New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-02
PRICE -FOUR CENTS.
BACK FROM THE PACIFIC.
RETURNING FROM CALIFORNIA-sILyER BRICKS
ACROSS THE CONTINENT IN GA SMASH
UP-RAILROADs ALONG THE MIss0URI-AT-
CHISON-FARMTNG IN NORTHERN KANSAS.

| UP-RAILROADs ALONG THE MIssoURI-AT-
| CHIsoN-FARMfNG IN NORTHERN KANSAS.
| IFRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
| ATCHIsoN, Kansas, June 26.-I returned with q
| special party including George NJ. Pullman, the
sleeping-car pioneer whose guests we were, and
Messrs RulofsOn, Beale, Tillnghast, and Earle. OK
| California Bross and Miller of Chicago. and Waite
! Of New York several of whom were accompanied
by their families. We left Sacramento at O a. m. by
special train and kept IA minutes ahead OF the regu-
lar express. An hour two later we were climbing
| the mountains Two heavy locomotives are required
to draw up the regular passenger train of seven cars
| In los miles, the track rises 1000 feet For three
miles and half the ascent is 116 feet to the mile
At sharp curves upon these heavy grades the rails
are already smooth and sand is scattered upon
| them to keep the wheels from slipping.
Near tho summit l rode for two hours with the
engineer, to view again the grand scenery. Our loco
motive quite out of BREATH throbbed and hesitated,
| and once or twice stopped altogether; but the eng
| neer caressed and coaxed it. and averred that it
was doing cher lerel best'-whatever that may be mp
on a 116 feet grade Sine never busted me yet" he
said, " aud 1 do MT believe she will now" Always
she" never che" nor "it;" and always spoken
with sort Of affection if the iron horse were
| living pet
Soon after noon the American River 1900 feet be-
meath us and yellow from mining the dizzy restles
the endless snow sheds the dark tunnels the granite
| cliffs and deep snow banks of the crest and Bonner
Lake calm and blue in its perennial beauty, were all
left behind and we came spinning down the Eastern
slope into hot, thick akah dust, which IS irrlta-
ton to the eyes, relaxation to the nerves. and wear-
ness to the flesh in general. Gov. Blasdel was on
board, returning home tc Carson. While we were
at the dinner tables and running 80 miles hour, he
treated us to four distinct surprises by presenting
silver bricks Of Nevada product and ranging in value
| from IN euccpsSivpiv IN Pullman and three
of his guests and requiring speech Of acceptance
from each. BY the time the last was finished every
man felt himself unsafe, and it was proposed to go
for y the Governors baggage. That oysters grow on
trees in Southern California we had already heard,
but the fact that sage bush bears silver bricks,
was a new contribution to natural history.
} The trip to Omaha occupied nearly five days. In
addition to the usual comforts we had one Of Pail
mans dining cars. It's only fewmOnhs since the first
was made. but already they run with every through
train upon the Chicago Alton and St. Lous. and
some other Western roads. The cooking is done IN
little kitchen in the middle Of the car, and under
meath are dustproof refrgerators. The tables seat
about so persons The charges under rather than
over those of rsclass restaurants which are not on
wheels.
Every morning we rose, each when he pleased.
made toilets at leisure went forward into the dining
car sat down at one of the little tables, and rang the
bell negro waiter in tidy white apron, and jacket
bearing the monogram of the Pullman company
which he seemed to regard as a sort of badge OF tho
Legion of Honor-answered the summons and
announced his bill of fare. Breakfast eaten
loiteringy over discussions about the latest
news in the local papers or in special
kilograms to the party. After the meal we wenb
back into the sleepng-car-whch the African genii
had meanwhile transformed into day-car by touch
ing certain mysterious springs-to spend the day IN
chatting reading games, all interrupted now and
then for sightseeing. Through Weber and Echo
canyons and other attractive regions, we nearly all
rode upon platforms or in the baggage-cars, to
obtain better views. One lady, comfortably settled
| in an armchair on the platform, with her parasol
shading her face, and bouquet in her lap, studied
alternately new novel and the exquisite scenery OF
Weber river The picture she presented was in stri-
ing contrast to the woebegone looks of her sisters
who crossed the plains years ago in the old way
Luncheon was served at one and dinner at seven;
| and at both there claret and champagne IN
moderation, and California fruit in profusoD, and,
for the FIRST two or three days. Of fresh flowers
After dinner, if the company was / the vein, there
were few toasts and little speaking The faro
was as good as at the best New-YOrk
NOTES.-THE variety not great but the articles as
| well cooked and as tastefully served. The attend
ance at meals and through the day was perfect. IL
one wanted glass of water or of lemonade, rwould
have the dust brushed from his clothing, waiter
was always ready with saver or wisp. In the even
ing there was singing in some of the groups. and on
Sunday morning the whole party, Gov Bross leading,
Joined in the service of the Episcopal Church.
At Utah stations appeared barefooted boys, girls,
and old men, with pals of buttermilk offering cup
fulls for 1.-TWO bits" OF course the ladies
were curious to see the Saints. do you
suppose they are Mormonsp asked one. allud-
! ing to two women who stood in front of a
| tent ~ should so liketo see some Mormon wives~
| Eyes madam" replied man, in shrt-sleeves and
straw hat who was just passing through the car and
who thought the question related TO his party-Yes
| madam, we are Mormons, and these" lnOddmg to-
ward two apple-faced women who followed each
with a baby in her arms- "are my wives"
| Ono or two commonplaces were exchanged,
but the memorable whistle cut short the interview.
| Twenty-four hours west of Omaha we came TO
| grief We were running % miles an hour on
straight track over level prairie, when there came
| sharp whistle for down brakes "a trembling-a
humping ND and down--a bewildering, terrifying
Grassland then q dead stop. After my soul, like
HansBreitmanns came back to me- found our car
off the track and poised the side of low embank-
ment at an angle of S degrees. i clambered out
and started forward. The next coach was also half
overturned and badly smashed at the forward end.
Flat upon its floor lay a gentleman grooming fear
fully, and wearing the face of one who had
just held an interview with Death. That
he MORALLY hurt l could not doubt,
until he abruptly sprang up, brushed me aside like
brown paper parcel, and ran wildly to the rear.
These two cars had been "teescoped" or driven
into each other. Pinned in between the two as in
vise and unable TO move an inch, hung young.
invalid Californian whose mother was in one of the
rear coaches. Il am killed" he said family; don't
tell nv MOTHER But saw was brought and in ten