The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-14
NIAGARA FALLS NOW
A MANTLE OF ICE
Continued from First Page.)

quarry of stainless marble. The Falls
alone looked as they did years ago under
the light of an early summer morning
when I tramped up and down stairway
and over Goat and Luna Islands before
breakfast, enchanted with the first view
of superb Niagara The warm light of
an early morning lit up the radiant
waters, and three shifting rainbows play
cd like dancing spirits on the pillows Of
mist that rose high in the face of the ris-
ing sun. Birds sung in the trees, and
there was an undertone in the roar OF
the waters that suggested the music OF
a mighty organ. That day / shall never
forget. Nor can the memory OF frozen
Niagara ever fade from the mind OF one
who has seen it. The roaring cataract
dashed a relentless demon adown its ice
bound lodges, the white mist rose to
the clouds in changing volumes, the
winding stairways were covered with
untrodden snow, the ice-b bridge which had
formed Just below the falls was covered
with snow which did not, however, con-
ceal the treacherous riffs in the ice be-
meath, for the March sunshine had begun
to pierce it's thickness. The rock over the
Cave CO the Winds was a mountain Of
snow and the mist that arose from its
top looked like smoke coming from the
crater of snow crested Volcano The
great rock near the foot of the Horse
Shoe Falls was also snow hill with a
dangerous looking rift at it's apex
round these mounds of snow white sea
gulls flew in vain search for food, pla-
toons Of ice constantly floating
Il .ix I oh ri WI
sed over the preeipice ground into pieces
and stopped at the ice bridge, forming a
swirling glittering edge to the long nat
ural passage way that spanned the river
This ice bridge alone is worth a trip to
Niagara. 1t extends across the river just
below the American Falls, to the outlet
of the tunnel which supplies the water
power for the Electric Plant of Buffalo.
Several small refreshment houses are
built at intervals along the path that runs
through the middle of the bridge. They
and their tenants were still there, in
spite of the great cracks in the bridge,
through whose dark creyices / looked to
see nothing but dark masses of broken
ice, cemented by the cold into grotesque
shapes. No running water was visible.
Local Munchausens have some blood
curdling stories TO relate Of people who
disappear forever from this ice bridge
every year, or who accidentally float on a
detached raft Of ice to the whirlpool
rapids below. The serenity of these tenn
porary restaurant keepers and the non
chalance with which citizens and visitors
walk over the bridge discredit the truth
Of these alleged mishaps. The guides and
carriage drivers around the Rails never
Go things by halves, however. The publi-
cation of the assortment of marvels which
The average Niagara guide relates to the
visiting stranger would injure the sale
Of every dime novel series in the United
States.
This wonderful ice bridge and the wierd
and magnificent effect winter produces
along the romantic channel of the famous
river and mighty Falls are enough to ex-
cite their Imagination. A recital Of these
adventurous stories, perhaps adds zest
to the enjoyment Of the hour.
Early in the morning when the snow
first fell on the ice bridge, the Spirit of
the North Wind seemed to have put on
the soft covering in graceful waves that
shone in every glittering curve under the
sunlight And as l turned in angle to get
another view a single rainbow, poised on
the clouds Of mist from the American
Falls, formed an ideal archway to the
long shining bridge Of spotless white The
trees on every side dropped low under
their burdens of snow, ice glittered on
every rock, and this fair bow OF promise
was the only point Of bright color In one
Of the most remarkable natural scenes
in the world.
Next spring and summer the softer pic
ture must attract millions of Pan Ameri-
can visitors A great electric search light
is being placed in position, which will
illuminate the Falls, the gorges, and Goat
and Luna Islands. All that nature, art
and science can do, will be done, to make
this marvellous natural attraction q no
table adjunct to the charms of the Magic
City. now approaching completion in its
vicinit..