The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-27
MEXICO'S GREAT WATERFALL.
1t Rivals the Lofty Cascades of the
Yosemite.


Yosemite.
Mexican Letter in st. Louis Grobe-Demo.
crat
Not frequently in this advanced age does
it transpire that one of natures most mar
velous works has been allowed to remain
unchronicled among the Recognized Won
ders of the earth and generally unknown
to majority of the inhabitants of a
world it was designed to adorh, yet, Sc
questered among the verdant hills and
wales of central Mexico, not because Of
any remoteuess or inaccessibillty, for it is
situated within a days journey by rail
from the capital city of the republic, ard
only a few hours travel from the fair
metropolis, Guadalajara, in the state of
Jalisco but because of the hardness on
the part of those who worship at natures
shrine in availing themselves of the al
lurements of this truly delightful section
this land of manana, of POGO tempo, and
sweet forgetfulness-all the more sublime
because of its unheralded majesty there
exists a masterpiece of natures nandi
work, unrivaled in its own peculiar beau
ties and environments. 1t Is the great
fall of Juanacatlan.
The immediate approach Go the falls is
in itself an artists dream of rural de
station of Ell Castillo, one is conveyed by
a native tram car for a distance of five
miles through a beautiful circular valley
thousands of acres in area and resem-
bling in the graceful curves of it's sur
rounding hills and the delicate tints of
it's labyrinths of wild flowers, a mammoth
sea she'll At frequent intervals above the
tops of the tall grasses and tropical
shrubs glimpses are caught of the broad
winding Rio de Santiago, its waters has
tening onward to the mad plunge.
Having traversed perhaps two-thirds of
this enchanting landscape, ones ear grad
ually becomes conscious of a low, distant
murmur which steadily increases 20 a
deep rumble and from that to a mighty
roar and presently the tram-car comes TO
standstill at the very brink of a high
precipice from which is viewed through
clouds of yaporous mist, the sight Of
thousands of tons of water plunging over
a wall of gray granite in a steady I'M
broken cataract $50 feet in width, for a
sheer distance of 60 feet into a seething,
eddying vortex below.
For time the mind is apt to be held in
rapt contemplation of the grand specta-
Gle; then by degrees the senses are awak-
ened to the various characteristics, the
exquisite effects. and weird vagaries If
the foaming, falling waters. At the ex-
IRENE further shore a portion of the run
ming flood is turned aside by a spur of
granite and hurled obliquely against the
face of the combining wall, from which 1t
rebounds in fine Veil-like cascade while
from the top of the precipice on the near
er side long, trailing vines droop down
and reach out their tendrils as if in vain
efforts to grasp the descending torrents.
Associated with these falls is a strange
and beautiful phenomenon 1t is the con-
slant presence of myriads of gorgeous
of the great cascade and to and fro
through the clouds of drifting vapor.
seemingly attracted and fascinated by the
dazzling, buffeting avalanche of foam
Not least magnificent of all its varied
features are the ever-visible, ever-chang-
ing rainbow effects. Reflected in the sill
very msts at many a different angle-at
one moment arched in radiant span
from shore to shore, the next caught by
counter-current of vapor and borne Up
ward in a whirling column of iridescent
light-their delicate hues are blended into
fantastic combinations of color such as
would challenge reproduction through cal
cium agencies
The foot of the falls is reached oy a
winding stairway of masonry down the
side of the cliff, at the foot of which. smut
in by massive walls of solid rock, the
cannonading of the waters is deafening
Here one is completely enveloped in the
driving mist which at first partially OBJ
scures the vision, but gradually the eyes
become accustomed to the change from
the upper atmosphere, and behind the
sheet of descending water, deep. caver-
nous assures can be discerned from the
glistening walls of which fitful shadows
are thrown back in unreal, grotesque ar
ray. Just above the falls the river attains
width of $40 feet, and near the center
is a romantic little island, densely covered
with Towering plants and banana trees and
populated by tropical birds of brilliant
I plumage. In coves and recesses along
the banks of the stream water lilies grow
in great profusion, and the air is con-
stantly laden with their perfume.
Nestled among the hills in the distance
on the opposite side of the river is the
| picturesque little hamlet of Juanacatlan,
its ancient belfries and red-tled roofs
! just visible above the tree tops and i'm
mediately below the falls is the manufac-
turing village of Ell Salto 0he fallO,
where within the past four years a large
| electric plant transmitting a current for
! upward of 1900 arc and incandescent
| lights distance of IS miles to the city OF
| GuadalajaTa, has been established. to-
| gether with several factories. all of wnicn
derive their power from the tremendous
force of the great cataract, yet without
| detracting in the least from its superb
| grandeur and though the industries of
this busy little town should multiply ten
| fold the waters of Juanacatlan would
still continue to plunge in unimpaired vol
| ume and beauty from their granite nights
| through the shimmering mist clouds
| below.
KEY. Stopford w. Brooke has just re-