Class Fl'^.'^ Book ^T^H 'Z Copyright N^_ z^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 3 1 < ■ THE FALLS OF TAUGHANNOCK: CONTAINING A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THIS THE Pigtjtsi jFalt in llje Stafe oi |tcfo-iorIi. WITH HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES, BY LEWIS HALSEY. ILirSTRATED BY YIEWS OP THE FALLS. NEW-YORK : John A. Gray & Green, Printers, 16 and 18 Jacob Street. MDCCCLXVI. '/j. (y^- ^C:>4 2^9^Z, Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S66, by LEWIS HALSEY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York. 33 ^j V' <»t£»ttt. 22M ©> ^yi86? ?«4»t; ' 3 TO WILLIAM H. GOODWLX, D.D., REGENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OP THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, THIS LITTLE VOLUME May it recall for him mant Pleasant Memories of BoynooD ! I ]^ D E X , Page Page Accidents, .... 42 Excavation of Chasm, 43 Ancient Fortifications, . . 57 Extract from Poem, . 14 Auburn, .... 73 Aurora, . . . . 70 Fall No. 2, . . 44 Falling Rocks, . 21 Beardsley, J. C, 52 Falls House, 53 Beautiful View, . 54 Farmerville, . . . . . 71 Bogart's Definition, . 62 Fight with Bear, 29 Bogart, W. H., . . . 63 Formation of the Rock, . 81 Breaking up of Ice, . 36 Fossils, .... 82 Byron's Velino, . 20 Ganungueuguch, . . 71 Canassatego, . 68 Geology of Taughannock, . 73 Canassatego, Speecli of, . 68 Goodwin, George, . . 61 Canoga, (Genogeli,) . 70 " Richard, . 28 Casts of Stria?, . 84 Goodwin's Point, . . . 59 Cataract House, . . 26, 37 Gothic Door, 22 Caves, . . 28 Gun Factory, the Old, . . 45 Cayuga Bridge, (Wasguas.) 73 Cayuga Lake, . 40 Halseyville, . . . . . 75 Clieever's Article, 14 Hamilton, Rev. D. H., 56 Civilization of Indians, . 59 High Water, . . . , . 33 Historical, .... 56 Dedication, 5 Delawares, tlie. . 68 Indian Apple-Orchard, . . 60 Devil's Punch Bowl, . 43 " Village, . 59 Dumont, W. B., . . 75 Ithaca, . 70 Dust Fall of Staubbach, . 25 Iroquois Confederacy. 60 IXDEX. Lady of the Mist, . Les Trois Soeurs, Lodi, Long Staircase, . Lower Ravine, Marsli's Point, . Means of Access, . Mecklinburgh, . Merriman, Col. T. A. Page . 21 50 . 71 17 . 17 40 . 46 71 . 22 Nameless Hermit of Taugliannock, 2G Name of Fall, . . . .01 Ode to Taughannock, Parker's Poem, Perry City, Pictures of Falls, . Poetry of Taughannock Pool below Fall, Powhatan, . Pratt's, . . . , Preface, Rainbow, Red Jacket, Senecayuga, . 91 93 71 37 86 21 72 71 9 21 73 Song of the Waterfall, Staubbach, Sullivan's Expedition, Sulphur Spring, Page 80 . 16 ^9 . 29 Table Rock, .... 43 Tammany, 67 Taughannock, (an Indian Chief,) 69 " Falls, Cayuga Lake, 05 " bj- Moonlight, . 47 " In Winter, . . 35 " the River and Fall, 87 Taughanic Falls, (Poem,) . . 93 To Taughannock, ... 89 Treman, Abner, . . . .00 Trumansburgh, .... 71 Tully Limestone, . . . .82 Upper Ravine, .... 43 View of Cayuga Lake, . . .39 Views from Above, ... 52 " " Ravine, . . .55 Waterburgh, .... 74 Welch's Account, . . .22 Weyburn, Gecrgs, ... 29 " Samuel, ... 30 PEEFAOE The want of a description of and guide to the most lofty of the many cataracts of the State of New- York, and one of the most beautiful waterfldls in the world, has been felt by all who have ever visited Taughan- nock. This want the present publication aims to supply. If this Tribute to Taugliannock shall be deemed an offering worthy of the theme by those to whom the Falls are familiar, and shall be the means of making this favored spot better known to the lovers of beau- tiful scenery, the design of the author will be accom- plished. TAUGIIAl^]:^OCK To the true lover of IS^ature, no spot is more at- tractive, no landscape more beautiful, than that adorned bj her bountiful hand with waterfalls, and wild ravines, and stately forests. Unlike other and less favored landscapes, that which adds to its attractions the music and bril- liancy of cascades and cataracts is ever unfolding new beauties. But when a waterfall, whose vast height adds sublimity to its beauty, grand and gloomy gorges, and picturesque views of lake scenery unsurpassed outside of Switzerland, each, at the same time, present their peculiar attractions, the admiring traveler, delighted by the beauty and awed by the sublimity of the landscape, realizes that he has discovered one of the most favored haunts of nature. S^ich is the wild and varied scenery which turns 12 TAUGHANNOCK. the attention of the traveler to Taughannock, and, as the fame of the fall spreads abroad, attracts each year a greater throng of visitors. Rich in romantic irlens, charmins: lakes, and magnificent cataracts, the Empire State may well be called the Switzerland of America. The most lofty, and, in man}^ respects, the most beautiful of her cataracts is Taughannock, situated on a small stream in Tompkins County, three fourths of a mile from Cayuga Lake, and ten miles from Ithaca. The stream, known as Halsey Creek- from the name of one of the first settlers upon its banks, is one of the largest of the watercourses which inter- sect the fertile farming lands lying between the twin lakes Cayuga and Seneca. Taking its rise in the highlands midway between them, it flows in an easterly course until at length it unites its waters with those of the calm Cayuga. Flowing with a gradual and gentle descent through a rich and flourishing country, its banks are dotted with numerous mills and manufacturing establishments. * In our atlases and geographies we find the name thus given, but the stream should have the same name as the ftill. TAUGHANNOCK. 18 At the distance of a mile and a half from the lake it would appear that nature had determined to check the stream in its fnrther progress by erecting an impassable barrier. This is a rocky ledge, rising some fifty or sixty feet directly in the path of the little river. But the stream, by long continued labor, beginning, perhaps, when darkness was yet upon the face of the deep, has succeeded in excavat- ing an enormous channel, from one hundred to four hundred feet in depth, and four hundred feet across at its low^er extremity. Through this yawning chasm the victorious waters course triumphantly onward tow^ard their goal beyond. This vast gorge, with its frowning cliffs and towering walls of granite, their grimness relieved here and there by a bouquet of evergreens, forms the ravine of Taughannock. Half a mile after entering this gorge, on account of a difference in the structure of the rock, while the height of the banks remain undiminished, the stream falls perpendicularly two hundred and fifteen feet into a rocky basin, thus forming a cataract more than fifty feet higher than l^iagara. The rock over which the water plunges projects in the center and is contracted on either side, form- 14 TAUGHANNOCK. ing a triangle wliicli measures some ninety feet across. The following jocular but nearly accurate de- scription of Taugliannock was published, several years ago, in " Gleason's Pictorial," a Boston maga- zine : " It lies about (I like to be particular) One mile from Lake Cayuga's western shore, On either side the rocks rise perpendicular Three hundred ninety feet and something more ; And all the stream, diffused in drops orbicular. Descends in clouds and falling mists that pour Two hundred feet and ten, or nearly so, Before they form again the stream below." The following eloquent description of the ravine and falls was written by the celebrated author and orator, George B. Cheever, who visited them in 1859: GEOKGE B. CHEEVEK's DESCKIPTIOX. " The Staubbach of Trumansburgh is worth going a great distance to see. '' It is nearly a third higher than any other cataract in our State. " At present it is the very perfection of beauty, TAUGHANNOCK. 15 while the natural raoiiiitain gorge, midway in the progress of which it tumbles over the crags, is one of the grandest and most picturesque in the world out of Switzerland. It reminded me much of the lovely and romantic pass above Chiavenna, in the Italian Alps. The gorge is at least four hundred feet in depth, the mountain sides rising jagged and perpendicular, though with the green forests here and there clinging to their faces, trees apparently rooted in the rocks without a particle of soil to nourish them, and declivities covered with luxuriant wild shrubbery from the top to the bottom of the gulf. Here and there the mighty crags advance half-way across the ravine, round and perfect as battlemented castles or solid piers, that at some distant age might have supported a stupendous natural bridge. At the bottom of the ravine and at the foot of the fall, looking up the great height, and watching the extremely graceful and beautiful descent of the spray, (for the water begins to break into spray almost at the moment when it begins its plunge over the precipice,) you feel that nowhere in the world can it be possible that a more perfectly beautiful waterfall can be in existence. " The jagged rock rift, through which the river 16 TAUGHANNOCK. rolls before it makes the plunge, is soiiie two hun- dred feet in depth, the rocky channel becoming a triangle at the brink, and the water plunges some two hundred and twenty feet more to the bottom, wliere the ravine is upwards of four hundred feet perpendicular. The fall is, in truth, the Staubach of Sw^itzerland most absolutely reproduced, and of concentrated beauty and grandeur. " AVhen the stream is swollen almost to the ut- most capacity of the channel by autumnal rains, or a spring freshet, the beauty of the cataract changes into overwhelming sublimity. It is clothed with the majesty, grandeur, and thunder of J^iagara. " At present you miss the roar, the voice, the sound of many w^aters, the thunder shaking the earth ; because the volume of water is not deep enough to preserve itself consolidated down the dizzy height of a plunge so tremendous. The coquetting air takes the cataract by its curls on the very forehead of the crags, and tosses and frays it into millions of tiny, fleecy jets, and tangled, shin, ins: threads of diamonds and dewy lio'ht. " Each drop gives way to tlie temptation of a separate display, and with white wings, as of a thousand doves or albatrosses, the vision lights LOWER RAVINE. 17 softly at the bottom of.tlie gorge, ^vitli no more noise than tlie wind makes when it stirs the leaves of a might}^ forest. " But when the volume of water is deep enough in its grand and gloomy channel, all this by-play of its forces is constrained and concentrated in a unity of purpose and of plunge, and it rages and roars down in unceasing thunder as well as eternal foam. The sublimity then is almost terrific." LOWER RAVINE. To obtahi the best view of the falls, it is neces- sary to descend to the bed of the ravine, and fol- low it upward until we stand at the foot of the majestic column of water, which towers two hun- dred feet above us. The wearisome descent of the steep stairway is forgotten in the enjoyment of the grand and beautiful scenery with which we are there surrounded. Leaving the Taughannock House, (which will be described hereafter,) we follow^ a path winding along the bank of the ravine until we arrive at a long, steep, and crooked flight of steps. This was built by the present proprietor of the Taughannock 18 LOWER EAVINE. House, in 1859, and is soon to be rej3laced by another and more substantial staircase. Clambering downward, remarking as we descend the course of a landslide which swept awa}^ a por- tion of the steps, we at length arrive at the bottom of the ravine. Here we find ourselves entering, apparently, the atmosphere of another climate. The ravine, al- though from two hundred to four hundred feet in width, is shut in by walls so lofty that, except at midday, a large portion of its bed is untouched by the rays of the sun. The air, delightfully cool, fragrant with the perfume of wild roses, and vocal with the music of sweetly murmuring waters, seems to instill new life and vigor into our veins. Venerable forest- trees overshadow us with their rich and variegated foliage, and tower upward in a vain endeavor to catch a glimpse of the rising and setting sun. Creeping vines twine luxuriantly around and above us. Brilliant flowers and hand- some mosses are seen on every side. By a winding 23ath, yve advance toward the Great Fall, now, for a moment, threading the thick mazes of the over- shadowing forest of evergreens ; now, as we pass an opening, delaying to gaze upward at the Lilipu- LOWER RAVJNE. 