Travelers Original Accounts: 1 801 -1 840 



the brow of Olympus — the smoke, like a capful of fog com- 1829 

 pared with the volumes rolling up from the crater of Vesuvius. 

 Indeed the whole affair was as contemptible as it would be to 

 attempt to add to the majesty of the cataract the pouring of a 

 bucket of water by its side from a tea-kettle. Several thou- 

 sands of people, however, collected on both sides, many of whom 

 probably had never before had curiosity enough to see the falls 

 themselves — if even they saw them now. The descent and 

 wreck of the vessel among the rapids, was an interesting spectacle, 

 however. . . . 



Wednesday, Oct. 7. Spent the day in studying the cataract. 

 Crossed to the American side, visited Goat Island, and descended 

 the new stairway at the northern extremity. It is surprising how 

 near to the falls themselves, the adventurous watermen will ply 

 their boats upon the surface of these angry whirlpools, and with 

 perfect safety. The day was dark and rainy much of the time. 

 In the afternoon the celebrated Sam Patch, of jumping notoriety, 

 leapt from a ladder 1 1 feet high, into the abyss, at the end of 

 Goat Island, and picked himself safely up. The village of 

 Manchester, the seat of the Hon. Augustus Porter, is a brisk 

 and thriving village, with several mills and manufactories. There 

 is no lack of waterpower! 



Thursday, Oct. 8. A clear sky and warm sun rendered it an 

 inviting day for a ride, and we availed ourselves of it to visit 

 what is called the Whirlpool, at the distance of five miles below 

 the falls. This is a very wild and romantic spot, and second 

 only in interest to the cataract itself. The whirlpool is formed 

 by the full torrent of the Niagara rushing through a pass nar- 

 rowed to the toss of a biscuit, into a bay or cove, bounded by 

 high precipitous rocks, and covered perhaps the space of six or 

 eight acres. The river rushes into this cove, with great impetu- 

 osity, towards the northwest; and after whirling round in the 

 basin, escapes through another narrow pass, towards the north- 

 east — thus turning an acute angle. The wails of the river are 

 here as lofty, as wild, and as picturesque, as at the cataract; 

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