The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-23
NIAGARA -CROSSEDAPOOT
ICE JAM DIVERTS THE WATER
FROM THE AMERICAN FALLS.

/
on the River Bed and Remp About
| Rocks That Never before were Touched
| BY the sun-Horseshoe FAlis AL Right.
NIAGARA FALLs. N. Y. March 21.-The
American Falls OF Niagara has been nearly
dry to-day, and many persons have travelled
over the dry river bed where human feet
never before had trod. The remarkable
| spectacle Was first revealed this morning.
although late last night It was discovered
that the usual amount OF water was not
coming down the American channel.
On Saturday the river flowed a. usual.
There was considerable Toe passing down
stream with the water, but last night the
Ice foe from Lake Erie grew 30 heavy that
great masses Of Ice crowded upon the
Lodges near the head OF Goat Island and
diverted the water from the American 10
the Canadian channel. Above the ice
jam the water was at least three feet higher
than usual. but below the point where the
loo rested on the rocks there was little
water and the rocks were quite bare.
The scene at dawn this morning was
surprising, and persons who have resided
In Niagara Falls for many years hurried
10 the river to look upon a spectacle that
made them marvel. That such thing
could occur startled them. for they had
not thought that the flow Of such q river
a. that Of the upper Niagara could be d.
verted from one channel TO another as
the Toe had done. Practically all Of the
river bed Of the American channel be-
tween the brink Of the American Falls and
. point above the head OF Goat Island
was bare.
It would not be true TO say that no water
flowed In the channel, but there was such q
fraction Of the usual flow that II passed
unnotioed. In this portion OF the river
was the much-admired rapids above the
American Falls, but to-day there were no
rapids. The tossing. tumbling hce-like
waters had sought other ways Of reaching
the precipice. and persons who gathered
on the mainland. on the bridges and on
Goat Island looked upon rocks which in
years have not been kissed by the SUM-
The greater part OF the water In the
channel rustled along close to the American
mainland, and 40 people crossed to Green
Island or Goat Island to get out on the
riverbed. The feat was easy. as well as
interesting and attractive. Men, women
and children. unmindfil Of the fact that the
river might break through the ioejam above
them and carry them over the Falls and to
eternity romped about the rocks and gath
cred Ice with great glee, for the possibility
Of walking over this portion OF the river
appeared to intoxicate everybody with
delight.
Every pothole, every crevioe and the
little islands, all were searched for relics
Of the day and occasion. With crowbars
rnen broke away pieoss 81 tfe rocky hver-
bed 10 carry away - souvsflrs, and slender
bushes were broken on to furnish canes
and memsntos. II was . big crowd and
4 curious crowd that searched about the
rocks, but no really remarkable finds were
announced.
Truly, the river had day Of and % II
was Sunday. the strange sight was enjoyed
by q large crowd. Leaving Green Island.
the pretty spot that nestles In midstream
between Goat Island and the mainland.
and which was named after Andrew H.
Green Of New York. people were able to
walk right straight up the river bed to
the head Of Goat Island and to plod
about over the vast area between the main
land and Goat Island.
II was q sad sight down at the brink of
the American Falls. For centuries untold
Niagara has been the glory Of the world a.
q waterfall. but to-day the awful fascination
OF the most famous fall was gone. and In
the place Of the spectacle that has been con-
sidercd no sublime there was a thin. unat-
tractive sheet OF water that trickled over
the precipice. failing TO shoot out with tbs
dash that is 20 pronounced At the American
Falls.
Right above the brink OF this fall the
water that came down the river was Just
enough 10 cover the river bottom. but II
failed 10 conceal the edge all across. and
30. just out from Luna Island, q great dry
point was visible. and here and there betw
the Island and Pnep~ct Point Niagara was
no more. Viewed from the Canadian side.
ths American Fails WAS unworthy Of its
name. and Canadians reloicsd that the
full glory of IN. Horseshoe Falls was but little
sail. the Old Horssslios, the
sasins that pioushs The gorge. had sn inti-
nation cf the fate which may ye, coms
10 IL through tbs extensive power dsveiop-
men, nov In prosre~ ON tic Canadian
saas of the stream
Mbsn nlGht ssttled thsne wAs 40 syidsn GO
that this water ~As bfsskins Through ths
IN Jan. And u 10 a~ssonsbls Va leilsyv that |
this ss-otsols 10 ilksiy 10 last several days.
Of oOufs. nth . high Wind sxssplnS
soso-s iaks No. any,ns the waller dovn |
,hs h.Asafs. ths IN ysin n.sy 10 sssp, /
sssy ln loo hSuss. hossssr, ODD river. |
n.n ana ,hs-s ~ho kIos klsssfs bsllss. |
,L< N. sili ollls 10 tbs Ts-sks soa.s hiils
llins. oaas,aS tbs ssaAfsai..s slsools als
IA osniigus
Ihls afyss.s ~ Niagara - . Tsl,siiilss
u si.sl sslusssa sa hAssh o. lkss. ss
~h.sl a-is ths Dsss 70 s-.s a. ksss i-s.E
'aoss agS tAsn to-asD A. ti.si ila.g tl.sss
> ~ . lsls ~ ~ 81 tAs saisslsas ~ ll.s rlssI
u hls0s hsss bsi u lssia ti.s .sia Lsss
Is asy sssis tssH Lsssss ssa aslsss
Is ~ N ,ls t.ssa.sa si.ssaai sisd To-
80 l~tssa ~ rl.as hlsaas islal.as "a tl.s
A,ass 49, s,as o. 'ass tis sls.,siis a
AS 1lsss s.sAs is.sisss sss sags a,g,
80 LsSssse tl.si la,ia No ssisss a il,s
ss,sass st.sfisi ksssa "a - ,e.sl k.s
> "a sssi.1 ks~saea sslssas
lSs Ht st sNg sA sssSIs,
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