New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-30

ains vet many weary mile still interviewed. The plain
terminated IN belt ol scattering timber, then Dire PEG
down slope into broad meadows crossing which we found
our y on the edge OF bui with the main stream OIL
Size SUltn Platte toauHn- fly feet below Ms.
Tho bridge had been washed away end torIas after our
r,rylous cucc-, was anything but an agreeable
c,ssi.y Tie waior was 20 yoiy swift that fycxptctcl
see NJ ByCS carried away; but IL proved not TO De
deep and The bottom was bun. Leaving The other, %
saH ne wagon across, pushed up the Other bank 10
FaIplly, ld my pony with the blacksmith ana ti,-as
dinner for VIC party ia spacious l0g hotel Kept b{ we
genial AM lOya Judge Castillo. FaiIpiay is aqulet niue
place with perhaps 100 inhabitants foot Of awooded
slope, looking 10 the south with On ming view LII
down the Park. There Is guch-mning along The Flh'Ie
and its small tributaries and lodes, am told IN the au
iacCnt mountains. Although the rains returned IN ne
afternoon and the sky threatening, we determined TO
make ten miles more before night
The road YVES rolling, and still heavy from the rams
crossing hc loE spur ana nscpS OF hills thrust OUT 9H
the snowy range We made slow and weary progress 6nt
the latter part Of the way illuminated win wonder
ul sunset Under the glowing orange OF cloud DahE IN
the cast the mountains around Pixies Peak lay III shen
shadow, and all the broad intervening phn' rosy gray
shmmercd with faint, eyauesccnt tuis OF green ana
turq oS-bue and gold, where the lgnt struck across IT,
This lccDg elect: ii fingered LOT NJ eat nan an
hour slowly darleuing until the contrasts OF iSh ana
shade became weird and unGrtby as IN some Oh INC
sketches Of Dole Before the stars appeared reached
our destination, " Dan Rancho, two-S0Ty frame laN-
ern, kept by German. There was DARK, dHly BAR
ROOM in which half dozen miners were waiting Tor snip
ucr good, clean beds and bedrooms and andady VINO
conycrsed enthusiastically with me about Schiller.
-Four or five miles nor q this rancho lies Hamilton,
al the foot of the Tarya Pass by which wagons cross the
snowy range 10 Breckenridge The soil, IN ali TINS por
tion Of Inc PARK shows color and the beautiful swcs
and undulaons which delighted our eyes arc dcshe no
doubt TO be dug up, washed down aud torn TO pieces
Already hydraulic mining has commenced, and the yleld
OF the earth is half ounce day, per man. inns Is the
ONLY part Of Colorado where have seen this form OF
mining applied There was slight attempt at gardening
az the rancho, apparently made without much nope Vi
success vet thought il promised very well
Tb, morning we awOkc to q c0udlcss sky every shred
OF vGPor bad disappeared aud the dew" plans eitlee1 IA
a.. "
and set ont 20 cross the northeastern corner OF the PARK
10 the opposite mountains, which were ten or twelve e
distant Had beasts been frcSher II would Lave been
an inspiring ride The ground uayersed by Fremont
in one Of his explorations Il think in 1872 or 3-but no"
little he has told Us Of the scenery! Tho idca one Els
from bis descriptions and those Of other explorers Is thu
Of dark stern northern mOUntains-thc AduOndaco or
White Mountains larger sclle-whccas IN color ana
atmospheric effects they have all the characteristics OIL
southern latitude Tie chain OF the Taurus, IN ASIA
Minor most resembles them They have nothing IN cone
mon with our conventional American ccncy. Biestadt
large picture gives fair representation Of some Of ther
forms though the hight Of his central peak is exaggerated
but he has not chosen their peculiar atmosphere.
When had noticed Hamilton at distance, and the
two l0rcabns which mark the stO Of the deserted town OF
jefferson; when we lad caught sight OF Pixies Peak
through a long vista between the hills, passed ruined
ranches where murdered, and meadows Of peat
which burned under all the Winters snows-the boundary
Of the South Park reached and we climbed The bare
steep from the summit Of which We should look upon II
for the last line.
At this point it has the appearance OF little ncosed
world like the Waller Of Mexico. The lesser unduatons
of the soil vanish bat the loc ridges scattered over rs
surface and more or less wooded make dark on is
broad ground Of faint godengray. At distance Of 20
or 80 miles the colos appear transparent s further the
purple peaks, capped with snow are painted on the an
Tie most distant tints pale lilac rather than blue ga
the right the great snowy range carries It's grand SOLID
positive features beyond the line where the Pak becomes
Of vision than reality and us sharp rock shadow
and snow-fclds keen against the sky form wonderful
contrast TO The airy, sun CLEAN Of the plains below
ON the one hand there sofness delicate color aud
shng distance on the other hight strength and dazzling
clcarness.
Yet as write feel only what my words fail 10 convey.
All the rarer and suber qualities Of the picture fade IN
the effort to express them If the characteristic features
Of Rocky Mountain scenery Can be inferred Eom the tras
mcnts Of description scattered through these letter.
shall be satisfied II Is impossible TO compress them M %
a single paragraph. Each days travel and almost every
landscape Of each day, has It's own distinct individuality
IL L.