NIAGARA ECLIPSED.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13272, 13 November 1908, Page 6

NIAGARA ECLIPSED.

Two Americans, Eugene Delano,, of Chicago, and Georgo Washburn, of Philadelphia, have just returned to St. John's, Newfoundland, after a visit to tho famous Grand Falls in. Labrador (says, the Standard'"). The existence .of.these was discovered in 1859 by one Duncan Mac Lean, a factor in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company, who was crossing this vast solitude in the winter from Hudson Bay to Labrador, and came upon tho stupendous cataract, far greater in width and depth than that of Niagara. Mac Lean's account of his discovery remained almost unnoticed' in the journals of the Hudson Bay Company until 1800, when some researches through the records disclosed the fact, and it was announced to tho world that such a. cataract existed in the Labrador hinterland. Its existence, it is true, was known to the Indians of that region, but none of them- would', look upon it because of traditions that any one who did so would die within a year. The falls' lio inland 300 miles from the head of Hamilton Inlet, on the Labrador coast. This inlet stretches 145 miles back through the_ country from the outer seaboard, being navigable for steamers. Thence the canoe is the mode of progress, and very difficult it is, owing tothe tortuous course of tho Hnmilton river, and th© many portages that have to be taken through the rapids with which the stream is frequently obstructed. Tho party were ten weeks in all making the trip. The width of tho falls is about 2500 ft, and tho depth 1300 ft, and the rush of waters extends for many miles through deep canyons, which narrow as the enormous volume of water is poured out over the precipice. Tho roar of tho cascade can be heard more than twenty miles away, and the site is constantly ovoroast by mist which rises from the convulsion, of the waters below. Only- on tho very finest days does the sun dispel this sufficiently to allow photographs to bo made.