Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-06-13

is a half mile in length, whose sides are
| draped with graceful vines and deli
cate harebells, contrast with rocky
battlements, rounded by the waves, or
lifting themselves hundreds of feet in
unbroken precipitous walls without a
trace of verdure.
Under the pebbles babbles a clear,
sparkling brook.
Finally the rocks are farther apart
and hollow shaped space surrounded
by rocks brings the tourist to what is
known as The Jug.
The flat stone bottom suggests at
once spin. and for years this has
been known as the dancing hall.
On the hollow shaped rock is carved
names aud dates of tourists from time
mmemorial.
The tourist now wends his way back
to the steamer, refreshes himself at a
restaurant and is ready for the trip to
the second stopping place to what is
known as switches Gulch', five miles
further up the river.
After again leaving the steamer the
tourist climbs up the rocks winding in
and out and is soon aware of the sound
OF a mighty water fall
Now he climbs some steps and be-.
holds the beautiful white foam of the
rushing tumultuous waters from an
altitude of 200 to 300 feet. This is
something grand and one feels as cold
and trembling as if on the glaciers of
Iceland
The Dells then consists Of q series of
golges and chambers through which
the river winds its way as if along a
tortuous hall whose walls were broken,
their coping stones here thrown down
and there crowned with tufts of trees
and shrubbery, and whose ornaments.
and the statuary once poised upon the
lofty inches. had crum bled into decay.
ltis not the great height of these
walls, for the Wisconsin, here some
three hundred feet in width, moves on
with deep and quiet current but it is
rather the strange, fantastic ruin which
the mighty masonry seems to have suf-
ferd and the odd excavation effected by
wind and water together that makes
this long river gorge impressive and
often beautiful.
10 the most conspicuous points
names have been given. High Rock'
and Romance cliff" one on either
bank, guard like huge sentinels the en-.
trance. These III swift succession, give
place to Chimney Rock, Chapel George
Devils Arm Chair and to many other.
fantastic formations Then there is
Stand Rock of great height, but so
broad it is a resort for picnics, though
rather dangerous one.
From the steamer may be seen what
is known as Sturgeon Rock, and the
navy yard, which is most beautiful
view of a vessel at anchor in harbor.
The curiosity of the stranger is per
haps aroused when he learns that there
is Witches Face and DEVILS Arm
Chain, but it only makes it all the
more romatc.
There are grotesqne monumental
figures caves and tiny cliff enclosed
branches, arched canals through the
headlands, side openings clogged with
foliage and tricklng cascades, and
these form and reform themselves into
ever varied compositions of outline
and color as the steamer moves along,
or as one climbs about the rugged
shore.
There is excellent fishing in and
about the Dells, enough at any rate to
satisfy an sygoing person like the
average tourist, who has nc proper
sense OF the responsibility and dignity
and serious purpose which belong to
angling.
A moonlight trip home in little
row boat which is accessible to the
famous boat cave is simply delightful.
A torchlight trip is sometimes made,
with two great cages holding blazing
pine knots projecting from the PROV.
1t is entertaining enough to be a
passenger and watch the rugged rocks
and black water and gaunt old pines
start into sudden life from out the
darkness as the advancing light sud.
denly discovers them; but it is bet
ter yet to row in a small sxiff little
distance ahead of the slow going steam ;
boats, and behold the weird effect as
the iiaring torches come floating war
! lily down. the river, turning this way
and that, as though searching with the
eyes of some gigantic demon each
shadowy alcove in the rocks and every
nook where the flowers are asleep and
the birds have long since gone to rest
among the hemlocks. III.