The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-09-27


Almost two hundred feet below us Is the surface Of
the river yet throbbing with the shock Of its fall,
and spun with foam wreaths. Between those mar.
low walls How the waters Of four inland seas Op-
posite rises the great wall of the American shore,
clothed in the dense green Of trees and shrubs.
Farther down the gorge the whirlpool Rapids toss
their white waters above the hidden and deadly
maelstrom whence nothing has ever come forth alive.
The scene here presented is above all others, the
most awe inspiring. This great basin, which lies at
the foot Of rowning walls that line the magnificent
gorge has been formed by the relentless rush OF wa
tiers which for ages past have been swept against its
granite wells, Huge floating logs sometimes
suddenly tossing their ends high in the air. to
be drawn down only momI mt later into the vortex
Of the maestrom. II is wierj and uns amy place
All at the waters find their exit, and springng
into motion afresh set off again on their way to the
sea-
Following on down the Niagara River, on the
Canadian side, round Queenstown Heights which
is marked by the noble monument to the memory oi
Gen. Brock. This was the scene Of noted battle
in which the American forces fought against tre-
mendous odds, and were defeated by the forces oi
Gen. Brock October l3, 1912. Brock was killed
He is remembered in American history as having
captured Detroit through Hul's questionable sur
render. The monument may be seen for miles on
land and water. Across the river is a suspension
bridge At the American end Of the bridge is old
Fort Gray, now in dim outline. In 1912 it occupied
the brow of the high bluff, the land rising suddenly
at this end Of the gorge 1t the camping ground
of American militia during the war Of 1912. Hard
by is Lewiston, the ancient and historic village
around which clustering the stories of the early
pioneers, the bloody Indian wars, the romance o
novelists high in fame, Of poetry and song. The
river has widened here into q broad, navigable
stream, beautiful and calm. Grandly and majestic.
ally it sweeps to the great Lake Ontario, seven
miles below The ancient village is filled with pref
ty and interesting scenes; the old Frontier Houee,
where that magic statesman, Daniel Webster used
to appear attorney in COURT the old buryine
grounds, where lie the soldierdead Of the battle Of
Queens Heights and Of countless heroes in his
tory; the scenes OF Fenimore Cooper's novels, one
Of which was written in this old town.
The return trip is generally made by the great
gorge route, i'll order to get the view Of the rapids
from below Space forbids mentioning all the points
Of interest along Niagara River. At Niagara, the
American side, as we'll as upon the Canadian, are
reservations, free for everybody. You can walk
down to the very edge of the American falls and
reaching out permit your hand to splash the water
as i, begins it's terrible fall Of hundred and six
ty-seven feet Goat Island and Luna Island are
reached by handsome bridges On these islands are
shady walks and pleasant drives The grandeur Of
the falls can not be described by this pen. 1t ought
to be seen to be understood. "The Maid Of the
MIST small boat, takes passengers to the very
edge Of the water as il falls over the rocks.
The Falls Of Niagara are composed Of two bodies
Of water, named respectively Horseshoe OF Canadian
Falls, and the American Falls, which include the
Luna Falls. The Luna Falls are between Luna Is
land and Goat Island. The estimated amount Of
water going over the Falls is % 92O OOO, 900 cubic
feet day. representing in power the daily output OF
all the coal mines in the world. From Prospect
Point to Goat Island, or the total length OF the
American Falls, including Luna Falls, s 400 feet,
and the cuntou, OF the Horseshoe Falls is $50 feet
The average height Of the Falls is 1853 feet. The
rapids above the falls caused by drop Of forty
feet for the half mile from the start of The rapids
above the falls to the falls themselves.
The American government on one side, and the
Canadian government on the other, have reserved q
park on each side OF the river, which is free TO all
visitors. The Canadian park is called Victoria park
and includes the Duffern Islands. The American
park is called the Reservation, and includes Pros
pect Park, Goat Island, the Three Sister Tsands
and small islands adjacent to Goat Island On these
islands nature has been allowed to thrive unham-
pered by any geometrical arrangement Of modern
gardening, and the Wild wooded effect with the
Of the mighty cataract IL extremely fascinating 70 the
visitor.