New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-17

is about 400 miles further II tho Eastern Branch Of I'd
Pacific Railroad should follow the Smoky Hill route twbcs
IS certainly the shortest and most praccabe Pond Creek
viii probably become, for while, tho starng-point Of
New-Mexican travel and traffic.
We reached Willow Springs Is miles, by sunrise. A
forlorn place was The satonmsn lived in holes cat
out Of high clay bank aud their mules had similar half
subternneaR lodgings. provisions and they SAID
they could give breakfast. The team speedily
changed, and We set out for Cheyenne Wells 25 miles dig
tant through country nearly approaching banea.
ness than any We had yet seen. Tho timber almost entirely
disappeared the lateral streams ceased and finally the
Smoky Hill ITSELF so near IFS source, became bed d
waterless sand. Sill there buiaogass every where.
and the anelopes very abundant The fresh. dsh-
cous arof the Pains-ony equaed by that Of the Afc@
Deser-refreshed after the wearisome night and oua
appetites became keen with enforced fasting
At Cheyenne Wells found large and handsome
frame stable for the mules but dwelling The peops
lived in natural cave extending for thirty feet uas
dcs the bluff But there a woman, and when SAG
her we augured good fortunes Truly enough, under the
roof of conglomete rock in the twilight, we sss
down to antelope steak tomatoes, broad pickles and Po-
tatoes-a royal NEAL after days of detestable fare
Here we saw the last of tho Smoky Hill Fork Tes
road strikes across broad plateau for twenty miles ana
then descends to the Big Sandy branch OF the Aksns
It is fine, hard natural highway over which we msas
good time. The country swarmcd with @nfelopes wh,cR
provoked several spots from the coach but without eheo
Two of them, to our surprise appeared to be pursuns
large gray wolf They made boldly after it as often -
stopped and were evidently bent on driving quito swsy
from their pasurage While were specializing on thss
movements lovely little fawn prang up from the srass
and made away over the hills The old antelopes wsfs
evidently it's parents aud their bodness in facing and IN
timidating the wolf was nov explained
From tho western edge of the watershed overlooksA
many league Of brown monotonous, treeles5 counuys
through which mcandered not the waters, but the dYt
sandy bed of the Big Sandy We really seemed 70 has
reached at last the Great American Desert AT the stasS
station found two men living in hole IN the souncs
with nothing but alkaline water to offer us. tasted
and finding the favor not dsagreeabe, drank-Whiee
brought later woe upon Beyond this point even tAs
bnaIoOrass died out and we rolled along in the burnia
sun and acd dust over dary gray fluctuations of weeds
and cacus At radys station, Is miles further thsee
was bnt one man. lonely trogodyte, burrowng IN tAs
| bank like ciff-swallow.
Very soon however the grass began TO appear agans
the country became green, and the signs OF desostoe
vanished A distance of 40 miles embraced al Te nsa
seen Of the Desen fact all there Is OF IT, upon 'sis
route In these 40 miles, scattered settlement mere sa
there is not impossible but is very unlikely. Inc ~
oinino country for 100 miles both to the east spd wss
is adapted to grazing and will support moderate popuaaA
ton. The road however, will soon be carried froal
Cheyenne Wells up the divide. entirely avoiding the Big
Sandy This now route am told, shorens the distance
70 Denver by 20 miles and has good grass and water 9
the way. =
Toward evening struck with peculiar iint IN e
shadow Of cloud along the horizon After half an hours
study pronounced it to DO mountain-and, OF cosn
Pixies Peak My feliowravelers dissented at hrst iron
this opinion but as the clouds dissolved tue outline Oh
snowy peak came out sharp and clear II was someto.
like that Of the Jungau but stood Alone snrrounooo :.
no sisterhood of Alps AT sunset we saw not ony
Peak but the tops Of the sangre de Cso range anu
Spanish Peaks, like little piuples on the hno OIL
horizon.
What might followed The hard hack bumped y
ioed eSer the rough roads, were aung backward =.
To- card right and Left pummelei, pounded and oruss.
not only out of Sleep but out OF temper ana in'o
ovasnaratiou. All o'clock yesterday morning We vs."
. neaingers IaAe, OF miles from Denver 'n'n.s'
Heaven that no fifth night in tho coach awaited mo-
hours dragged on with incredible slovness' unu cav
brought some refrcshment showing US country Oh o'
d hills, occasional piae groves, and far, 'h''
: mountains.
,.o,,. s.-- =. ~ drove into Donyer-but of the IL
a | -. .;ss tn-rnn-.<e-' -r---e .. .
=