19 tian specimens of humanity on tlie bank above, imable to recognize tliem as om* friends who are watching onr onward progress ; now, reposing be- neath the sheltering branches, seated upon the fall- en trunk of a forest tree. From time to time, we cross, on rustic bridges, the stream which meanders through the charming ravine as if conscious of its beauties, and unwilling to bid them a final farewell. At length a sudden curve in the banks brings us unexjDectedly in full view of the Great Fall. Here the chasm widens, and the more lofty walls form a spacious amphitheatre. On either side the granite masses tower majestically upward, and seem to shut us itf by an impassable barrier. Before us, from the frowning chff hundreds of feet in heio-ht, the mad waters take their terrible leap. The mighty white column seems clothed with awe-in- spiring grandeur. The water as it approaches the edge of the fall is of a deep green color ; as soon as it leavesthe edge it spangles into a thousand transparent shapes, then, mixing and commingling, it is dashed into clouds of snowy foam, and de- scends mists to the depths below. We never became wearied with gazing upon the grand and beautiful picture which looms up so 20 LOWER RAVINE. majestically before us. We are continually dis- covering new attractions. We clamber up the steep bank to view the picture from another stand- point. Now we decide in favor of a perspective view ; now we advance, through a storm of misty rain, to the very lace of the fiill. Everywhere we are delighted. Everywhere we are impressed by the beauty and sublimity of the scene before us. We recall Byron's unrivaled description of Ye- lino : " The roar of waters ! — from the headlong height [Taughannock] cleaves the wave-worn precipice ; The fall of waters ! rapid as the light ^ The flashing mass foams, shaking the abyss ; The hell of waters ! where they howl and hiss, And boil in endless torture ; while the sweat Of their great agony, wrung out from this Their Phlegethon, curled round the rocks of jet That gird the gulf around, in pitiless horror set, "And mounts in spray the skies, and thence again Returns in an unceasing shower, which round, With its unemptied cloud of gentle rain, Is an eternal April to the ground. Making it all one emerald : — how profound The gulf I and how the giant element THE RAINBOW. 21 From rock to rock leaps with delirious bound, Crushing the 'cliffs, which downward worn and rent With his fierce footsteps, yield in chasms a fearful rent." THE RAINBOW. '' Here," writes a visitor, " we saw distinctly the prismatic colors of the rainbow, mingled with the agitated and gold-green waters." POOL BELOW THE FALL. Below the fall, and flowing to the foot of the perpendicular rocks on the right, is a dark pool, perhaps an hundred feet across, and from twenty- live to forty feet in depth. Large masses of rock are frequently dislodged from the lofty banks, by the action of the winter frost or summer rain, and thunder downward to the ravine belov/. THE LADY OF THE MIST. On the right (or north) of the fall may be seen, when the water is low, a wonderful specimen of Nature's handiwork. It is the apparent represent- ation in the rock of a female, in a half sitting, half 22 THE GOTHIC DOOR. reclining posture, one hand resting on tlie rock by her side, while with the other she withdraws her drapery from contact with the mist and spray. Upon her head is an Egyptian head-dress," or, as it sometimes appears, a helmet, resembling those seen in ancient pictures of Minerva. This wonderful conformation in the rocks was first noticed in 1865, by Colonel T. A. Merriman, of Auburn. The remarkably distinct outlines of the figure can be easily traced by the visitor stand- ing a fourth of a mile away on the bank in front of the Taughannock House. THE GOTHIC DOOR. Towering far upward on the right of the fall is a deep indentation in the rocks, bearing a striking resemblance to a gigantic Gothic door, its lofty arch risino- hio^her than even the fall itself. This singular formation is alluded to in the beautiful poem by Mr. Parker : " I love to think that in thy rocky walls, Where stands the strangely perfect Gothic Door, * " Such as are seen on the numerous bas-reliefs in the catacombs, and among the ruins of Egypt." MR. WELCH S ACCOUNT. 23 The genii have reared their magic halls, With crystal column and with pearly floor." On account of the frequent changes, produced by the crumbling away of the rocks, tlie Gothic door has lost much of its symmetry and beauty, but the resemblance is still easily traceable. The following extract is from the correspondence of the Neio- Yorh Observer. MR. WELCH'S ACCOUNT. " But there is a feature of the lake scenery yet in store for us, surpassing any thing that we have seen, alas, too often unknown to the tourist, and therefore passed by unnoticed, which would itself repay the traveler for a journey across the State, if there were nothing else worth seeing along the entire way. I refer to Taughannock Falls, ten miles below the head of the lake. '• The steamboat landing is unpretentious and by •no means attractive ; but the number that land there is steadily increasing, and will continue to hereafter, as it becomes better known, until the accommoda- tions shall become the best on the lake. " A few rods from the shore, and quite out of siglit 21 MR. Welch's account. from tlie steamer, tlie tourist is sudcleiily confronted by tlie mouth of a grand gorge, three hundred feet deep, perhaps one third as broad — between perpen- dicular walls of solid rock, with a waterfall pouring down its rocky bed. This gorge extends back for a mile, deepening and widening into the heart of the mountain with fantastic curves and overhano^ino; cliffs, and a frontlet of pines on either brow. The adventurous pedestrian may thread the entire gorge with, perhaps, the single risk of wet feet as he passes from island to island on the way. "Before he reaches the second or grand fall, he will observe an almost perpendicular ladder of more than two hundred steps, ascending to the summit of the cliff. If he decline to thread the entire length of the ravine, he may make the circuit of the public road, the side of which borders the brink of the gorge, permitting him to trace its Avindings as he proceeds, and look down into its dizzy de]3ths. '' Then Jie can descend from the road by the per- pendicular ladder to the bottom of the ravine on his* Avay to the second fall. The gorge swells upward and around him into a magnificent amphitheatre, echoing and reechoing with the noise of the distant rapid and fall. Suddenly there breaks upon his MR. Welch's accouxt. 25 view a cataract, making a single leap of two hun- dred and fifty feet from a pathway sixty feet wide and a hundred feet deep, which it has cut throngh the solid rock. Sometimes, when the gorge is filled with water, it is a raging cataract, shaking the firm hills with its thunder. 'Now, when the stream is low, it forms one of the most beautiful cascades that any land can boast. It resembles the Dust-Falls of Staubbach, which is the pride of Switzerland ; though inferior in height, yet it is superior to it in some other respects ; its waters are nearer milky white, the height is not so great as to dash it completely to dew-dust in its fall; it has just water enough to re- tain some consistency, and yet descent enough to make it thin, and light, and soft, as a pendent vail of snowy gauze, with which the air is fondly sporting and which occasional gusts from below lift into suc- cessive graceful snowy folds, inwrought with colors of the rainbow, which float awhile before the eye ere thev sink into the seethino; lakelet that circles below. No words, however, can convey a just idea of the commingled beauty of cascade, precipice, cliif, and gorge; the ])encil has made the attempt, but, in the sketches I have seen, has sadly failed to do it justice. 26 THE HERMIT. " Opposite the fall stands the Tanghannock house, for the accommodation of visitors. From either story of the house the fall is visible, through the leafy trees. The easy swing and rustic seats are each arranged to command a peculiar view. The perfume of pine fills the air with healthy fragrance, and its whisper- ing music floats upon the breeze. Unpretentious but most satisfactory entertainment cheers the vis- itor, and prepares him for an after-dinner stroll to the third falls or succession of charming cascades, eighty rods beyond, wdiich should by no means be neglected, for these alone are sufiicient to repay one's delay at Tauc^-hannock. " My only regret was that I must bid adieu so soon to the lovely scene. It was, however, with the firm resolve that whenever I might enjoy a sail over Cayuga Lake, I would not pass Tanghannock by." THE HERMIT. In the summer of 1820, there appeared in the vil- lage of Trumansburgh a stranger. JS^one knew, or could learn, who he was or wdience he came. His whole history was shrouded in obscurity. The story of his former life he never told ; and even his name and home remained concealed. THE HEEMIT. 27 Seeking no associates, inviting no confidences, and seeming ever to avoid the society of men, tlie curiosity of tlie villagers suffered no abatement concerning him. To them he was an unsolved enigma. In a short time, however, the stranger disappeared, and for several days was unheard from ; but, on ac- count of his eccentric habits, little notice was taken of his departure. A few days passed by, when a lad, wandering in the ravine of Taughannock, discovered the mangled body of the recluse, lying near the water, a short distance below the fall. His death was as mvsterious as had been his life. ]^one ever knew, whether, attracted by the fascinating beauty of the cataract, he had ventured too far and fallen a victim to his rashness, or whether, weary of life, he had madly cast himself into tliis horrible abyss. By stranger hands the body of the poor unfortu- nate was buried, and no friend came to weep over his grave. He had lived unknown and unloved — he died unmourned. Such was the sad, mysterious fate of the I^ame- LESs Hermit of Taughannock. 28 CAVES. CAVES 'Not far from tlie mouth of the ravine, and half- way up the north bank, are three small caves, in length from forty to one hundred and fifty feet. They, with several others which have since been filled up, were excavated, some thirty years ago, by a superannuated Methodist minister, Richard Good- win by name, who worked them with the expecta- tion of discovering a vein of coal. Although not extensive, these caves must have required in their formation severe and long-con- tinued labor. Comical stories are told of this curious old Rip Van Winkle of the neio:hborhood, who, resrardless of the sneers of his neighbors and the disappoint- ment resulting from his long and fruitless labors, still perseveringly and dogmatically grubbed away at the rock, even, as is said, to the day of his deatli. Once, and only once, was the old man blessed with the belief that his weary labors were about to be crowned with success, and even then he was doomed to experience a sad disappointment ; for some miscliievous boys had placed a few lumps of FIGHT WITH A BEAR AT TAUGHANNOCK. 