New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-06
4 TRIP TO COLORADO.

river which we supposed TO be Snake yesterday morn
ing, the ground was covered with white frost, and
the water remaining in tin cups was turned to iee
To battle a sun.blstered face such morning, is
torture rather than luxury; yet the air was at once
| tonic stmulant and flavor. The peaks across
the vaey-not much less than $1,000 feet in hight
flashed in rosy splendor; the dew sprnkled with da-
mopds the silver Of the sage-felds the meadow-larks
sang oyousy and spirits rose with the belief that
the uncertain portion of our journey was nearly over
A ride of three miles up the valley brought us to
another rivera fuller stream than the last foaming
down through wild gap in the mountains on our left.
At this place the Blue receives a considerable afuent
on tho opposdc side-a circumstance which told us
precisely where we were The stream where We had
encamped is still nameless; it was the Snake which
we had now reached. We forded it with some diff
Guilty. the water rushing saddles, and followed
barely dscernibe trail along the foot Of the noun
ains. The valley of the Blue became narrow, hemmed
in by the feet Of spurs from the main chain. The
bottOmand was marshy and full OF pools, and we
were sometimes forced to climb around quagmres
aud fallen timber at points of threatening steepness
Sometimes also, slide of rocks had come down from
above leaving piles over which the animals must
slowly aud cautiously be led. The little gray coneys
sat on the stones above, and barked ut US as we
passed.
1t is rather difficult to measure distance during
travel of this kind; but suppose we had made about
three miles after fording Snake River when the trail
or, rather, what was left of it-,erminated at the
Blue. There were signs that the stream had been
crossed here end had been looking with longing
eyes at the pleasant open bottoms on the other SIDE
We imagined our troubles at an end Mr. McCandless
plunged in, his mule breastng the mpetuou3 current
and after being carried down yards, succeeded
in getting out the other bank. Mr.. Byers followed,
aud then the pack.mulc Peter; but reaching thee
center of the stream both were carried away. was
Il rarFrrs rNfta
against the current when there sudden call for
help. The drt-timber had made raft just below,
the force Of the stream set directly toward IT, and
horse and rider being drawn rs it appeared, 10
inevitable destruction. Mr. Sumner sprang into the
water and caught Mr.. Bycrs's hand; but the next
moment be was ont Of bis depth and barely succeeded
i'm swimming ashore.
All this seemed TO take place in q second The
river made a short curve, around little tongue OF
land ncross which we spTang in time TO see Mr.. By
ers catch at and hold the branch of drilted tree, IN
passing. In another moment he had extrcated him.
self from the saddle White rushed into the water
with lariat and the danger was over. Horse and
rider got out separately, without much trouble al.
though the latter already chilled TO the bone and
nearly bcnumbed The pack-mue, with all our lug
gage, was completely submerged, and we should
probably have lost everything, had not White grasped
the mule car 40 the turn Of the river, and thus as
sisted the beast 10 recover his footing II was all over
before we were clearly of the full extent OF the
danger and orr own fears.
wet pistols licj We 500 forward compelled 20 follow
the en- bank of tle Blue with trail We bad the
choice between Wul-hOlc5 and fallen timber, or
steep OF loose gravel and sliding stones, which dctod
ne o. get O. firm iUOihOd. Thus we worked our way
along with almost incredible labor, iOg en- hour Or
more. when Voc reached an OyCrhangug rocky wall,
m tie foot OF which the river ioamcd and roared M
| narrow channel. Whom we had climbed around TIE
rocks and reached tho mounlan-1l' above, fearful
looking slant Of dslI'cgr.tcd slalc, through winch
few f.tL'cd aspen bushes grew, iay before o.. One
more oil egrcc of stccpucss would have made The pass
impossible. The crumbicd rock lid nom under our
frc' and ratified in showers from The brne OIL the
prccip.cc into The water below and but for the help
which the bushes gave rs in the worst places, We
should probably have followed. McssTs. Bvcrs and
Davis who were iu advance, seemed 40 times 20 be
hanging I'm the air. In thc midst of this pass badger
whskcd around me corner OF rock, tempting one OF
the party 10 let himself down tO the edge Oi the buh
in the hope Of getting shot; but the animal was safe
in some hole or crcyce
While resting among the roots OF pine.tree, which
enabled me also 10 support my pony, descued Mr..
Candies riding mp the meadows beyond the river,
with mounted ludiau Oh each side OF him. noticed,
moreover that the latter kept pace with him ana took
pains 10 keep him between them ~ they were
Utcs there was no trouble 10 De feared, and we sup
posed they were guiding him toward Breckenridge.
Beyond this pcrlUus corner OF The mountain we found
a faint trail with promise OF better travel ahead.
Mr. Beard and White were in the rear, and II was
amusing TO watch them follow us, cngng for life to
the bushes aud roots. while their animals, with more
than human cunning picked their way step by step,
through the sliding fragments.
4 mile or two more, and broad valley opened on
our left very muddy stream-which could be
none other than Swan Riyer-camc down 1t TO JOIN
the Blue. Mr. Nee aud one of the Indians here rode
down 10 the opposite bank and hailed Us. The latter
was the famous Ute chief Colorado; be said we could
now either ford the Blue, or take good tran TO
Breckenridge ON side Of the river. We chose the
latter and presently came in sight Of Delaware Flats
"A collection of log cabins, across the open valley
Leaving them 20 the left, struck toward another
settlement called Buffalo Flats; both places are m
habitcd by miners engaged IN gulch washing Inc
cattle pasturing on the grassy bottoms were welcome
sight after five days Of savage Nature. greeted a
young fellow, hcId:ng mules on horseback, with
very supcrnuous feeling of friendship; for he made
short. sury answer and rode away.
Being now but four miles from Breckenridge, we
Spurrcd our weary animals forward, taking "A trall
which led for q long distance through burned forest
II was scenery Of the most hideous character. lens
of thousands of charrcd black poles. striped with
white where the bark bad sprung OIL, made wider
ness Of dcsoat.On which was worse thah a desert.
The bOughs had been almost entirely consumed; the
sunshine and the blue OF the sky were spit INTO myr'
lad Of naralle slices which iagued and distracted the
eve. until one almost became giddy in riding through.
cannot recall any phase Of mundane scenery SO dha-
grccablc a this.
Finally the wood came TO an end and green mead
Ows and snowy peaks refreshed our eyes over
bitches heaps OF stone and gravel ana all inc usua
debris Of guch-mning rode toward some cabins
which beckoncd 10 as through scattered clumps oil
pine A flagstaff, with something white az haii-mast
cauyascovered wagons in the shade; long street OF
Lighthouses; signs Of " Boarding, Miners Home,
and saloon" and motley group OF rough indlYdu,
ais among whom we detected the beard of our parted
comrndc and the blanket of the chef-sueh was Breek
enrdge
The place dates from Is6O-yet of the five thousand
miners who focked to this part OF the Middle FarK IN