New-York tribune., 1868-08-14
an ASCENT OF REPUBLICAN, MOUNTAIN.

A District Secretary of the American Tract
Society tour OF observation and labor for that in
stutiOn writes from the Rocky Mountains under date
Of July 80, 1868 as foows: "Wth my friend R left
Central City, Colorado yesterday and to-day reached the
top Of Republican Mountain said TO be $500 to 1900 feet
above Edgetown and about 1900 feet above the level OF
the The view here is awful and grand beyond any
thing ever before witnessed Having climbed five miles
more reached the timber limits, and found our
selves upon the everlasting Here we stopped and
regaled ourselves with draft from OF the sprngng
sources Of the great Father Of Waters and had grand
game ut snow ball that 24th day of july 1868 little
further reached the famous Astor Lode one OF the
richest silver mines yet discovered There we halted
and sat down to lunch Never was so nearly ex-
hausted before In my life. We went up on footJ The
richest gold mines could hardly have induced me TO at
tempt TO make the remaining mile which lay between MS
and the top Of the mountain Rest crackers ana ardnes
never sweet before and never Was so much re-
freshment realized IN haltan-hOnr a pony, Iudeh
hitherto by OF our landlord, who came out with us
a hunting excursion, was left here TOT our
To ride HIM So mounted. and started with the com
pany for the coveted summit For little way the cedar
trees lay prone upon the ground Struggling nal 70 ai
their existence among these eternal SHOWS They
scarcely higher from the ground than the diameter
OF their trunks TO Is inches and extend over the
ground from TO 20 feet making matted springfield or
hylng green But they Soo give way anu % s,,ns r ~
mains but the mountain grass richly lhtensPeIsta Win
the small beautiful flowers and nOsses Well there is
nrst upon the cIownlnG rock: Ills d s%EpS Is snapenu @
and triumphant shout Deckon us on, anu III u 10" mO-
ments at his side, the merrest men VINO ever
tOiled these glorious hlghts Oh every manu- tht
snowy peaks piled up In miscellaneous confusion, Ossa
upon PeOn stand immOvAblc IN their awful grandeur.
They bow no welcome visit, but cold and stern,
they seem reluctantly 10 allowhey almost ready
repe The everlasting gsten jn the sun, and daz
Ze the sight as though they would rebuke presump
ton IN disturbing the silence which regns around On
every hand you look down such awful chasns that you
instinctvely shudder aud sink down to grasp
the rock upon which you stand,-lest you should
lose your footing and be dashed 10 pieces Up
ward the clear blue sky here OF deeper hue than ever
before witnessed 10 lay upon our heads the vel
coming hand OF the beniguant Creator, while the cXha
rating atmosphere initiates our lungs and We hardly
know whether We iu the body out Qut almost
ready to hOat away and be with hui who made Gll
things and seems bcckOnlng US 10 llmselt
Well an hour Of almost silent musing U0r who can talk
herel and gathering OF specimens ana We lie down ana
take sleep. But friend of the pony admOIshes ms
that three hours OF hard work yet before m making
our descent ana turn our faces downward. Here
20, mad and Wild, like long peutup schoolbOys, lCapug
more game at SNOWFALL. and one more drink from those
sparkling fountains. and goodbye 10 these awful and
grand old snowy peaks Of the Rocky Mountains. But
fdcis deSceHsWs est and In hour and half we have
returned the ascent abOrOusy climbed In four
and hall weary hours. and tnd mysclf-Ohi 50 com
fOrtably-at rest the bed OF kind friend We take
tea beside piping hot stove, and 20 10 bed aud
slcep-Oh! 50 sweety-under WOUllen blankets, while
yOu poor sinners u Tire States sWclterng with the
thermometer at % to Jos degrees Fahrenheit We awOke
and rose In the morning gay iafks. What an atmOs
hcre this 10 refresh and iuygOrate the weary aud
worn At a. are pounding down tile ruad on the
top Of the stage 30 2i0 rate ana ~ 10 o'clock a. m we
rain n, a. H@"tral CIV g. W.