29 coal in one of Ins cav^es, lioping tlnis to excite his expectations and stimulate him to future exertions. The upper and largest cave is the only one now visited, and even this is partially filled up at its en- trance. When once inside the explorer is barely able to walk upright, and discovers the damp walls hung with bats, who are seldom disturbed by other visitors. In the ravine below, and not far from these caves, are two small sulphur springs. FIGHT WITH A BEAR AT TAUGHANNOCK. The following simple yet graphic account of a fight with a bear in the ravine of Taughannock, was contributed by Mr. George Weyburn to the '' New- York State Historical Collections," published by John M. Barber and Henry Howe in 1814:. It is amusing to note what importance this old veteran gives to the least incident of this great '^ conflict, ^^ which he describes with as much zeal and earnestness as if he were discoursing concerning a Waterloo, upon the issue of which the destinies of the world were depending. His enumeration of the numbers, positions, and arms of the combatants is wortliv of a careful chro- 30 FIGHT WITH A BEAU AT TAUGHANNOCK. nicler, and be is unable to conceal bis joy wben, after recommencing " tbe conflict," bis friends are at lengtb left " masters of tbe field." " One Sunday evening in October, about forty- seven years ago, as my fatber, Mr. Samuel Wey- burn, was returning from feeding bis borse on tbe nortb side of tbe creek, near wbere tbe distillery now stands, bis dog started up a bear and ber two cubs. Tbey followed tbeir course up tbe bill on tbe soutb side of tbe creek until near tbe summit, a few rods above tbe mill-site fall, wbere tbe cubs took to a tree. My fatber ran to tbe bouse, and, baving obtained bis gun, pursued. Being directed by tbe barking of tbe dog, be passed about twenty rods beyond tbe tree in wbicb tbe cubs were, and tbere be found tbe bear witli ber back against a tree, standino- on tbe brink of a £;ulf, defendino^ 'CD 7 berself from tbe attacks of tbe dog. " He fired, and, as it was afterward found, broke one of ber fore-legs. Tbe animal retreated into tbe gulf, and was seen no more tbat nigbt. " In tbe mean time my motber, brotber, and my- self, wbo bad followed in tbe pursuit, came to tbe tree in wbicb tbe cubs bad retreated, wbo, being frigbtened at tbe report of tbe gun and tbe sound of FIGHT WITH A BEAE AT TAUGHANNOCK. 31 our voices, began to cry ''mam! onavi!^ in the most affecting tones, strongly resembling the human voice. " My mother having called my father, he shot the cubs and returned home. The next morning, my father thinkins: that he had either killed or severelv wounded the animal, for the want of a better wea- pon, (having expended his ovUy charge of powder the evening previous,) took a pitchfork, and pro- ceeded in quest of the enemy, accompanied by my- self and brother. " I was armed with a small ax ; but my brother, not being equipped for war, was allowed to accom- pany us bare-handed. '' Thus accoutered and followed by our dog, we proceeded to within about forty rods of the great fall, when my father, apprised of the nearness of the enemy by the barking of the dog, ran and left us in the rear. " We soon came in sight of the bear and dog, who were passing from the left wall of the precipice across the basin to the right, and ascended almost to the perpendicular rock, a distance of eighty or one hundred feet. " My father, climbing up lower down, was en- o2 FIGHT WITH A BEAR AT TAUGHANNOCK. abled to intercept lier passage in consequence of lier broken limb. " Here the action again commenced by his giving her three tlirusts with tlie fork. The first and second were near the heart, the third struck her shonkler-blade, when she turned upon him, and he met her with a thrust in her face, putting out one of her eyes with one prong and tearing her tongue witli the other. She then rushed toward him, his feet gave way, and as he fell she caught him by the clothes near his breast. *' At this juncture he seized her and threw her below him. This he repeated two or three times in their descent toward the bottom of the ravine, dur- ing which slie bit him in both liis legs and in his arms. At tlie bottom, in the creek, lay a stone whose front was not unlike the front of a common cooking-stove, the water reaching to the top. N^ear this, four or five feet distant, stood a rock on the bank. Into this snug notch it was his good luck to throw his antagonist, with her feet and claws to- ward the rock in the stream. In this situation he succeeded in holding her, with liis back to hers and braced between the rocks. AYith his left hand he DURING HIGH WATER. 83 held her by the back, and with his right held her by the neck, until I came up. I struck her with all my might on the back with the ax. At this my father sprang from her and seized his fork. The bear turned toward us with a shake and a snort. I gave her a severe blow\ She fell, but, recovering herself, endeavored to retreat. We recommenced the conflict, and ere long the life- less corpse of the animal proclaimed us masters of the field. The victory was dearly bought. The blood was running in streams from my father's hands, and from his limbs into his shoes. On examination, he found that she had bitten him in each limb, inflicting four ugly wounds at each bite, besides a slit in his wrist, supposed to have been done by one of her claw^s. DURING HIGH WATER. The scene is then one of surpassing grandeur. The rivulet of July or August, which murmured so musically along within its narrow channel, be- comes the tempestuous torrent, overwhelming with resistless might all which would obstruct its path. Like some wild and ferocious animal, which has 34: DURING HIGH WATEE. been tamed and reduced to servitude by the power of man, but now, frigbtened or enraged, he has be- come forgetful of all his former lessons, and, threat- ening with destruction all who endeavor to ap- proach him, riots unrestrained. Tims this little river, once a wild and uugoverned torrent, but since introduced by man into new channels, com- pelled to grind his grain, saw his lumber, press out his oil and wine, and make his paper ; now, rising in sudden and fierce rebellion against him, has broken over the boundaries which he had placed, resumed its ancient channel, and, having thus es- caped fl'om his hated dominion, rushes exultingly onward, breaking or bearing along with it the chains with which he has sought to impede its progress. The beautiful little cascade of summer, floating downward, as if on fairy wings, to the deep ravine below, tinkling upon the rocks with music like that which breathes from ^olian harps, half-hiding the granite wall with a vail of misty whiteness, its waters bright and pure, and clear as crystal, which, after falling, glides gently and noiselessly away to the bosom of the lake beyond ; this we behold no more. WINTER BEAUTIES. 85 Tlie scene is wonderfully changed ; and were it not for the eternal rocks, we could imagine that another landscape was stretched out before us. The rushing river, unrestrained by its narrow channel, has swept away the rustic bridges, and overflowed the winding paths by which we ascend to the foot of the fall. " Lo ! where it comes like an eternity, As if to sweep down all things in its track, Charming the eye with dread — a matchless cataract." The ravine is filled with the sound of rushing floods. Tlie majestic column of water sv\^ells into grander proportions, while the voice of the cataract, grow- ing hoarser and more terrible, seems striving to rival the roar of the mighty Niagara. WINTER BEAUTIES. In many respects the winter beauties of Taugh- annock surpass those of summer, altliough each season has its peculiar attractions. In summer, the scene is one of unequaled beauty ; in winter, one of surpassing grandeur. A huge mass of ice, its base stretching out one Q 6 BREAKING UP OF THE ICE. liundrecl feet from the foot of the fall, and some- times rising to the height of an hundred and fifty feet, towers upward like some mighty temple. Im- mense ice-pendants from above join the ice-moun- tain below, and form an appropriate tower to the crystal cathedral. Monstrous icicles, stretching downward on all sides of the ravine, almost con- ceal its sombre walls. When the sun, piercing the wintry clouds, lights up this mountain and these towering walls of ice, tinging their tops witli crimson and gold, one can almost imagine that he beholds the magical palace of Aladdin, with gorgeous towers, and shining bat- tlements, and crystal columns crowned with gold. ; BREAKING UP OF THE ICE. The breaking up of the ice in the spring affords another spectacle of grandeur and beauty. The water, gaining volume, falls farther forward than before, and dashes its weight against the mountain of ice below. This mass is gradually worn away, and immense fissures are opened, through which the foaming and angry waters can be seen struggling to escape from their prison. ISTow a huge mass of ice lunges slowly forward, TPIE TAUGHANNOCK HOUSE. 87 and is hurled over the precipice with a report which makes the surrounding hills reverberate. Now a succession of smaller fragments sends up sounds like the discharge of a park of artillery ; and, as the liner particles come rushing after, the listener can imagine that he hears the rattle of musketry intermingled with the roar of heavy ordnance. PICTURES OF TAUGHANNOCK. Excellent photographic and stereoscopic pictures of scenery about Taughannock have been obtained by Dr. J. Towler, of Hobart College, by Messrs. Tolles and Seely, of Ithaca, and other skillful artists. Messrs. Tolles and Seely have some beautiful views of the Falls and Kavine, which can scarcely be surpassed. THE TAUGHANNOCK HOUSE. The Taughannock House, a substantial and spa- cious wooden building, stands in a pleasant grove a short distance below the falls. Here the traveler alwavs finds excellent accommodations and an oblis;- ing landlord. This pleasant hotel has recently been enlarged 38 TAGHCANIC FALLS. to double its former size and refurnished, and, un- der the management of its present popular pro- prietor, will continue to deserve and receive the patronage of the public. Immediately in front of the Taughannock House is the point referred to elsewhere for obtaining the best view of both ravine and tall. From the sec- ond and third stories of the Hotel, the falls may be indistinctly seen, half-concealed by the waving branches of the trees. THE SPRING. A little to the right is a deep notch in the ravine bank, where a flight of steps leads down to a cool, sparkling spring, unfailing even in seasons of the greatest drought. Here a large grape-vine, run- ning along the very brink of the precipice, serves as a protection to the visitor who wishes to peep over the edge of the bank. The following extract is from a pamphlet, de- scriptive of Cayuga Lake and the scenery along its banks, published by Munsell & Eowland, Al- bany, 1860 : "TAGHCANIC FALLS. * The traveler who does not stop here denies him- VIEW OF CAYUGA LAKE. 39 self tlie pleasure of seeing tlie most beautiful water- fell in tlie State. At a point about one mile up a wild but accessible ravine, the clear crystal stream pours over a shelf of rock in an unbroken, exqui- site vail of water — the great distance (over two hundred feet) of its plunge, changing it to the dreamiest and most delicious cloud-work of spray. These falls have met delighted description from the skilled pens of Dr. Cheever, Mrs. Ellet, and many others who have not omitted to see this sweet sister of Niagara. There is just enough water ; more would change the dream-like character of this sil- ver vail hung in a great deep glen. At the TAGHCANIC HOTEL, kept by Mr. Halsey, will be found admirable ar- rano^ements of entertainment. It is of the best grade of hotels, and will be found to deserve this w^ord of commendation." VIEW OF CAYUGA LAKE. A pleasant path, through the woods fragrant with the breath of the pines, leads us a short dis- tance below the Taughannock House, where, from a rustic seat agreeably situated in a shady nook, we 40 VIEW OF CAYUGA LAKE. obtain a beantifiil view of Cayuga Lake, recalling some of the most charming landscapes on the Hud- son. This is a picture which must be seen to be appreciated by the tourist, as no description of ours can do it justice. On either hand extend the bright shores, spotted with field and forest, while here and there arises the single spire of a little hamlet. Far away to the north is seen Marsh's Point,'" a favorite resort for summer excursionists, and on the opposite sliore, as if to extend friendly greeting, another long and slender point reaches out a spark- lino; fino;er. Between these pleasant shores stretches the silver surface of Cayuga — queen of five sister lakes, a glittering gem, set in a landscape only to be ap- preciated by the true artist. Here and there ap- pears a snowy sail, or a little steamer pufiing slug- gishly along, with a cloud of black smoke following in her w^ake. For twenty miles or more, we can watch the shining wavelets circling with beauty the rocky bluifs, green meadows, and glittering headlands, * We Avould direct attention to beautiful views of Marsh's Point and surrounding scenery photographed by Messrs. Tolles and Seely. DEATH OF THE HOESE. 