New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-06
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
WHEN NIAGARA WAS DRY BEFORE.
IN MARCH, 1s4s. THE ICE IN LAKE ERIE DAMNED
THE WATERS.

IN MARCH, 1s4s THE ICE IN LAKE ERIE DAMNED
THE WATERS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: note In The Tribune of February 10 an article
under the following head The Cave OF the Winds
Dry-An Almost Unheard Of Phenomenon BY re-
ferring to G. W. Holeys book Niagara. Its History
and Geology published in 1872. will find the fol-
lowing record:
able phenomenon There is no record OF similar
one has it been observed since The winter naa
was very thick This was oosened around the
shores by the warm days Of the early spring IS oved
the whole body mp the lake About sundown tne
wind chopped suddenly around and blew gale rom
the west This brought the vast tract OF Ice down
again with such tremendous force that It filled In the
of the lake and the outlet so that the
it only needed short space of time for tie falls 20
drain off the water below Black Rock Inc cons e,
the Goth at Niagara we found that our river was
nearly half gone The American NS ohann srop Of
water ran over the Cave Of the Winds)
The British channel looked though 1t had been
stricken with quick consumption, ana was las.
passing away Far up from the head Of Goat Island
and out into the Canadian rapids the water was
gone as It was also from the lower END OF Goat
island out beyond the tower The rocks were bare.
black and forbiddng. The roar Of Niagara had SUD-
sided almost to a moan. The scene was desoia'e'
and but its novelty and the certainty that uS
change before many hours. would have been gloomy
and saddening Every person who has visited M
agara will remember beautiful Jet OF water which
shoots I'D into the air about forty rods south OF the
outer Sister Island in the great rapids caieo. win
singular contradiction OF terms, the Leapihs
Rock" The writer drove a horse ana buggy iron'
near the head OF Goat Island out to point above
and near that Jet With log cart and -FOUR horses
he had drawn from the outside of the outer isiahu
a stick of pine timber hewed IL inches square ana
40 feet long From top of the middle isiahd was
drawn still Tger stick hewed on one sue a"u w
There are few places on the globe where person ,Ha
would be less LIKELY 10 go lumDerihs ,nat n -. me
rapids OF the Niasard just above the pi.nh Vi .@
Horseshoe Fall All the people OF inc ne,sy ,ias
hood were abroad, exploring recesses anu avns
thar had never before been exposed 10 mortar go
The writer went some distance up the shore o. me
river Large helas OF the muddy bottom were , ,a.a
osre The sheish the unlvalves and the piVdNeS'
the unios cyclas and vavatas were N uespai.
Their housekeeping ard domestic arransements
with their backs up ard their open mouths Gown
in the mud were making Their sinuous courses our
fishes were wriggng in wonder to find themselves
inpounded In small pools where the room OF thel n
their company. Testudae found their backs out Oh
water without the necessity OF mounting log.
one monstrous individual OF the swapping otuer;
about the size crcumferentialy of a lf-bushel
measure, who was probably the patriarch OF ms
tribe. found himself obliged to survey more terri,
tory than he could conveniently compass and
VT lie seeking home had been captured oy
two ragged urchins, VINO nau secureu Ms a.,
as we'll as his teeth to the end OF an slder rod. with
which they were trying to draw him home with
his four feet stretched firmly and dehantly forward
and his eyes swapping with rage, he vas teSttud.-
nally not to say manfully. cOntesting every inch
OF the ground The writer suggested that he would
draw ca sier II the boys would turn him over on
mis- back This was a piece OF grand strategy for
which re was not prepared 1t took him not only
In tho flank but all over and all around. His arms
and armory were both upset. HIS eyes we're no
longer to the front on the contrary. they were
constantly liable be wiped In manner not at
all healthful or agreeable Turtle flesh and blood
could stand II no longer Conquerlng the proverb al
ton He would have been glad TO be backed by
his friends. but II intolerabe 10 be backed in
this manner by his enemies.
This singular syncope OF the water lasted all the
day and nght closed the strange scene But
in the morning river was restored In all It's
strength beauty and majesty. ard We were glad
b welcome It's swelling tide once more II.
Niagara Falls. Feb. q. 1896.