Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)Willis, Nathaniel Parker
History
Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)
Willis, Nathaniel Parker
Canada -- Description and travel; Canada -- History
“The whole breadth of the precipice or Falls, including the islands
which intervene, is 1,335 yards. The greatest body of water falls on the
Canadian side of the river; and on account of the form assumed by the
waters before they are dashed from the top of the rocks, it is
designated the Horse-shoe Fall. It extends from the shore to the
intermediate island, a distance of 600 yards. Fort Schlosser Fall, which
is on the American side, presents a sheet of water 350 yards in breadth;
and the Little Fall extends across a ledge of rocks for upwards of 140
yards. The quantity of water which pours over all three, in every
minute, is estimated at 169,344,000 gallons.
“Many stories are told of the melancholy fate of persons who at various
times have been carried down the rapids, in attempting to cross the
river above; but I believe the only well-authenticated anecdote of this
kind is that of an Indian, who, having become intoxicated with liquor,
made his canoe fast to a rock, a few miles above the Falls, and fell
asleep. By some unknown accident, the canoe was loosed from its
moorings, and immediately floated down the current. While the surface of
the water continued to be smooth, the slumbers of the unconscious savage
were undisturbed; but when his frail bark entered on the rapids, and
became agitated by the turbulent eddies, he suddenly awoke. On
perceiving his perilous situation, and recovering a little from his
first astonishment, he laid hold upon his paddle, and used the most
violent exertions to escape from the impending destruction. When his
repeated failures to avert the swift course of the vessel had convinced
him that all endeavours on his part would be unavailing, he laid aside
his paddle, composedly rolled himself up in his blanket, and putting the
whiskey bottle for the last time to his lips, quietly lay down, as if
all danger were over. In a few moments he and his bark were precipitated
down the Falls; and no one ever saw trace again of the Indian or his
canoe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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