41 until, ill the dim distance, the waters are mingled witli tlie sky. DEATH OF THE HORSE. A short distance below the hotel, an accident oc- curred in 1865, which happily resulted in nothing more serious than the loss of a horse and buggy. The animal, becoming frightened or fractious, be- gan to back toward the precipice. The driver had only time to disengage himself from the reins, in which he had become entangled, when horse and wagon together tumbled down the steep declivity to wdiere the rocks rise perpendicular ; then their fall was unbroken until they were dashed upon the rocks hundreds of feet below and crushed into in- numerable fragments. Strange to relate, however, a violin, which was in the buggy, was preserved from harm l)y its case, and was recovered uninjured. " The scattered fragments of the horse were col- lected and buried in the bed of the stream, where head and foot-stones were erected to mark his grave. Few of our cemeteries are more beautiful than the spot where the departed steed lies sleeping. The swiftlv G^lidino; waters murmur music above him ; 42 ACCIDENT. from neighboring gro\^es ^Eoliau liarps mingle their strains with the melody, while the fragrance of wild flowers ])erfnmes the air aronnd. ACCIDENT. There are two paths leading into the upper ra- vine, bnt the traveler will find the second easier in its descent. Near the first of these paths, and not far from the fall itself, an accident occurred in the summer of 1865. An Irishman, who visited the falls with a picnic party, in attempting to scramble down the bank here, lost his balance, and, by alternate roll- ings and tumblings, was precipitated to the bottom of the ravine. Here, bruised and almost breath- less, he lay during a long and weary night, unable even to drag himself to the water, which was flow- ing near him. He managed to quench his thirst by dipping a broken branch in the stream and ap- plying the moistened end to his lips. After re- maining here for the greater part of the following day, he recovered himself sufficiently to crawl up the bank and to the Cataract House, where, ex- hausted and fainting, he was received and cared for. devil's punch-bowl. 43 UPPER RAVINE. The upper ravine, altliougli its banks are less ma- jestic, surpasses the lower in rustic beauty. De- scending the bank by an easy, winding path, our curiosity is aroused and our admiration excited by the w^onderfully regular appearance of several smooth, deep hollows in the rock which constitutes the bed of the stream. These cavities form bowl- like bathing places, round and polished as if hol- lowed by the hand of art. The largest of these natural bathing-tubs, where the w^ater revolves in a sort of miniature whirlpool, is called the DEVIL'S PUNCH-BOWL. We now descend to the brink of the Fall, and, crossing the stream, find ourselves upon Table Rock, so called from its resemblance to the well- known Table Rock at Magara. Our rock is a granite platform, immediately to the right of and almost level with the top of the Fall, with a narrow shelf projecting for several yards on the face of the massive wall beyond, along which the most venturesome visitors carry frag- ments of rock and drop them into the water below. 44 devil's punch-bowl. A report like that of a rifle rises from tlie dark abyss. From tliis point is obtained a charming view of the lower ravine, the Tanghannock House, and the lake in the distance. Eetracing onr steps, and passing the Devil's Punch-Bowl, we meet with one of the numerous pretty little cascades with which the upper ravine abounds. Thence a pleasant path leads us mean- deringly onward toward the second or Uppek Fall, near where the stream first cuts its way into the rock. THE OLD GUN-FACTORY. 45 Here, at a sudden turn, there bursts upon our view a cataract, fifty feet in lieiglit, and of peculiar beauty. The water does not fall perpendicularly, but," dashed into foam, leaps madly from rock to rock until, as if ashamed of the efforts of its divided strength, collecting its forces in a narrow channel, it pours its fury upon the rocks below. On the left of this Ml the smooth wall of rock rises in a beautiful curve, as reo;ularlv arched as if built by the hand of man. THE OLD GUN-FACTORY. A short distance above the second fall, and near the upper entrance to the gorge, stands a diLapidat- ed relic of the war of 1812, known as the " Gun- Factory." The building was erected in 1811 or 1815, and a company was at that time engaged in manufactur- ing guns under a Government contract. At the close of the war the company had a large number of guns partially completed, which, as tlie Govern- ment had no use for them, were boxed up and sent to an arsenal in Connecticut. After the war, the old gun-factory was for a long 46 MEANS OF ACCESS. time unoccupied, but has since served as an oil-mill, a flax-mill, and a tobacco-liouse. MEANS OF ACCESS. During tlie summer season, Taugliannock is easily accessible from all parts of the country, as a double line of boats on Cavuc^a Lake connects with the New- York Central at Cayuga Bridge, and with a branch of the j^ew-York and Erie at Ithaca. Tlie ride over the clear and placid waters of the bright Cayuga affords pleasure enough of itself to repay the traveler for all the expense of his journey- The steamboat company are now building a new passenger-boat to take the place of one of the old steamers. In winter Taugliannock is more difficult of ap- proach, as for two months Cayuga Lake is closed by ice ; but a line of stages from Ovid to Ithaca connects with conveyances from the Seneca Lake boats, thus opening another pleasant way of ap- proach to Taugliannock. These steamers can always be relied upon, both during summer and winter. In 1865, one of them. Captain Dey's boat, did not lose a single trip dur- ing the year. TAUGHANNOCK BY MOONLIGHT. BY I ONCE saw Taugliannock by moonlight, and sliall never forget tlie impression it made npon me. It forms one of my memory pictures wbicli never can fade away, and which I love frequently to revert to. As our carriag-e rolled alono; the smooth road skirting the ravine, and we passed now beneath the shadows of dark pines, now over a strip of bright moonlight, I was continually leaning from the win- dows, watching the constant alternation of light and shade. The wheels bowled along so smoothly it seemed as if we were moved by enchantment. I couldn't help comparing our little company to a group of fairies hastening to a midnight revel in a coach drawn through the air, "Over hill, over dale, Through bush, through briar, Over park, over pale, Through flood, through fire." 48 TAUGHANXOCK BY MOONLIGHT. Surely, never Titania or Oberon sported on a 2:reeii beneatli a more dazzlino; flood of moonlio^lit. We whirled around corners, glided in and out, following the windings of the ravine of whose black depths I caught a shuddering glance now and then, until finally the forest closed in on both sides, the rays of the moon struggled in vain to penetrate the thick branches, and we rode in si- lence, ascending and descending several slight ele- vations, halting at last with the quietness that had hitherto characterized our course, at the broad piazza fronting the Cataract House. The song of the " Cadenced white waterfall, silvered and curled," reached us in subdued utterances, as if the moon had laid a spell upon it, and the voices of the water-spirits were low in consequence. Crossing the open space in front of the hotel, we seated our- selves upon the verge of the ravine, reverently pre- pared to look and listen. The fall was visible, silvered at the top where the moonlight struck it, and dropping away into shadowy indistinctness ere it reached the stream below. The sigh of the night breeze, mingled with the ceaseless murmur of the TAUGHANNOCK BY MOONLIGHT. d9 cascade, seemed the only sound awake in tlie wide world. Far down the dark abyss beneath us, and away up into the infinitude above us, we looked, feeling our littleness. A still, small voice seemed sounding in our ears the praises of Him who created the world, reared its venerable forests, fashioned its wondrous and beautiful adornings, piled up its mountain heights heights and scooped out its deep-cut ravines. At first there was a spell upon every tongue, and no word was uttered ; then we began to talk in whispers, and, the seal of silence once removed, it was not long ere there was a mingling of voices and an interchange of opinion with regard to Taugh- annock. " Beautiful ! isn't it ?" " Heavenly !" '^ Divine !" " Shall we descend and pay Undine a visit ?" " Where do you suppose her grotto is situated ?" " Oh ! beneath that clifl:' yonder, where the water shoots over and the spray rises." Undine ! The name called up a host of shadowy dreams. I saw the doomed maiden fl.oating on the 50 TAUGHANNOCK BY MOONLIGHT. curling spray, her pale hair unbound, her sad face turned toward us. Surely, I thought, the spirits that haunt eacli rippling stream must love to congregate in such a spot on such a night as this. Misty and indistinct as the waterfall seemed, there was yet enough of it visible to charm and enchain us to the spot for hours. '' Les trois Soeicrs,^^ with sweet voices and charm- ing faces, sang a duet about " Moonlight, music, love, and flowers," and never was melody more in tune wdth the harmonies about us. The sentinel trees ranged along the edge of the ravine stood stately and dark in the full glow of the moon, like sturdy guardians whose vigils might never for an instant relax. When we moved about, the last year's foliage of the pine lay soft and smooth beneath our feet, and its aromatic odors filled the air. There were strange whisperings overhead, as if the Dryads w^ere interchanging their nightly com- munications. I know not how late we might have remained had not an evil spirit prompted some member of the company to look at his watch. TAUGHANNOCK BY MOONLIGHT. 51 " Eleven o'clock !" " Impossible !" With tlie settled conviction that his watch had beaten old Time by at least a conple of hours, every time-]3iece in the party was consulted, but alas ! each told a similar story. One more look at the silvery sheen of the falling waters, one long and lingering look to imprint the scene upon memorj^, one moment of eager and intent listening to catch the song those w^aters are forever singing, and w^e are driven slowly away with many a backward glance at the quiet hotel with its surroundings of " forest primeval." VIEWS. VIEWS FROM ABOVE. One of the best iinobstractecl views from tlie top of the bank, is obtained from the rustic seat imme- diately in front of the hoteL Here, across the tre- mendons gulf which yawns before us, we behold the falls in the distance, their mighty walls of granite guarding them on either side. We behold the " Gothic Door," opening grandly, on the right, and the " Lady of the Mist," sitting meditatively near the foot of the fall. This is also a favorable position for viewing the beautiful lower ravine. From this point was painted one of the best pic- tures of Taughannock — a large oil painting, by that talented artist, J. C. Beardsley, of Ithaca. Mr. Beardsley excels in landscape painting, and has made many beautiful studies at Taughannock. A few rods south-west of the Taughannock House, near the spot where once stood another hotel, called tlie " Falls House," we obtain a nearer view of tlie fall, wliicli is preferred by some to that in front of the Cataract. The prospect of the ravine, however, is more limited, in consequence of its curving suddenly to the left, and it is impossible to appreciate here the height of the bank upon which w^e are standing. We have a fine view of the pool beneath the fall, and of the towering bank opposite. A little further up-stream is a steep path, leading downward almost to the edge of the perpendicular w^all rising from below. Here the venturesome trav- eler will discover another beautiful view of the fall. This spot was once the scene of a sad tragedy. Directly beneath this point was discovered the body of the stranger to whose mournful fate we have alluded elsewhere. As at Magara the best points for viewing the falls are found on the Canada shore, so here, as the water falls almost facing the northern bank, it is impossible to obtain a satisfactory view of Taughan- nock from the southern. There is, however, one view from that s!de which is worth mentioning. It is obtained by standing near the edge of the over- hanging bank, nearly in line with the fall itself, and apparently almost directly above it. This position. 