The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-28
In HER WINTER DRESS.
NIAGARA HAS TAKEN ON HER ICY
GARD EARLY THIS YEAR.

Great Ice Hricgc Formed In the Gorge
Immediately Below the FaIIs-Gains In
Size Each Day and Is q veritable Noun
tan of Ice-Eridges OF Other Years.
Niagara has donned her winter dress
and is now ~radiaptly beautiful in winters
grasp. An Ice bridge Of apparently great
strength has formed in the gorge immedi-
ately below the falls. 1t extends from q
point In frons of the American fall quite
"a distance down tho river in front of the
canal milling district, and Is thus much
larger than usual.
1t also extends beyond the portal Of tho
Niagara Fails Power %company's tunnel,
the stream from which IL was feared might
eat ava the foundations Of an ice bridge,
and thus prevent Its formation. But this
has been proved a fallacy.
AS yet the leo mountain has not attained
tho mammoth proportions of tho bridges
of former years, but IL is still early, and
thore is IA prospect of the usual magnificent
growth, for each cold day adds to tho
mighty mound. In tho park and on the
islands nature hos arraycd herself In spot
less white robes. The appearance Is rs
though each tree, each shrub, each twig,
was hewn from purest marble. Truly 1t
Is a fairy scene nat greets one on every
side. Admiring humanity Is constantly
passing from point ~ point, hardly know
Ing which view to applaud most.
The first to cross the bridge OF 1896
were W young mon named Rickert and
n man named Franklin. 1t was Wodnes-
day afternoon, Jan. 10, whom they made
the trip, and they reported the bridge very
rough. Day by day will add to the crowd,
and soon wc shall see the rough wooden
structures spring up on the bridge ut mid
stream, where the owners will defy the
laws Of two countries In selling different
beverages to warm the inner man.
Deep below Thorn the current Of the river
flows ever onward.
The present bridge formed about ono
week earlier thar the majority of other
structures of its kind. In 1893 this record
was beaten by four days, the Ice bridge OF
that year having formed on Jan. 3. Jack
MoCloy was the first TO cross IL, but he re-
turned to the American side by way of the
suspension bridge. In 1888 the first
bridge formed OF Jan. 15 and tho second
Oh Jan. 20.
The second formation lasted 10 weeks,
and when 1t came 1t carried away over 100
feet OF tho inclined railway building. Tho
Park company, which was then in posses
sion, cleared away the debris and cut a
tunnel s by 10 feet and about 90 feet long,
SO as to reach the bridge proper. When
this second great jam of 1888 came, Jack
McCloy was living in a house near the
waters edge; on the Canadian side. His
house was carried quito a distance from
its foundations and tipped over. A clock
that fell off a shelf stopped at 90 min
utes after IL a. m.
A bridge that formed Jan. IA, 1885, re-
manned about nine weeks. On Jan. IS,
1886, q bridge formed, but moved out the
same day. The great ice bridge of 1883
formed on the night Of Jan. IA. 1t was
the first bridge after the state took posses
sion of tho reservation lands and il ro-
manned a long time. On the morning of
Jan. 23, 1891, an ice bridge formed, but
went out at boon the same day. There
was no bridge in 1880 or 1892.
Tho Niagara ice bridge is q magnificent
display of the power of small things whom
united. Many who visit these wonderful
formations expect to find them composed
of massive cakes Of Ice, but, on che CON-
trary, discover that there are few pieces
larger thaIfa peck measure. This fact in
creascs tho marvel Of the bridge.
The different manner In which visitors
arc impressed by Niagara's winter beauty
Is best illustrated by IN incident that hap
poned some years ago when the park was
private property and Hans Nelson was
president Of tho company In possession.
While MIR. Nelson was In his office two
we'll dressed ladies entered, and addressing
him inquired where the leo bridge was,
and informed him that thoy had come a
long distance to 500 1t. They had, they
said, looked all along from tho Whirlpool
rapids to the falls, but could not find IL.
When told that II they would step out
to tho river bank and look down below
them In the gorge the much sought object
would be seen, they expressed 10 little sur
prise and said they had supposed the fall
ing spray from the falls kept freezing and
mado a bridge 60 that people could cross
from cliff to cliff. This absurdity Of this
idea Is apparent to all who havo visited
Niagara and know that the tops of the
cliffs arc 200 feet above the water In tho
lower river. Certainly a bridge formed az
these ladies had pictured 1t would oon,.
mand rare attention.
On no river In the world Is q Jam of leo
so regularly welcomed Us II Is at Niagara.
When winter falls, tho dread OF an leo
gorge docs not take possession of the peo-
pie as It does In somo localities, for tho leo
gorge does not bring an overflow OF tho
streams to carry dosolation and death. II
comes not as "A destroyer, but as a bcauti-
ful wonder.
With the advent Of winter an Ice bridge
Is watched for, and when ut last tho rivers
surface IL crowded with tho icy cakes and
a bridge IA formed, IL Is hoped by all that
IL will remain with tho season, for tho
brilye. with its ~u.uuptains ire ~yallavs and
imaginary human formations, completes
a beautiful picture. the other objects In
which are the great cataract itscif falling
behind the thick, 10y wall that I'm severe
cold weather forms In front of II, the
grand ico mountain, tho trees and every
thing about loaded TO breaking down with
the tov cov.rip, aud ppndanto -N.xv N.~l