The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-09
A DAY 1T NIAGARA.
Visit of Veterans and the Relief
Corps-Flags that Guard Nj
agara Gorge.
BY KATE BRowNLEE SHERWOOD

The interest in the 31si National Encamp
mept, G. A. r., was intensified by the visi,'
of thousands of Relief Corps women and
Grand Army veterans TO Niagara Falls one
of the greatest wonders of the world. The
picturesQueness of the scenes of earth and
air and water in that awe-inspiring region
were everywhere intensified by the group:
of bluecoats" as they went about in silent
admiration OF one of the greatest maryels Of
the land they helped to save.
Those who have not seen Niagara in recent
years will be glad to hear that the great
State of NV York now owns and controls
the islands and adjacent lands on the Ameri-
can side, thus reserving them rs a free park
forever against the encroachments of trade
and commerce and private speculation. Were
it not for this The big factories which have
sprung up with inventions 10 utilize the
water-power of Niagara. and which are
steadily multiplying in opposite directions
from the Falls, would have encroached even
upon the Horseshoe Bend and the Rapids of
the American side.
New York took action none too soon, as
even now there are factories holding water
privileges at the head of the gorge, which
greatly spoil ;he views up aud down, a sight
of which has been made possible since the
building of the railroad which runs down
below the Falls eight miles almost 10 where
Niagara River joins Lake Ontario.
Niagara Falls is the greatest cataract in
the world for the volume of water that falls
over it. There is a beautiful waterfall in
the Yosemite falling from hight so high that
one has to turn his head back wards TO look
mp to the high source from which il comes
but in magnitude, compared with Niagara
it is but silver thread in the splendors of
canopy of silver.
Niagara River is the only outlet for the
chain Of lakes-Superior, Michigan, Huron,
St Clair. and Erie-which comes down lin
seas OF water from the north and west. From
Its birth at the mouth Of Lake Erie it flows
along smoothly and serenely, dotted with
islands. until about a mile above the Falls,
IT strikes the rapids with fall of % feet,
and then plunges into a gulch below in
cataract, 164 feet on the American side and
$50 on the Canadian side.
After the plunge Niagara River widens out
and is placid enough for the Maid of the
Mist" 10 flit in and out of the ascending
clouds of spray and rapor, while now and
then a row-boat ventures its way across.
The river then enters a deep chasm less
than thousand feet across, and sweeps and
descending bed. The Niagara Gorge is most
interesting to biologists, with its terraced
rocks of shales and sandstones aud calca-
reous layers. Besides the Suspension Bridge
set below the Falls there is railroad bridge
spanning the Whirlpool Rapids far down the
george, which is most imposing and suggest
i've sight.
1t was beautiful day when. as the guest
of Mrs Linda dek. Fulton, Chairman OF the
Woman's Citizens Committee, i went out
from Buffalo to spend the day at Niagara,
her early home and the home of her dis
tinguished grandfather Gen. Whitney, of
Revolutionary fame. Early in the day we
went down the gorge until We reached the
Canadian ferry, crossing over to the quaint
old village Of Queenstown, where, on the
nights, the British have erected Brooks
monument 1t is region of Indian legends,
wild romance, lofty scenery, and remnants
of prehistoric and aboriginal races. There
at the summit of the stairway is Council
Rock, rising 40 feet higher than the strata
70 which it belongs, around which. the In
dian Chiefs held annual pow-wows.
There is Devils Hole cut horizontally for
nearly three-Quarters of a mile by the Cliff
jewellers of far-disiant ages, and there frown-
ing high above. is the projecting precipice
over which the British soldiers were driven
during the battle of Bloody Run. This was
In old Colonial days of the French war,
Sept. IA, 1863, ia years ago, when $50
British soldiers going from Font Niagara to
Fort Schlosser were attacked by Seneca In
dams, who killed many of the men and
drove the rest, with horses, wagons, and
supplies, into the Niagara gorge below
Passing down the gorge, at the bend of
q yer a hGhn dc
Of imposing grandeur, that makes the blood
How faster. Tie river becomes narrower
and narrower in the mighty gorge, the
canyon walls sleeper and sleeper, the rapids
more swift, and the whirling eddies more
threatening and strong; then, like some
fierce Titons of the deep, the waves mount
and toss and struggle like wrestling athletes
10 break their encroaching barriers and pull
down the preclpices from their rocky founda-
tions.
Far above wrought-iron bridge bears
across IRAN OF cars, passing from the
American 10 the Canadian side A moment
more and one sees, far above, on the Cam
Roan side, the flag of Great Britain the
red, white, and blue of The Union Jack.
with the cross Of ST. George in the center.
Another spin of the car and, on the summit
OF the American side. The Stars and Stripes
float cut 10 kiss the morning breeze and 10
exchange salutes with the mother flag across
the cavern.
Past COmmander-in-Chie /. y. Walker,
of Indianapolis, was aboard the train.
What subject for poem, General" i
said. That is the bridge of peace and
arbitration between The United States and
Great Britain. Suppose that bridge should
break-what an awful plunge ihe train
would take into The destroying whirlpool"
Then and there came the poem, which is
herewith given and dedicated 10 Mrs. Full
ton. By the way, it was for Mrs. Full
tons mother and two sisters that the Three
Sisters-islands at the loot of the rapids, Just
above the Niagara FalIs-were named.
These islands are just below the point where
the historic VIII they manson stands, on a
green slope which sweeps down TO the river