54 VIEWS. however, is not an entirely safe one, as portions of the projecting rock fall every year. BEAUTIFUL VIEW. ISTot far from the top of the fall, and the first path for descending to the stream above, is the best point for obtaining a view of that magnificent gnlf, the lower ravine. We have never seen a painting or a good stereo- scopic view of this scene, althongh several artists have endeavored to obtain one ; bnt we know of no landscape which wonld make a more beantifnl pic- ture, if it could be successfully transferred to canvas. The massive granite walls, on either side, diminish- ing in the distance ; the dark pool, three hundred feet beneath, from which a sparkling clond of foam arises ; the stream below, no longer disturbed by the terrible fright of its fall — a thread of silver winding away among the evergreens ; and a bird's-eye view of the beautiful Cayuga in the distance ; all these commend this favored spot to tho attention of the artist. These are the most favorable positions from which to survey the cataract and ravine from above. VIEWS. 55 VIEWS FROM BELOW. The view of the fall from the ravine, however, is the only one with which we are entirely satisfied. Here alone we -are fully impressed with the over- powering sublimity of the scene, and while Ave can not but admire its beauty, its grandeur fills us with awe. None of the views from above afford us an ade- quate idea of the height, breadth, or beauty of the fall, but from below it stands out in all its magnifi- cent proportions, a masterpiece of nature's handi- work, painted upon the face of the mighty rocks, with lofty and overhanging cliffs to mingle in due proportions the lights and shadows. A near approach to the " Lady of the Mist," con- fuses to our sight the outlines of her figure, and we discover that in this instance — " Distance lends enchantment ; " but the Gothic Door rises grand and gloomy above us, like the dilapidated j^ortal of some gigantic cas- tle of the olden time. The pool, which looked so small from above, swells into quite a lakelet, ex- tending a stone's throw from the foot of the fall. PIISTOEICAL. It would be but a pleasant task to retrace the his- tory of Tanghannock, through the ages which have 23assed since first its waters began to flow, to learii at what 2>eriod, and with what rapidity, it formed, first a succession of rapids, and, finally, this majestic cataract ; to know what nations and tribes have in turn dwelt along its banks, and held sway over tliese pleasant shores. The beautiful and appropriate name of the Falls, we are well aware, descends to us from the Ameri- can Indians, and Dr. Hamilton has given us a charming legend of the manner in which the Dela- ware name, Taughannock, came to be applied to this cataract in tlie country of the Iroquois, or Six l^ations. But there are many and indubitable evidences that before the time of the Indians, other and more civilized races claimed this country as their own. Mementoes and monuments of a strange unknown HISTORICAL. 57 people are scattered over onr country, fi-om the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Lake Erie to the Gulf of Mexico ; but none can tell their history, or to whom we owe their existence. Between the Lakes Cayuga and Seneca, and along Lake Erie, were discovered the remains of many of those mysterious, ancient fortifications, be- longing to an age so remote that even the tongue of tradition is silent concerning them. Various theories have been advanced in regard to the origin of these unknown nations of the past, and the time at which they inhabited this country, but it is doubtful whether we shall ever be able to de- termine accurately concerning cither of the points in question. In later years we know that this beautiful country was the home of the Cayugas and Senecas, the chief tribes of the great Iroquois confederacy, who doubt- less built their wigwams along the banks of the Taughannock. The spot which is now a place of popular resort for the votary of pleasure, was then a favored haunt of the simple child of nature. Where the devotees of fashion 'Svind 'mid the mazes" of "the Lancers," the painted warriors then brandished 58 HISTORICAL. tlieii' hatchets in the war-clance ; and instead of the sweet notes of the lute or viol, floatino- throni2:h the brilliant ball-room, the shrill whoop of the savage rung through the forest. But the emotions of the heart remain the same, and where now the proud beauty twirls her fan, and listens, with half-concealed contempt, to the familiar tale of another suitor, the modest Indian maiden, her dark cheek tinged with a deeper hue, acknow^- ledged her first and only love, Iso doubt the wild " children of the forest" " Felt RAAe as deep and reverential love," toward the Great Spirit, whose hand they recog- nized in the works of nature, as do many of their more enliglitened pale-faced conquerors, who boast so loudly of their mental and moral superiority. In no other part of IS^orth- Am erica had the abori- gines made such advances in civilization as upon the shores of these lakes and in the Genesee coun- try. Those of our readers who have been accus- tomed to think of the Indians as wild and savage warriors will be astonished to learn how far they had advanced in the arts of peace. "^ * Vide Trans. N. Y. State Agricultural Society, Vol. X. 1850, p. 380. HISTOEICAL. 69 We quote from an aiitlientic account of General Sullivan's expedition against the Indians, in 1779 : " After the battle at ]N"ewtown [now Elmira] the American army pressed forward between Cayuga and Seneca lakes, driving the Indians before them. " Here the lands were found to be cultivated, yielding corn abundantly. Extensive orchards pre- sented fine fruits to the invader. The apple, pear, and plum were abundant. A regularity in the arrangement of their houses indicated long-con- tinued prosperity and enjoyment of property. Many houses were rudely framed, with chinmeys, and some few were painted. All, however, were des- troyed." We are informed, by early settlers, that, at the time of the first emigration of the whites into this region of country, there were unmistakable evi- dences that a large and long-establislied Indian Village had existed on the point now known as Goodwin's, below Taughannock Falls. At the time of the coming of the whites the village had been abandoned, probably on account of the gradual decimation of the tribes, but the Indians still culti- vated corn-fields on this point, and had also an orchard here. (30 I^'DIAX ORCHARD. For many years liatcliets and other Indian imple- ments wonld often be turned up by the plow, and it was no nncommon thing for laborers in the corn- fields to discover (juantities of the wampum, or large red beads, used as money by the Indians. INDIAN ORCHARD. The Indian apple orchard was near the mouth of the stream, and some of the trees were standing only a few years ago. It was supposed by the settlers that this orchard was cut down at the time of Gen. Sullivan's expe- dition in 1779 ; and that new trees sprouted up from the old stumps. This opinion w^as strength- ened by the fact that frequently two or three trees grew together in a cluster, as if springing from a common root. These apple-trees grew to an un- usual height, and several old settlers bear testimony that they produced excellent fruit. A tree from this orchard was once transplanted by Abner Truman"'^ (the revolutionary soldier from whom the village of Trumansburgh derives its * The name was originally Tremain. It was corrupted in pronun- ciation to Truman, hence Trumansburgh. ORIGIN OF NAME. 61 name) to liis garden, opposite tlie present Metlio- dist church. This venerable tree^ has been very productive, and still stands, bearing fruit yearly. Mr. George Goodwin, of Jacksonville, relates that for a long time after his father settled at " the Point," although the land had been nominally sold to the white men, the Indians claimed the fruit of the orchard as their own. Thev would even steal the apples before they w^ere ripe, and it was several years before they ceased to be troublesome. ORIGIN OF NAME. Before Dr. Hamilton had investigated this sub- ject, many different views w^ere entertained con- cernino^ the orio-in of the name Tauo-hannock. Yarious attempts were made to discover in the word itself the reason for its being thus applied. f But the theories thus advanced, although ingenious, were all open to objections. Probably there are few words for which a skillful * It is supposed to be nearly one hundred years old. f Mr. Bogart (vide quotation following) made the word to mean, " The Great Fall in the Woods." Dr, Geo. Copway, the Indian chief, thought it might mean, " The Crevice which rises to the Tops of the Trees." 62 OEIGIN OF NAME. philelogist could not discover some possible deriva- tion. We give a few names and terminations from which such an investigator might suppose a deriva tion for the name Taughannock : In the Algonquin, the word tahuim means wood ; olameliukumn^ high \ jpatihaalmn^ thunder. In the Miami tongue forest is tawwonrnvJceioe^ in Delaware it is taiktinali. Tahxxan^ in Delaware, means wood. In the Dacotah dialect, teliauwaukan means very high. Schoolcraft states that " the tribes generally dwelt on the banks of rivers, which w^ere denoted by an inflection to the root form of its name, as, -annah^ -annocl\ -any^ as heard in Susqiieh-annah, Rappah-annock, and Allegh-any. " The termination of -atun, or -atan^ or -ton, de- notes a rapid stream or channel. In Iroquois, the particle on denotes a hill ; -och denotes forest." The following entry was recently made in the register of the Taughannock House, by W. H. Bo- gart, Esq., of the ISTew-York "Woeld": " Mr. Halsey requested Mr. Alfred B. Street, the distinguished poet, and myself, to ascertain what was the probable signification of tlie word Tagh- OEIGIN OF NAME. 63 anic, by wliicli these very, very beautiful Falls are designated. Few things are so difficult as to gather from the conflicting dialects of the various tribes any accurate translation. " Mr. Street will do his portion of the task, set him by Mr. Halsey, in his own delightful manner, by ode or lyric worthy of the theme. I find in a dictionary of the Onondaga language, prepared by Jean Murinchau, a French Jesuit, the word dehennah^ or dehennach, meaning, I believe, a Fall. In the Algonquin is the word taalchan^ which is in- terpreted as Woods, and in the Mohawk, tunglcah^ the explanation of which ^ is Great. All these brought together are easily, in the changes of lan- guage and varieties of pronunciation, rendered as Taghannic, or The Gkeat Fall in the Woods ! which is the easy, and natural, and probable appel- lation given to it by the cpiiet, simple, unimagina- tive men, who once ruled and possessed all this land. " William II. Bog art. " Aurora, Cayug-a Lake, " 7th August, 1865." 