A DRY NIAGARA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 247, 17 October 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

A DRY NIAGARA.

It seems almost incredible that at one time in ibs history the greatest and mosb wonderful waterfall in the world actually ran dry, says 'Golden Days.' Nevertheless ib is an established fact bhab bhis occurred on March 29, 1848, and tor a few hours scarcely any waber passed over Niagara Falls. The winber of that year had been an exceptionally severe ono, and ice of an unusual thickness had formed on Lake Erie. The Warm Spring Rains loosened this congealed mass, and on the day in question a brisk east wind drove the ice far up into the lake. About sunset the wind suddenly verged around and blew a heavy gale from the west. This naburally burned bhe ice in its course, and, bringing ib down to the mouth of the Niagara River, piled ib up in a solid, impenebrable wall. So closely was ib packed and so greab was its force bhaff in a short time the outleb bo bhe lake was completely choked up, and little or no water could possibly escape. In a short time tho water below this frozen barrier passed over the falls, and the nexb morning tho people residing in the neighbourhood wero breated bo a mosb extraordinary specbacle. The Roaring, Tumbling Rapids above the falls were almost obliterated, and nothing but the cold black rocks were visible in all directions. The news quickly spread, and thousands of spectators flocked to view tho scene, the banks on each side of the river being lined with people during the whole day. At last there came a break in the ice. Ib was released from its restraint, the penb up wall of waber rushed downward, and Niagara waß itself again.