Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-03-17
NIAGARA FALLS BARE
For One Whole Day the Rocky
PTecipice Was Dry.
THE WATER CEASED TO FLOW

This Curious Phenomenon Occurred on
March 81, 1s4s-Terrified the Peopis
in the Eioinity-Return of the Ter
rent and the Cause OF the Stoppaee.
In the early spring of 1S4S occurred
a natural phenomenon SO strange, 50
sudden and SO stupendous that the old
er inhabitants II western New York
still speak Of it with awe and wonder.
This phenomenon was nothing else
than the running dry OF Niagara falls.
The story is seldom recounted now.
but it was a nine days wonder for the
whole country when it appeared in
the newspapers. For the frst time in
history the roar OF the grandest cata-
roct IN America was hushed
IN the early morning OF March 81.
1915. people living ia the vicinity q
the falls we're awakened by a peculiar
hush. as startling I'm its suddenness
aud intensity as the most thunderous
explosion could have been. Many
dressed and fastened outdoors. urged
10y a conviction that something appall-
ing had happened or was about %
the world was at hand Others ina--
ined that they had grown suddenly
deaf Stiu others thought that the
hush preceding a terrific hurricane had
fallen upon the air. All we're Cypress
CO with n feeling OF profound awe and
dread
IL was soon discovered. however.
that the cessation OF the roar Of the
falls was tire sole cause Of this COM
mon panic. rs the dim light OF early
morning grew stronger the people
were able 10 see the almost bare preci-
pice q the falls. over which but q
short time before thousands q tons
OF water had been pouring Only
here and there small streams. con-
SANITY growing smaller. now trickled
down the face of the towering wall
Above the falls instead Of the rush
ING. fOauinS river. only naked chan
mel. studded with black and Jagged
rocks. appeared. The bed Of the river
was practically exposed from shore %
shore, except for small streams. like
mountain brooks. running slowly TO
The verge or the precipice The spec
totcrs could hardly believe their eyes.
Some remarkablc feats were per
formed on that day when Niagara ran
dry. People walked from the Canadian
side Of the river along the edge II
the frighrful preciQice. nearly Is far
as Goat island ON the American side
and never even wet their feet some
went exploring in the river bed above
the fal's ana discovered q number IL
ancient gun barrels. lost probably 10y
SportSmeu M the river In long gone
days and SIN after the rotrinS away
OF their stocks slowly forced down
stream by the current. Caves and
curious formations In the rocks were
I discovered. the existence OF which had
never been suspected before
Au that day. March 81. 1915. Niagara
falls remained dry. and people who t.
! manned UP Uu,u late ut night expect
inS 90 see "a change. went 70 bed with
our Witnessing it. But i'm the early
morning Of April 1 the familiar thua-
/ der Of the great cataract was once
more heard. and every one knew that
/ the mySteriouSly drained river bed
/ was again pouring It's food over III.
falls.
Now for the explanation OF this
/ strange phenomenon II proved 20 Dee.
after all very simple The winter ct
+ 1917 and 1915 had been one Of extreme
, severity. Ice OF such thickness had
never been known us formed on Lake
+ Erie thac season. When The breakup
/ came toward the end ~ March. "a
/ STRONG northeast wind was blowing.
+ which piled the great fields of ice i'm
+ foes and chen iu banks rs high as
miniature iceCercS. Toward night an
+ March 80 the wind suddenly chauced
/ % the opposite direction and increased
/ O. terrific gale. which hurled bacb
/ the piled IN Ice and drove il into Oh.
/ entrance Of Niagara river with Su.i
! force that q huSe and almost impcnc
trable dam was formed For a who,,
/ day the source of the river was Stou
/ Ped uO. and the stream was d-aiuc1
/ OF Is SUPP y. By the morning Of tl.
SlSt the river was practically dry. aud
/ thus for twenty -four hours the roar I'd
Niagara falls was >ti,led. Then i'm Oh.
/ early morning OF April The ice
| pack save way under the tremendous
! pressure from above. and the long r.
strained volume Of water rushed
down and reclaimed IT'S own.-EN-
D ahavtra