64: ORIGIN OF NAME. The name Taughannock, like many others of a similar derivation, has been spelled and pronounced in a great variety of ways, and by scarcely two writers in the same way. After an examination of other Indian geographi- cal terms, and after consulting with gentlemen wdio have long been familiar with Indian languages and dialects, we have adopted the orthography, Taugli- annock^ as most in accordance with the structure of the language from which it is derived, while we believe it to be, also, the best sounding name of all those applied to the Falls. We thus preserve in the word the guttural ciugl}^ and the termination annock^ analogous to Rappahannock, ete. Note. — for Indian geographical names, used in this book, compare " The League of the Iroquois," by Lewis H. Morgan, Esq., of Roches- ter. TAUGHANNOCK FALLS-CAYUGA LAKE. TRADITION CO:NrCERNING THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME. BY D. H. HAMILTON, D.D. It is a curious question to tlie student of Amer- ican antiquities, and especially of Indian arclire- oloecv, how the Delaware name Taus^hannock came to be affixed to the most conspicuous and beautiful w^ater-fall in the country of the Iroquois or Six ITations, and within the canton of the tribe of the Cayugas. Did the ancient Delawares once hold this coun- try, and did they then ^x their name on these falls so firmly that the changes of war and conquest could not remove it, or was the name the result of some later event ? A faint tradition is in favor of the former suppo- sition, but a more distinct one siqjports the latter. 6Q TAUGIIANNOCK FALLS— CAYUGA LAKE. Taiigliaiinock Falls is witliin tlie territory for- merly owned by the Cayngas. Its name is ac- counted for. by history and tradition, in the follow- ing events. The Iroquois confederacy, by a series of con- quests, had extended its sway from Lake Superior and the Mississippi to Massachusetts Bay, and from Canada to the Potomac and Ohio. In fact, they held the Indians of almost the whole continent in subjection, and exacted of them tribute, which some of them pay to this day. After subduing the Adirondacs, the Ottawas, the Chippewas, and the Algonkins, of the north ; the Mohegans, the Manhattans, and the Nassachiisets, on the east ; the Cries, Miamies, and the Illini, on the west, and the Shawnees, on the Ohio, they con- quered also the Delawares, reduced them to ^^Tich- atains^'' and took from them all aiithority in war or council, stigmatizing them as women. This took place at an early date. The Delawares were a powerful tribe situated on the Delaware and Sus- quehanna rivers, and in early times were formi- dable in the chase and on the war-path, and famed for their wisdom in the council. Of their many heroes, Tammany has left the proudest name. TAUGHANNOCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. 67 Tammany, like Powhatan, was a great cliaracter at the time of the first coming of Europeans, and died at an advanced age in 108O. Tagiicanic, or Taiighannock, or Tancahanac, was tlie name of a race of chieftains who ruled before the days of Tammany, and gave their name to sev- eral streams in the country where they lived. Some of these still remain as the names of branches of the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers. They were supplanted in their chieftainship by Tammany and his successors, probably by some an- cestor of the renowned Tammany, Avho has been canonized as St. Tammany, and is the presiding genius of so many halls, cabals, clubs, and political conclaves, especially of the well-known Tammany Hall, I^ew-York. The reign of the Tammanys seems to have been long, and was in the height of its ascendency, when they were overthrown by the more powerful Iro- quois. Falling before this mighty foe, they still retained their ancient pride ; for Tammany made himself famous by his battles with the conquerors, and tra- dition states that he never had his equal in the chase or on the war-path. 68 TAUGHANNOCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. While his people perished by the hand of the enemy, his own fame remained nndimmed. Prob- ably he is known further and honored more for tlie sad fate of his nation, so that their disaster was hfs glory. After the Delawares had been conquered by the Six ISTations, a controversy arose between the chiefs of the former tribe and the Governor of Pennsyl- vania, concerning the transfer of some lands at the forks of the Delaware. The whites appealed to the Iroquois, who decided that they had fairly pur- chased the lands in dispute, and sent Canassatego,^^ a chief of the Onondagas and a cotemporary of the great Logan, to inform the Delawares of their de- cision. Canassatego appeared in Pliiladelphia with two hundred and thirty warriors. He told the Gover- nor that the Delawares were in the wvong ; that the Iroquois had long before subjugated them, and reduced them to the condition of women ; that they had no right whatever to say any thing about lands, or to appear in councils. Then, turnino- to * For a full history of Canassatego, see Mr. Clark's " Hi>^^ory of the County of Ononda2;a." TAUGHANNOCK FALLS—CAYUGA LAKE. 69 the Delaware cliiefs present, lie poured forth a fierce torrent of invective against them and their race, stigmatizing them as dishonest cowards, un- worthy of the name of warriors, and therefore to be knowm as women. In conclusion, he commanded them to deliver up to the whites the lands in dispute, which command the unhappy Delawares, unable to resist, were con- strained to obey. The whole speech of Canassatego both to the Governor of Pennsylvania and to the Delawares, may be found in Col den's Six Nations^ and in Drake's Book of Indians^ Book Y., chap. 2. The effect of this rebuke and taunt w^as over- whelming on the poor remnants of the once mighty Delawares, and they shrank away and fled to the interior to be lost in other tribes. They had become, no doubt, dissipated, demoral- ized, and w^asted by theii- intercourse with the whites, as well as humbled by the sway of the Six Nations, or Mingoes, as they were called by the Delaw^ares, yet there was not wdiolly lost in that poor tribe the " blood of noble breeding," nor the spirit of the olden days. A young chief of the ancient line of Taughan- 70 TATJGHANNOCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. nock was in tliat company, and every word of tlie sarcastic and reproachful speecli of Canassatego, the proud Iroquois, stung him to the quick. The shame of his race was a humiliation, and the haughty scorn of the Onondaga chief burnt into his soul. lie vowed revenge, and collecting a few young warriors, they held a war-dance around the council-fire, and yelled their rage, and hurled their liatchets, and howled their vengeance, and enacted their mimic strategy — attack, grapple, slaughter, and victory, till the night was far gone. Then, filled with frenzy and panting with fiendish fury, they dashed forth on the war-path, nearly two hun- dred strong, and, traversing forest and mountain, crossing streams and gorges, made their way to- wards the canton of the Cayugas, intending a raid througli the heart of the Iroquois country. They passed Wyoming and Owego, and took the trail for Cayuga Lake, plotting to fall upon the In- dian towns lying around it, especially JSfeodaMeat, (Ithaca,) Deoivendote, (Aurora,) and Genogeh, (Ca- noga.) Fearing, however, to attack l^eodakheat, they turned to the left, and, j^ursuing their way northward, entered the Cayuga country lying be- tween Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, meaning to make TAUGHANNOCK FALLS— CAYUGA LAKE. 71 an attack on Geriogeli, and then rusli back and fall npon I^eodaklieat. They enconntered, however, an nnexpected re- sistance from some smaller settlements of Indians sitnated in the regions where Trumansbnrgh, Ferrj^, Mecklenburgh, Farmerville, and Lodi have since been located. These Indians were both Cajngas and Senecas ; the chief settlement'-'' of the foi-mei being between Perry and Mecklenbnrgh, wdiile that of the Senecas was between Pratts and Farmerville. The two tribes were, however, mnch intermingled, and assnmed a name indicative of their origin, calling themselves Ganungnengnch, that is, Sene- cayngas. This nnion was bronght abont, for the most part, by an aspiring and talented yonng chief, whose fa- ther was a Seneca and whose mother was a Caynga. The name of the chief and of the community — for they never rose to the full dignity of a tribe — was derived from Gannndesaga, (Seneca Lake,) and Guengnch, (Cayuga Lake.) Ganungnengnch was * Traces of this Indian settlement, together with an ancient forti- fication, may still be seen on the farm of Mr. Wpa. Carman, near Perry City. 72 TAUGHANNOCK FALLS— CAYUGA LAKE. the Indian name of the chief, the settlements, the people, the stream, and of the Falls. This chief gave his name to the river upon which he dwelt, just as Powhatan* left his name to the river and the country where he lived. These two settlements, the one of Cajugas and the other of Senecas, consisting each of from four to six hundred souls, formed a very considerable community. They were made rich and happy by the abundance of game and of wild fruit, for which this region was famed among all the tribes. On finding a hostile band of Delawares armed and painted for war passing through their immedi- ate neighborhood, they took the alarm, ralhed under their chief, Ganungueuguch, and made an in- effectual attempt to rej^el them. The determined foe, however, after doing them some damage, pushed by them with little loss. They sent messengers to Genogeh^ the home of Eed Jacket, and to Deowendote^ and to Neodctkheat^ * What a pity that the name Powhatan was ever abandoned for James River ! And we can hardly withhold regret that the name Senecayuga, instead of Taughannock, was not retained for these falls ! TAUGHANNOCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. 73 informing their friends and allies tliat an enemy was in tlieir land. Before tlie Delawares arrived at Genogeli, word liad been sent to Owasco, (now Auburn,) and to Onondaga, the home of Canassatego, informing him that his most bitter foes were on his track thirsting for revenge. Starting from his security, and gathering a band of warriors around him, he hastened to Owasco and rallied a few more of his followers. Crossing the lake at Wasguas,^^ he arrived with his men at Ge- nogeh, where the inhabitants had already been alarmed and were awaiting him in council. Eed Jacket,f then a mere lad, was there, Geno- geh being his birthplace, and thus early became fa- miliar with warlike councils, in which in after years he became so conspicuous as an orator. At the head of at least two hundred braves, Ca- nassatego marched from Genogeh southward and soon fell in with the enemy. There were frequent skirmishes, the Delawares always managing to keep * The Indian name for the spot now called Cayuga Bridge. f Red Jacket (whose Indian name was " Sa-go-ye-wat-ha," "He keeps them awake ") was born near the famous spring of Canoga, in 1750. 7-i TAUGHANNOCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. a way open for retreat. Being followed all day, tliey came at niglit to tlie stream wliicli we have seen bore tlie name of Gannngnengucli, or in Eng- lish, Senecaynga, as indicating the fact that it flowed through the territories of two tribes and was in part named by both. The Delawares pitched their night-camp, without fire, between Perry and Waterburgh. Here on the morrow they found themselves confronted by a band of the Neodakheats, (or Ithacans,) who were just on the other side of the stream. Immediately they discovered the Ganungueuguch coming upon them from the west. At the same time the scouts of Canassatego were approaching on the north. Thus hemmed in, they had no retreat but toward the lake. Attempting this, Canassatego, by a sud- den advance, antici2:)ated them and marched up to meet them on the left bank of the stream. The Ganungueuguch pressed in from the west, coming do^ii on the left bank of the stream bear- ing the same name, while the l^eodakheats were on the op230site (or south) side. The precise spot of the first encounter is un- known. Doubtless the conflict raged along the left TAUGIIANNOCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. 