The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-01

VIVID description ot the marvellous scenery OF
the Colorado river
In the great southwest region of the terri
tory of the United States there is belt of
country that has long been the region of
myths. Gorges with cliffs overhanging to
shut out the days underground courses of
great river that carries the melted SHOWS of
vast mountain cisterns; great cataracts, whose
plunping waters make roaring music, heard
on the distant mountain SUBMITS with thou
sand imaginative embellishments, have been
given as the characteristics of this region,
known vaguely as the Grand Canon of the
Colorado.
MANY stories of wild adventure have been
told by Indians, trappers, and prospecters-
stories of walking along the brink of the
canon walls in search of a passage down to
the waters. but vainly travelling for days and
then perishing for thirst in sight of the river
below, which roared its moching into dying
ears. Other stories are current of men who
have entered the gorge only to be over
whelmed in an abyss Of waters; still others, of
boats, and boats crews gliding down the
swift river into underground passages, to be
lost forever from the light. Such are the
legends told in the hunters cabin and pro-
specter's camp away out among the noun
tains, and now and then these have found
their way into public print.
Expeditions sent out by the Government to
explore the Colorado andregion around about
have reported the canon inaccessible. The
traditions Of the early Spanish adventures
make it q land unknown and forever to be
unknown. The Indians of the countries ad-
jacent have woven the mysteries of it into
the myths of their religion. SO, Indians and
Spanish adventurers, hunters and prospectors
have all united in telling fabulous stories of
its wonders and terrors. For two or three
years / have been making some geographical
studies in the mountains to the east and north,
and while pursuing them, the thought grew in
my mind that these canons would be book
of revelations in the rock-leaved bible of
geology. The thought fruited with deter
mination to read the book; 50 | sought for
all the available information with regard to
the canon land. l talked with the Indians
and hunters; | went among the Mormons to
learn what they knew of this country ad iacent
to the "Kingdom OF God the home of the
''Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints" | read the reports of the surveys,
and / explored canons of the tributary streams
that ] thought would represent somewhat the
.,--,.c ro a. % a., e GRAND Canon, on account c.
similar geological and physical charao ,o."t.StlcS.
From these fabulous stories andreports, facts,
and from knowledge of other canons, came
to the belief that the ''Grand Canon Of the
Colorado could be explored by descending
the river in small boats, l also arrived at
the conclusion that what was known as the
''Grand Canon" was in fact series of canons
forming the banks or walls of the Upper Colo
RADIO, and the lower portions of the Green and
Grand that unite to form it, These two
streams unite in canons, and some persons
held that the vaguely defined Grand Canon"
was continued up the Green, and others that
it was continued up the Grand, while others
still asserted that these streams united in a
valley. One man assured me that he, with
several others, had laid out a city at the june
ton, but was driven away by the Indians.
With this end n.view [ came from the
mountains to Chicago last spring, to procure
outfit and build boats. Four Of these were
made on a model devised for the purpose of
navigating canon streams; and taking them
out to Green River Station, where the Union
Pacific Railroad crosses the Green, / was
ready to embark There l had party of
nine men awaiting my arrival, and anxious to
enter the "great unknown" with me-men all
experienced in the wild life Of the country,
and most of them in boating on DANGEROUS
streams. On the 9th of May we started.
For a few days our way was through n river
of low canons, and small, green valleys, until
We reached the Uintah mountains. Through
this range the river has cut a wind.
ing channel, forming the Uintah sys
tenn of canons. Near the lower
end of this series Yampa river enters the
Green by canon. Further down, in a valley
portion Of the river the Uintah and White
come in. Below this point, about 30 miles
we enter still another series. Low walls OF
grey, buff, and rust-colored sandstone shu
MS in. These walls slowly increase in heigh
as we advance The grey rocks are lost; darl
red sandstones appear; the walls are broker
down by lateral canons, increasing in numbe
until we are in the heart of the ''Canon o
Desolation. Sometimes these lateral canon
are so crowded that the rock between theI
stands as a narrow wall, hundreds of feet high
the end toward the main canon. Some latert
canons have their own lateral canons-
third series-cutting the wall into sections
whose towering SUBMITS, though large enoug
to support cathedrals, seem scarcely to ful
nish footing for man. Two thousand feet
three thousand feet over heads the SUNNI
of the walls, while rocks and crags and peal
rise higher, and still higher away back frol
the river, until they reach an altitude
nearly five thousand feet. These rusty, gre
and dark red sandstones have no beauty
color. few greenish-grey cedars are seel
looking not like pyramids of evergreen spra
but like clumps of knotty war-cubs bedecke
with spines These, with little sage, col
stitute all the verdure.
We next ran through Coal Canon an
passed the mouth Of Little White river, the
a valley region, passed the mouth of the Sa
Rafael and we enter Still Water Canon. III
river winds through this with quiet eurren
as if in no haste to leave this beautiful cane
carved out of the orange sandstone.
along its walls domed alcoves and ampl
theatres have been cut out of the solid roc
prottoes and caves abound, narrow later
canons, channels of rivulets, born OF
ebou0er and born again of q shower, are C