Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-02

How tho Great Scientist visited tho Cave
of the Winds

PROFESSOR TYNDALL Al NIAGARA.
How tho Great Scientist visited tho Cave
of the Winds.
One OF the ploasantesu. cha piers Of
| Prof. Tyudal's "tragmentS OF Science"
describes his exploration OF Niagara
| Falls in 1872. His visit there was a
true enough exploration. The follow
ing extracts from his long accounts tell
the story
"On the FIRST evening OF my visit
met, at the head Of Biddle Stair,
the guide to the Cove Of the Winds.
He was in the prime OF ma nhood-large,
well-Ouiit, firm, and pleasant in mouth
and eye. My interest ia tho scene
stirred up his and made MIN communi-
cative. Turning 90 a photograph he
described, by reference 80 IL, a feat
which he had accomplished some time
! previously, and which had brought him
almost under tho green water OF the
| Horseshoe Falls Can YOU lead me
there tomorrow? / asked. He eyed
me inquiringly, weighing, perhaps, the
chances OF man OF light build, aud
with gray in his whiskGrs, in such an
| undertaking. Il wish = added, to see
as much of tho falls as can be seen,
and where you lead / will endeavor 10
follow. His scrutiny relaxed into a
smile and he said Very well; l shall
be ready for you tomorrow
ION the morrow, accord ingly, came.
Ii the hut at the head OF Biddle's stairs
l stripped wholly, and redressed a ord
ing To instructious-dra on TWO
pairs OF wooden pantalo0ns, three wooden
jackets, two pairs OF socks an pair
of felt shoes. Even If wet my pl ne as
sured me that the clothes won keep
m fro haf obi DAD Ht..t t.sf
suit and hood of yellow o. r.-ta COW
cred all Most laudabls pre- autlons
were taken by the young al slant VINO
helped 10 dress me o. Keep ,ts water
out; but his devices bs4Ae d.wu Inme-
dlatcly when severely tested.
1--WE descended the stair, The faudle
or pitchfork doin-, .n my case, the
duty OF an NlpcustoC /. ~ che lotion
the guide inquired neither We should
20 first 20 the Cave o tho Wind or tho
Horse shoe, remarki-s that tle latter
would try Us most decided on get
ting the toughest done hr,l, and he
turned 10 the left over the stones. They
were sharp and glng. The base OF
the first portion of la cataract is COW
cred with huge bow 3ers, obviously the
ruins Of the limestone edge above. The
water does not DISTRIBUTE itself uni
formly among but Seeks for it,
SELF channels "A gh which it pours
torrentially. w assed some OF these
with wetted feet, Fut wi shout difficulty.
At length we cam} TO ghe side Of for
midable current.i Ny guide walked
along its edge until heireached its least
turbulent portion Waiting, he said,
This is our greatest difficulty; If we
can cross here we'shfll get far towards
the Horseshoe
1--WE waded in. {evidentiy required
az! his strength a eady him. The
water rose above 6iSVOins and IL foamed
still higher. He had to search for foot
ing amid unseen powders, against
which the torrent rose violently. He
struggled and swayed: but he struggled
successfully and finally reached tho
shallower water on the other side
Stretching out his arms lie said to me,
Now come on 1 looked down into
the torrent as it rushed TO the river be-
low, which was seething with the tu-
mutt OF the cataract | entered the
water. Even where 70 was not more
tnan knee deep - power was manifest.
As IL arose around me | sought TO split
the torrent by presenting a side TO it:
/ but the insecurity OF the footing ena-
bled II TO grasp my loins, twist me fair
y around aud bring its impetus TO bear
upon my back. Further struggle was
impossible and feeling my balance hope
lessly gone, ] turned, hung myself to-
ward the bank just quilted and was in
stantly, as expected, swept into shall
| lower water.
THE Ollcloth covering was n great
incumbrauCe; 10 mad been made Tor a
much stouter man, and standing upright
after my submersion, my lex occupied
two bags Of water. Prudence was at
my elbow whis pering discussion: but.
taxing everything into account, 10 ap-
peared moro immoral TO retreat than
10 proceed. Instructed by the first mis-
adventure, ! once more entered the
stream. Had the aipenstock been Of
iron II might have helped me, but as IL
was the tendency Of the water TO sweep
DO out OF my hands rendered 10 worse
than useless. j. however, clung to 10
by habit. Again the torrent rose aud
again | wavered; bot by keeping the
leit hip well against 10 I remained up
right aud at length graspcd the hand OF
my leader az the other side. Helaughed
pleasantly The first victory was
gained, aud be enjoyed 10. NO traveller
. lac said, was ever here before"
Professor Tyndal describes at length
their further progress, with much dif.
icu.ty, until they rounded the pomon-
tory on which the Terrapin Tower
stands'-tbi- was in 1872. before tho
tower was estroyed-"and moved
amid the widest c3mmotiou, along tho
arm OF the Horseshoe, until the bowl
ders failed Us, and the cataract fell into
inc profound gorge OF the Niagara
river Apart from it's scIsu.
t.le value. aud purely as a moral agent.
The Play was worth The candle. Mycom-
lau.Dn knew ro more OF me- than that
J enjoyed me Wilderness. but az bent
in tue shelter VI tis large form be said.
y should Ike % see you attempting %
describe al. Of tl.. do rightly
thought DO .Jescrtaae."
ins Good imployment
I.t1n Nrtt