reaching Port Hope
toward SHUTDOWN; still on another six
miles and the beautiful harbor o.
COburg is reached; but now the gong is
sounding and the bountiful table i'm
the great dining cabin invites the
hungry traveller to enter and enjoy.
Sons of England and Ireland are the
walters and perform their duties we'll
and one article of the menu is especi-
ally remembered-the white fish OF
the lake, deliciously delicate in flavor.
In the cleaning our party ensconce
themselves in the stern and listen to
the music of the waves, watch the
stars as their kindling fires CLEAN or
the brow of night, and while away the
hours with snatches of hymn or song
until Somnes waves his wand, and
staterooms are sought with eager
haste. The crowd was great and those
not having secured stateroOms in adj
rance were obliged to seek comfort in
the saloon on the folding couches. One
dear old lady had the couch opened
and spread, then seeming to grow
oblivious of the surroundings, she
quietly dOnned her night-cap, un-
loosened her dress front to give ease
in breathing and laid her gray head
down upon the pillow with the free
dom of Il child, and the passengers
only smiled to see how thoroughly at |
home the dear old saint could make
herself
In the glow of the early dawn we
entered that enchanting region
Thousand Islands, and each boat
length in our ownward movement re-
vealed new beauties. Alexandria bay
was reached about 7:30 O'Clock, from |
whence we took the little steam ferry
for our hOtel-Central Park, which
was reached in ten minutes, and
breakfast was soon being discussed.
This hotel is beautifully located, and
the rooms, fresh, clean and nicely APP
pointed-especially must L mention
the good bed, with it's dainty dress