NIAGARA FALLS AND VICINITY I3 



the sights he beholds. The remarkable vivid green of the water of 

 the Horseshoe falls will excite the observer's interest, and question. 

 Tyndall observes that, while the water of the falls as a whole "bends 

 solidly over and falls in a continuous layer. . . close to the 

 ledge over which the water rolls, foam is generated, the light falling 

 upon which, and flashing back from it, is sifted in its passage to and 

 fro, and changed from white to emerald-green."^ 



Near the edge of the Horseshoe falls are the remains of Table 

 rock, formerly a projecting limestone shelf of considerable extent, 

 and a favorite view point. Huge portions of this rock have fallen 

 into the gorge at various times, the most extensive falls occurring 

 in 1 81 8 and 1850, with minor ones between and since. On one oc- 

 casion some forty or fifty persons had barely left the rock before 

 it fell. From the remaining portion of this rocky platform a g'ood 

 near view- of the Horseshoe falls is obtained, though the visitor is 

 apt to find himself in a drenching shower of spray at almost all 

 times. 



Beyond Table rock, in the upper end of the park,, and on the Duf- 

 ferin islands many attractive w^alks are to be met with. These are 

 generally little visited and afiford an opportunity for solitude and 

 escape from the crowds of sightseers. Some of the best views of 

 the rapids above the falls are to be obtained here. A wooded clay 

 clifif bounds the park on the landward side, generally rising steeply 

 to the upland plateau. Here on July 25, 1814, the memorable battle 

 of Lundy'sLane was fought between the British and the Americans; 

 '' within sight of the falls, in the glory of the light of a full moon, 

 the opposing armies engaged in hand-to-hand conflict, from sun- 

 down to midnight, when both sides, exhausted by their efforts, w4th- 

 drew^ from the field ".^ 



At the head of the park, a road leads to the upland, where is 

 situated the famous burning spring. The inflammable gas which 

 here bubbles through the water of the spring is chiefly sulfureted 

 hydrogen, but the quantity is such as to produce a flame of con- 

 siderable magnitude, and it is asserted that the supply has not di- 

 minished for the hundred years or more that the spring has been 

 known to exist. ^ 



'^Loc. cif. 



'Porter. 



^An admission fee is charsred here. 



