Charlevoix county herald., 1908-11-14

the great spring which bursts from the
foot of the mountain, making a surging
stream Of clear, cold water which
whips itself into foam as it rushes
against the rocks, makes the roar OF
the rapids and, far below the mansion,
forms the falls. To the north the rock
walls rise abruptly and are bleak and
bare, save for some scraggy cedars
that overhang the perilous heights.
From the south the Big spring is
reached by path, very steep in
places, which leads down through
dense growths of trees, wild flowers
and ferns. The spring Git may be but
the outlet of some subterranean
stream) has flow so feet across and
averaging five feet in depth-a volume
of water sufficient to supply a large
city. We follow this stream, in whose
waters we see scores of fine fish, down
through Trout glen, the most beauti
full Of all the beauty spots, past the
Balanced rock, the meadow and the
mill, until it spreads out, forming
a 60-acre lake, on which wild ducks
nest, and moss and water cress grow
At the lower end of the lake the water
rushes over a dam on through sluice
gates, then on a few hundred yards
into the Niangua river, the waters OF
which, like that Of the lake and
smaller streams, is so clear that the
rocky bottom may be seen to a great
depth.
To the east of Sunset hill are the
Coliseum and Natural bridge. The
Coliseum, so-called because of its for
nation, natural slopes making seats
on all sides, would seat 10000 people
and the acoustic properties are SO
superior that all could hear speech
delivered in an ordinary tone OF voice
From the central plane rise tall and
almost branchless trees seeking the
sunshine. The entrance to the Coli
scum is through the Natural bridge,
$50 feet in height, and above which
runs a roadway. Farther to the east
Is the Devils fireplace, with an open
ing large enough for yule log that
would last week and a sure-enough
chimney, so big that old Santa could
drive his deer down it. Near by are
the Red Sinks, really small hill-in.
closed meadow, without an outlet, the
water, after rain, rapidly sinking
into the ground.
But all the beauties of this wonder
land are not above ground. The caves,
of which there are a number, are
among the finest In America. The
principal ones are Island Cave, Coun.
terfeit Cave, once the headquarters OF
band of counterfeiters; Amphithea,
ter Cave, Bear Cave, in which the last
bear killed in the county met its
death; Robbers Cave, long ago the
rendezvous of band OF robbers;
River Cave, Cullin's Cave, Onyx Cave,
Bunch Cave, Griffith Cave and Bridal
Cave.
The Ha-Ha-Tonka region Is an ideal
place for the hunter and fisherman.
Boating and bathing are also fine.
The streams abound in trout, bass,
crappie and many other game fish.
The late Col. Snyder was an enthusiasts.
tic fisherman and stocked the streams
with a carload of rainbow trout. The
finest trout shown at the st. Louis
worlds fair were taken from these
waters. 1t has been several years
since bear were seen, but there are
yet a number of deer in this region.
Wild turkey are so plentiful that no
good hunter who knows the haunts
and tho chow" nead foil I'm q dov,o
hunt to bag a bird. Wild cats are oc.
casionally killed and small game Of all
kinds is plentiful.