The river, as it runs through it, is from fifty to three hundred feet
wide. So swift is the current, that it is almost impossible to float a
boat down the stream without having it dashed to pieces against the
rocky walls on either side.
The first descent through these canons was made in 1867, from a point on
Grand River, about thirty miles above its junction with Green River.
Three men were prospecting for gold, and being attacked by Indians and
one of their number killed, the other two decided to attempt the descent
of the river, rather than retrace their steps through a country where
Indians were numerous.
They constructed a raft of a few pieces of drift-wood, and having
secured their arms and provisions, commenced their journey down the
stream.
A few days afterward, while the raft was descending a cataract, one of
the men was drowned and all the provisions were washed overboard.
The third man, hemmed in by the walls of the canon, continued the
journey alone amid great perils from cataracts, rocks, and whirlpools.
For ten days he pursued, his lonely way, tasting food but twice during
the whole time.
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