Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-04-30
EyR4T I SAW OUT WEST.
By DAVID HILL.


ments we started out for the mos1
eventual trip OF the day ride or
the "daid of the Mist" No trip to
Niagara Falls is complete without thai
most thrilling and interesting voyage
AZ first glance it looked dangerous
and a most like a fool hardy under
taking for rs to trust our lives in a
tottlish bark out among those turbu
ie1t breakers; but as thousands haC
made the trip before us without an
accident, we concluded to cast our lot
in with the rest. Going down an al
m ost endless flight of wooden steps,
1--WE concluded to walk but regretted
it before the bottom was reached) we
crossed the gangway, rushed for the
rubber suits IN the cabin, quickly ad-
justed them to our bodies, after which,
we sought the deck. One glance
around us soon convinced us that the
little steamer was not so frail bark
as we had imagined; but was power
fully constructed vessel, and as we
soon learned, contained engines Of
immense power and strength. Once
in miistream we began to creep up
against the powerful current, past the
Cave of the Winds and Terrapin rock,
and soon found ourselves in the midst
Of the laundering, smoking, surging
and hurting waters at the foot of
Horse Shoe Falls. It was a thrilling
moment. At one moment we would
be tossed high up on the crest OF
mass of seething cream colored foam,
then would go plunging down into an
immense cavern of angry waters, with
the pleasing assurance that, if we did
swamp, it still would be one hundred
feet more to go down before the bot
tom was reached. The vessel, how
ever, dashing the waters from her
powerful sides, would rise up out Of
the cavern, tremble for moment on
the crest of another wave, then
plunge forward again, this time with
prospect of being dashed to pieces on
the rocks in front of us; but the next
moment, under the skillful guidance
of the pilot, we should turn back, only
to be swept with lightning like ra-
pidity far out into midstream and
right into the center Of that boiling,
rolling and glittering foam. The roar
was deafening. We shuddered when
the steamer almost poked her nose
right into the midst of that angry
Il
but for the rubber suits we would
have been drenched to the skin. No
one uttered a word. 1t was one Of
those times in life when words were
inadequate to express our feelings.
We only duplicated our actions of the
and wondered. How
could we be more impressed with the
terrible force and majestic appear
ance of Niagara Falls than to be tossed
about on those roaring, glittering, flu
rious waters at her very feet! 1t was
4 sight mingled with feelings that can
never be forgotten.
q Leaving the little steamer, and with
plenty Of time still before us, we
started for the big elevator situated
n Niagara Fails village, and which
now serves a 5 one of the principle at
ra ctions of the place. 1t was a com
dictated network of iron, seemingly
rail to look at, but no doubt strong
md substantial, rising three hundred
eet Or more into the heavens, and
With an observatory on top. After
ooking over the museum on the
ground floor, we paid our little fee,
,ntered the iron cage, and before we
'ealized it were shot upwards with a
'apidity that astonished us. AS we
'ose above the spires Of the tallest
with the earth rapidly re-
,eding beneath our feet and with that
ron framework above us growing
smaller and smaller with appalling
we began to feel like ask
ng the elevator boy if that machine /
hadn't forgotten to stop; but just as
We were about to do SO, it did stop,
Ind we were told to foot it I
Up couple Of miles further by spi
al stairway, after which, if We were
lot satisfied, we could climb on top of
he weather vane which was situated |
till higher. Once in the observatory,
and after having accustomed
ourselves to that dizzy height, the
panorama that was spread out before
Is was magnificent. On all sides was
omething to admire to
hold entranced. Before us was a |
world of art and nature combined.
The hills, valleys, open plains, forests
inged with autum's golden, the sun
,issed waters and distant mountain
hains fecking the horizons rim, and