75 bank, for peril aps a mile, from what is nowHalsej- ville to the falls. The stream, being flooded by recent rains, conld be crossed with difficulty, and the Neodakheats, with their arrows and war-clubs, were ready to defend the other bank. Coming at length to the gorge above the falls, the unfortunate Delawares attempted to cross at the place where W. B. Dumont's house now stands, but they were again repulsed. Driven along the shore, they pressed on toward the lake,^ feeling thankful that the ever-deepening gorge, with its precipitous rocks, defended them from one body of their foes. Approaching the falls,, they found their old foes, whom they had suj^posed to be behind them, were now in their front prepared to give them battle. Here, then, took place the last encounter. The young Taughannock and., his band deter- mined to sell their lives as dear as possible. Death in some form was inevitable, and they resolved to meet it like warriors. In the encounter, Taughannock, striking down Ganungueuguch, sought to close with Canassatego himself Breaking through the circle of braves which surrounded him, he precipitated himself, 76 TAUGHANN'OCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. knife in hand, upon his deadly foe. He inflicted several mortal wonnds before he was finally over- l^owered and strnck down by the attendants of the chief. Tradition tells ns that his bleeding but not yet lifeless body was thrown over the precipice into the depths below the falls, and tliat most of his band shared his fate. But few escaped. Some were taken and tortured. Two, who were strong and well-favored, were adopted by the Cayugas, who had lost friends in the battle. The more common version is, that Taughannock, after he was overpowered, was reserved for torture, and thus perished on the brink of the falls ; that the Ganungueuguch, into whose country he had made his incursion, and whose chief he had killed, and especially the followers of Canassatego, on whom he had sought and taken revenge, engaged in the torture with unusual delight. That Taughannock sang his death-song, defied his enemies, rejoiced that he had killed so many of the foes of his nation, hurled back defiance at his tormentors, and died with a bravery as savage as was the ferocity of his torturers. That when dead, his remains were not honored by being consumed by fire, as was usual. TAUGHANNOCK FALLS — CAYUGA LAKE. 77 but were thrown over the precipice, to be devoured by wild beasts or waste away imburied. Be these things as they may, thus came the Dela- ware name Tanghannock to be affixed to the falls within the region of the Cayugas, and to supersede that of Cianungneuguch, or, in English, Senecayuga, which originally and more appropriately belonged to them. Nor is this derivation, or the history of this name, more strange than the manner in which Greek names were carried all over Asia and the East, by the expeditions of Alexander ; and the way in which the Latin language was extended by the Ro- mans over "Western Europe, and even England. Tanghannock fell, but his name lives in the falls, the most beautiful object in the conntry of his ene- mies, where he died to wipe out the disgrace of his nation's defeat and shame, and to avenge his own personal wrongs. Such is fame, whether in civilized or savage life. It is the cost of blood or toil that for the time seems to fall fruitless to the ground, but lives in after times, springing up and bearing the laurels of imperishable memories. GEOLOGY OF TAUGnANNOCK. The following account of the geological features of tlie ravines at Taugliannock, has been carefully compiled from several volumes of geological sur- veys, but principally from the large work which forms Volume TV. of the Natural History of the State, which contains a very full and accurate ac- count, by Professor Hall, of the formation of the Fourth Geological District, in which he treats at leno^tli of the structure of the rocks at Tauo:han- nock, and gives an engraving of the fall. The descriptions of the various formations are given nearly in the words of Professor Hall ; and while they are peculiarly valuable to the student of geology, they will be found interesting and instruc- tive to all. It will be noticed that Tauo-hannock affords a remarkable example of the power of comparatively small bodies of water to make vast excavations in the solid rock. GEOLOGY OF TAUGHANNOCK. V9 GEOLOGICAL ACCOUNT. ' Taiigliannock, tlie highest perpendicular fall of water in the State, is one of the numerous cataracts of the Portage gronp. The upper part of the group, being composed of sandstone of a much harder nature than the lower part, produces cliffs and waterfalls in all the streams passiiig over it. ^Nowhere else do we meet with more beautiful cas- cades or more grand and striking scenery. The pedestrian often finds his course impeded by a gorge of several hundred feet in depth ; and in the very bottom of this, now scarcely perceptible, is the winding stream — the only representative of the once powerful torrent that has excavated the deep chan- nel. Farther on, above or below, he may see the little stream dashed over a precipice, and almost disappearing in spray before it reaches the bottom ; here, however, it gathers itself in a deep pool, from which it flows on quietly as before, or gurgling and dashing through the fragments of the fallen cliffs, finds its way into the gently sloping valley of the softer shales. At Taughannock an immense chasm is formed into which the water descends perj^endicularly two 80 GEOLOGY OF TAUGHANNOCK. hundred and fifteen feet, from tlie bottom of wliich we see the amphitlieatre of rocks r^*' ing around us, and, by the efi"ect of perspective, ing over our heads. The black shale, visible for r Aj feet above the Tully limestone, is succee^'' . by more than two hundred feet of the nexc series, consisting in the lower part of a mass of silicious shale, and above alternating with argillaceous sandstone. The surfaces of this rock are often rippled, and covered with minute fragments of vegetables, which seem to follow the course of the marking, and ac- cumulate or diminish with the ripple wave. The same appearance is presented by a beach of sand, where the ebbing tide leaves fine fragments of vegetable matter, arranged in rpiantity and direc- tion proportionate to the wave. One can almost fancy himself still upon the shore of some quiet bay or arm of the sea, where the waves of the recedinaj tide have left these little ridges of sand, which on their return will be oblit- erated and mingled with the mass around. The shells and fragments and the clouded sand all lie around him with a freshness of appearance that might almost make him doubt. But his foot is GEOLOGY OF TAUGHANNOCK. 81 upon the firm rock, and liis hand can not obliterate the faint wave-lj^iiies, nor remove a single shell from its place. c^' Every thing is firm and fixed, and he is forced to recollect that millions of ages have rolled on since this shore was washed by the sea. How beautiful, how simple and grand is this ex- hibition ! and how much does it illumine the mind as to the mode of production of these older forma- tions which have been considered so obscure. Here was an ocean, supplied with all the materi- als for forming rocky strata; in its deeper parts were going on the finer depositions, and on its shores were produced the sandy beaches and the pebbly banks. All, for aught we know, was as bright and beautiful as upon our ocean shores of the present day ; the tide ebbed and flowed, its waters rufiled by the gentle breeze, and nature wrought in all her various forms as at the present time, though man was not there to say. How beautiful ! Although the rocks of this group have a thick- ness of one thousand feet or more, still they contain few fossils, and may be examined in many localities without discovering any. Indeed, unless very strict 3* 82 GEOLOGY OF TAUGHANNOCK. search were made, one would be likely to prononiice tliem non-fossiliferous. In general cliaracter, the fossils differ essentially from those below. The Tully limestone and shale below disappear in Cayuga Lake, four miles below Ithaca, the black shale extending about two miles further south. These layers of sandstone furnish the finest flao-- stones in the country, being of ruj required thick- ness, often twenty feet in length, and fiye to ten in width. ■ The numerous and picturesque waterfalls of the western part of the State are intimately connected with the modern action of riyers and streams in ex- cay ating and deepening their channels. That every fall of water is receding by wearing back its bed will admit of demonstratiye proof, wherever obser- vations have been continued for any length of time. Even the short period of four or five years has been sufficient to show, in many instances, a con- stant, gradual recession, varying with the quantity of water and the nature of the rock. The greatest amount of water does not always, however, appear to be attended with the most rapid recession ; for where the stream is so small as to be entirel}' frozen GEOLOGY OF TAUGHANKOCK. 83 diirins: winter, the effects of ice on the strata seem even more efficient than the wearing of water. The loosening of masses near the edge, at least, enables the water afterward to remove them with greater facility. Where we find these falls upon streams half a mile from their junction with a large lake, it is difficult to conceive how they liave once com- menced their operations on its margin, and we are readily disposed to admit any hypothesis that will account for the previous excavation of a lateral valley to this distance from the main one. Wliere these channels expand rapidly toward their outlets, and slope gradually upward, it seems a fair infer- ence that some agency other than the wearing of the stream has had a share in producing its- pre- sent condition ; but where we find a regular chasm, with perpendicular and nearly parallel sides, with a fall of water at its extremity, we are compelled, from all analogy, to admit that the stream has been the agent producing it. At Taughannock, there seems originally to have been a broad, shallow depression, in which the stream commenced fl.owing toward the lake. In its passage, it first produced a series of falls 84 GEOLOGY OF TAUGHANNOCK. and rapids, but finally receded so as to form but a single fall. This is caused by tlie higher strata being so much harder than those below that a firm table is formed of these, while those beneath are undermined. Although there may have been originally an in- dentation at this point from the yalley of Cayuga Lake, vet there seems conclusive evidence that the stream has been the chief agent in producing this immense chasm. The numerous seams freely admit the water, which during winter is frozen,, and thus from the whole face of the clilF immense quantities are de- tached. In this way the uj^per portion is left pro- jecting beyond the lower till it is broken off. The first process is constant ; and innnense masses of fragments, some scarcely less than fifty tons, may be seen, which have fallen down. The lower of the two more prominent arenace- ous strata, about half way up the clifi*, is the one presenting the fine casts of striae, alluded to in the description of these under Portage group. (IS^at. Hist. K Y., Part lY. p. 336.) Beautiful specimens may be obtained at this GEOLOGY OF TAUGHANNOCK. 85 place after tlie falling of a mass, or by approach- ing the stratum at some accessible point. Many of the strata in the channel of the stream above the fall present these casts in great perfec- tion. POETRY OF TAUGHAXxXOCK. " Why on Niagara lavish all j-our lays ? Come, heavenlj' Muse, and sing Taugiiaxxock's praise." SONG OF THE WATERFALL. BY MATTIE WIXFIELD TOKUEY. In the gloom and shade of the forest deep, Where the rocks lie piled in a frowning steep, AYhere the sun comes rarely nor lingers long, The waterfall chanteth its ceaseless song. "I come, I come ! from my rocky bed, Through the densest shade of the forest led ; 'Neath the trailing boughs that are bending low. And the tangled grasses swift I go. "I rush through the caves where the shadows sleep, I glide o'er the pools that lie still and deep, I sparkle and dance in the sunlight gay, And murmur a song to beguile my vray. "I come, I come! from the mountain height Where the sun rests warm as he sinks at night. POETRY OF TAUGHANKOCIv. 87 From the dewy mead and the flow'ry burn, I come, I come ! but I ne'er return. "In the sounding depths of this forest dim, Whose arches reecho my ceaseless hymn, I leap with a glad, an exultant song, O'er the fatal verge I have sought so long. "The dizzying whirl of the blinding spray Enshrouds me quite as I hasten away, 'Neath the frowning banks that are high and steep. Till I lose myself in the lake so deep." The raj'S of the sun came shivering through, And the silvery vapors were curled anew. While the tide formed many a snowy wreath, Ere it broke in foam on the rocks beneath. And the headlong plunge of the ceaseless tide As it madly leaped down the chasm wide, With its endless din and its busy strife, Methought was an image of human life. TAUGHANNOCK— THE RIVER AND FALL. BY LEV\ IS IIALSEY. Rippling and flashing, now. Foaming and splashing, now, Wanders the streamlet, its banks bright with flowers ; 88 POETRY OF TAUGHANNOCK. Skipping so merrily, Singing so cheerily, Lino;ers 'mid Nature's most beautiful bowers. II. Gleaming and glimmering, Shining and shimmering. Glowing with purity, splendor, and light ; Now sinking fearfully, Sadly, and tearfully. Into the depths of the gathering night. III. Dark cliffs are covering. Shadows are hovering Over the shivering streamlet below ; Terror soon banishing. Dangers all vanishing. Soon it subsides to its usual flow. IV, Eddying pettishly, Smiling coquettishly ; Now its waves rise again only to sink ; Sportively wandering, Seemingly pondering Whether to leap o'er the terrible brink. POETRY OF TAUGHANNOCK. 89 Sliifting and shivering, Quaking and quivering, Glides the sad stream o'er the horrible steep ; No murmur muttering, Foamy wings fluttering, Sinking in mists to the darkening deep. VI. Oft we are wondering, Blind in our blundering, "Whence is thy power to charm and delight ? Still thou art haunting us, Ever enchanting us. Vision of beauty which bursts on our sight ! VII. Emblem of purity, Through all futurity, While upon mortals thy beauties shall shine, ]\Iaking us lowlier, Humbler, and holier. Nature's true worshipers ever are thine ! From Moore's Rural New-Yorker. TO TAUGHANNOCK. BY II. Bright visions — thoughts of beauty and of song. Come to my mind unbidden ; as I view 90 POETRY OF TACGIl-N^NNOCK. Thy gentle flow, thy silvery spraj", thy rocks Majestic, and thy far extending chasm, Riven broad and deep by Nature's mighty hand. How man}^ years have passed away, since first Thy waters gave this steep majestic plunge, No tongue can tell, no history can show. Perhaps 'since first Creation's hand attired The dark and formless earth, and bade the streams, The rivulets, to spring from mountain sides To wander through the valleys to the sea. These rocks and woods hoive echoed mournfully Thy ceaseless roar, thy spirit-stirring song. May no rude hand mar thy wild loveliness ! But let the hearts of those, who, ages hence, Shall gaze upon thy wondrous sheeted form, Feel awe as deep, and reverential love, As did the wild untutored forest child, When he beheld, with mingled love and fear, Thy beautj^-clad majestic cataract ; And well he loved to watch thj'- ceaseless flow, And hear thy never silent thunder tones — Reclining 'neath the leafy forest's shade. And turning oft to view the pleasant shores Of bright Cayuga, which he loved to call His happy hunting-grounds. POETRY OF TAUGHANNOCK. 91 ODE TO TAUGHANNOCK. BY LIDA MEDDIC, Poets have sung in rapturous numbers Of numerous famed cataracts over the world, But the Muses, metbinks, are deep in their slumbers, If tliy "cadenced white waterfall silvered and curled," Does not make them to sing, with a heart all aglow, Of the beauty above and the beauty below. With eyes for too dreamy for aught save tby beauty, I see the white column of watery snow, So slowly descending and ceaseless in duty. To join the swift rushing of wavelets below, That, by a charmed circle of silvery nnst, Ever rising and Mling, so often are kissed. I hear thy grand voice in melodious anthem. Resound with the praises of " God and the free," Amid the dim arches, and echo on echo Shall ever be heard by the evergreen tree. Of a song that is endless, a song that is true. Of a spirit that fosters the " red, white, and blue." sweet lovely scene ! for the high and the lowl}^ Thy phases so wondrous are made to exist ; Blessed boon ! to view the face of the Holy, In the hues of the rainbow or forms of the mist, Mixed with things of earth in compounds so rare. That with heaven and angels we seek to compare. 92 POETRY OF TAUGHAKNOCK. Imagery paints with ^Yal•m, busy fingers, A picture for hope that vies with the past, And memory points, as the vision still lingers, To dreams far too bright and too lovely to last ; But thy name, dear Taughannock, shall never decay, • And thy beauty grow brighter, as time wears away ! From the Ithaca Citizen and Democrat. EXTRACT FROM BOTANIZING. A Reminiscence of 18G2. BY L. L. Soon, the narrow ledge behind them, They approach the great Taughannock : Hear the roaring of its waters, Like the sound of many thunders : See the sparkling foam-clouds waving, Like a vail of misty whiteness : See the mighty walls of granite. Towering upward, towering upward : See the waters leaping, dashing From the lofty ledge above them. Thoughts of grandeur and of beauty Fill each heart to overflowing. For the thunder of the waters Has a power like that of music, Breathes a fairy spell around them, Sends a thrill to every bosom. POETRY OF TAUGHANNdCK. 93 Filled with awe, they gaze delighted, And a still voice speaks within them — A small voice speaks gently to them — Low in tone but full of power : " Glorious art thou, Taughannock ! In thy majesty and beauty, In thy wondrous weight of waters, In thy towering walls of granite, In thy ceaseless, wild commotion. In thy vail so white and misty, In thy rainbow-sparkling foam-cloud, In thy sweet, eternal music !" TAUGHANIC FALLS. BY KEY. HENRY PARKER. I. Ye bards and travelers ! Oh ! talk no more Of Scotland's misty crags, and linns, and lakes. Nor tell us how the waters at Lodore Come down, nor how the Rhine in fury breaks. Nor how, at Reichenbach, the torrents pour. And all the solid ground at Staubbach shakes : I care no more for these, nor sigh to see The Falls of Terni and of Tivoli. II. I've read enough of these, and seen Niagara, Which is the king of cataracts forever. D4 POETEY OF TAUGHANXOCK. And it is certainly a sight to stagger a Poor poet's or a painter's best endeavor ; And other falls I've seen, but such a crag or a Remarkable cascade, beheld I never, As that which gave me quite a poet's panic, "When late I gazed upon our own Taughanic. III. Roll on, Taughanic's wild and shouting stream, Here darkly winding in thy gloomy deeps, And there reflecting back the sunny gleam That slants athwart the clilFs and dizzy steeps. As wild and varied thou, as is the dream That hovers o'er the couch where beauty sleeps — As wild and fearless thou, as those whose claim To this our land first gave to thee thy name. IV. 'Tis sweet to look on thee when summer's morn Hath touched thy lordly battlements with gold, And when the mists, that of the night are born. In rosy wreaths and clouds are upward rolled ; 'Tis sweet to see thy walls, with ruin worn, O'erhung with fragrant pines and gray with mould, All silvered with the moonbeams, cold and white, Or blushing in the torches' ruddy light. V. Thine amphitheatre, ascending wide. Calls up a vision of the storied past — POETRY OF TAUGHANNOCK. The chariots coursing swiftly, side by side, Within the Coliseum's circle vast, The gladiator who in silence died, The shower of garlands on the victor cast, The deadly stroke— the shout— the cruel throng— I gladly turn from thoughts of death and wrong. VI. I love to think that in thy rocky w\alls, Where stands the strangely perfect Gothic Door, The genii have reared their magic halls, With crystal column and with pearly floor. And fountains, where the tinkling water falls. And arching roof, with jewels studded o'er— A mystic realm in secret silence bound, Until the spell to open it is found. VII. 1 love to think that flitting fay and elf Are hidden in thy darkling nooks and dells, Or that, beneath the cascade's jutting shelf A spirit, matchless in her beauty, dwells, And wraps these misty robes about herself. And ever sings, and weaves her wondrous spells. Until revealed at some fond dreamer s call— The lovely Undine of the waterfall. 95 TAUGHANNOCK HOUSE, TAUGHANNOCK FALLS, J. S. HALSEY, Froprietor. This favorite Hotel, having been this season enlarged, refitted, and refurnished, is now open for the accommodation of visitors. All that can make a hotel attractive and interesting to tourists or pleasure-parties may here be found. The Taughannock House is situated just opposite the Falls, two and one half miles from the village of Tkumansburgh, and ten miles from Ithaca. Cayuga Lake boats, touching four times per day at the landing near the Falls, connect with the New-York Central and the New- York and Erie Railroads. A carriage will be in readiness at the land- ing to convey visitors to the hotel. The far-famed Cayuga offers ample accommodation to the sports- man for FISHING and boating. Being off from the line of dbrct communication with the Atlantic cities, near the banks of the beautiful Cayuga, surrounded by a pure, clear, and bracing atmosphere, it presents peculiar inducements to travelers in search of a healthful summer residence. Particular attention will be given to orders for rooms during the summer. Address, J. S. HALSEY, Trumansburgh, New- York. CAYUGA LAKE. The passenger boats KATE MORGAN and AURORA have been recently refitted and repainted, and are now running regularly for the accommodation of passengers on this beautiful lake. THE KATE MORG-AN, Capt. Goodrich, Leaves Ithaca at 7 o'clock, on the arrival of the morning train from Owego. Returning, leaves Cayuga at 3 o'clock, on the arrival of the cars from the East, and arrives»in time for the evening train to Owego. THE AURORA, Capt. Dryer, Leaves Ithaca at 3 p.m. ; leaves Cayuga at 8 a.m. Other steamers can be chartered for the accommodation of pleas- ure-parties. Each of our steamers has recently been provided with one of Fran- cis's Patent Metallic Life-Boats. Travelers wishing to spend a short time at can be accommodated by taking the morning boat at either Ithaca or Cayuga, and returning on the boat in the evening. As the trains connect at Owego, visitors can now leave Taughan- nock at 6 o'clock in the evening, and arrive in New-York at 7 o'clock the next morning. No traveler should neglect the of taking a trip on this beautiful lake. i-B D '05 ACCIDENT INSURANCE. THE ORIGINAL TRAVELERS' INSURANCE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CT., INSURES AGAINST ACCIDENTS OF ALL KINDS, At low Eates of Premium. CASH CAPITAL, $500,000, With Surplus of over $150,000. Policies issued, insuring against all kinds of accidents, traveling or other- ■wise, for any term from one month to five years, for any sura from $500 to $10,000 in case of fatal accident, or $3 to $50 weekly compensation in case of non-fatal disabling accident, at premiums ranging from $3 to $6'^> per annum. A liberal discount on three and five year policies. General Accident Tickets insur- ing for $5000 or $25 weekly compensation, sold at 25 cents per day. Oldest Accident Insurance Company in America. Over fifty thousand policies issued, and upxcards of fifteen hundred losses paid, in first two years of the business — including thirty-four total losses, in whieh the large sum of $121,500 was realized for less than $700 in premiums. J. G. BATTERSON", President. KODNEY DENNIS, Secretary. Policies written at five minutes' notice, at agencies in all cities and principal towns. WM. AUSTIN, Agent at Trumansburgh. em (ti^'if i^"ij(!ai£as<)(!i'-yt tri)(i'-Tff i7i)(!iaiaa»;.^^^ t?,!^^ ^^>o»^>o2r ^' I ii\ *" I OK a § annacL I " ^■.-ha.^ ' Tj:h,.,») ' '*?fH^^ f?R?*' '^^^^^ '^^wyi M^\