The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-09
Platte; officers report no Indians along the

line of the road.
Saturday, September 11th-Cross the
North Platte by bridge about daylight the
wild desolate prairies, covered only with sage
brush or wild sage here begin; breakfast
at Cheyenne. SIC miles out; elevation of
the road at this point 1891 feet above the
level Of the tide; Black Hills in the dis
lance; all day long the dreary, desolate
scene continues; small droves of antelope
seen at different points along the road on
both sides; villages of Prairie Dogs ON both
sides Of the train; here and there little
fellow setting at the top of his hole, but
soon disappears as we pass; Prairie dog,
owle and rattle snake all occupy the same
hole in peace; pass Castle Rock and Gran
lite Canon, pronounced KanJon, i wild,
craggy pass in the Black Hills; elevation
at this point 1898 feet; arrive at Sherman,
$40 miles out; highest point of elevation
here s, 235 feet; magnificent view of the
Black Hills and immense valleys or canons
for many miles; the rocky mountains in
| the distance; snow on the top of the noun
tains seen distinctly from this point; pass
Fort Saunders Station; dinner at Laramie,
572 miles out; meet two ladies formerly of
| Elkton with their husbands, officers in the
army, one stationed at Fort Saunders; very
glad to see me and hear from friends at
| Elkton; supper at Rawlings, TO miles out;
elevation now down to 6, $40 feet; desolate
valleys covered with sage brush, and Black
Hills surrounding us all day long.
Sunday, September 12-Beautiful morn
ing; passengers all recognize the Sabbath
and its obligations as far as possible under the
point to stop the train and hold religious
services; directors of the road and friends
in special train behind us desire to unite
with us in worship; breakfast at Gun
River; dinner at Carriers, 9O5 miles out; ell
ovation GAO feet; passing through
Wasatch Mountains with rocky sleeps on
each side of the train alternately, some 500
feet high; arrive o'clock PM, at Echo
Canon; a magnificent amrhitheatre of
rocks, some 600 feet high on three sides;
takes its name from the remarkable echoes
repeated some five or six times; the trains
stop and the whole company repair to the
canon where the Grand Chaplin, a minister
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, from
Kentucky, performed the solemn ceremony
of the evening service with the psalm for
the 18th day of the month, distinctly re-
sponded to by a large portion of the COM
pany; the service was indeed a solemn and
imposing ceremony; the singing of the
"Glora in Ercelsis,' and the hymn, "Jesus
Saviour of my soul, let me to Thy bosom
fly" (Which was performed with will,
there being many fine singers in the COM
pany,) rolled up the rocky sides of the
canon, and as it was echoed and re-echoed
back again, the effect was sublime, and strong
men were seen, at the conclusion, wiping
from their eyes the tears that were the
silent evidences Of the impressive character
of the occasion; the services concluded we
again start, and sweeping along through
Weber Canon and other majestic piles of
rocks, and deep gorges in the hills succeed
ing each other i'll rapid succession, we pass
two remarkable points: one on the left
called ''IHe DerTs lSlide' and the other on
the right called ''7he DerTs Gate," both
very singular formations which l cannot on
paper give you any correct idea of; emerg-
ing from these giant hills we come unto
the valley of the Bear River, one of the
tributaries of the Great Salt Lake, beau
| tiful mountain stream, and stop at Uin-
tab, Norman town, whence Wells,
Fargo & Cos, stages leave for Salt Lake
City daily; we here pass through broad
and fertile region from which large crops
of wheat and other grain have evidently
been gathered, showing the worthy thrift
and industry of these Mormorns; passing
along we reach the north eastern arm of
| Great Salt Lake and for miles along the
road have 4 moonlight view of it; about 10
o'clock at night we reach Plomontory City,
so called, containing a most villianous pop
ulation, composed in large degree of
black legs, gamblers and cut-throats, who
seem all to have concentrated at this point
the reason why: here the Union Pacific
ends and the Central Pacific commences;
here, passengers and baggage in regular
trains are to be transferred to other cars;
time is required, and opportunity to fleece
unwary travellers is afforded; after 4 tolera-
BILE supper and an hours delay we start
the north western arm of the Great Salt
Lake, and retire for the night.
Monday, September 13-We find our
selves in the Great American Desert and
the alkalie dust becomes almost sitting;
we have now passed through Nebraska and
the Territory of Wyoming or Absaraka,
and have entered Nevada, and being on the
Central Pacific; John Chinaman meets us
at every point; this road was chiefly con-
structed by them, and they are now found
in groups all along the track repairing and
| filling up, and at all the towns and stations
lounging about or engaged in their tents, if
unemployed, at domino and other games
of which they are extravagantly fond; as l
may have more to say of this people here
after, pass on to say, that the dust of the
Desert being exceedingly unpleasant, we
were glad in the evening to arrive at the
valley of Humboldt River, 4 singular river
which seems to decrease instead OF increase
! in size as it flows, and finally loses itself in
! Humboldt Lake, which itself has no outlet;
dinner at Elko, a town only six months,
now containing from $500 to 5000 inhabi-
tants and many well-built houses; in Feb
ruary last we were told there were but two
canvass tents on the ground; there are
several similar towns on the road; take
supper at Winnemeka, where the Grand
I Lodge is received and welcomed by the
! Grand Lodge and Grand Offices of Nevada.
Tuesday, September 14-Pass the town
of Rcro, where we take leave of Judge
Hayden, Grand Master of Nevada, who has
been with us from Omaha; reach Truckee
where we take breakfast; enter California
and commence the ascent of the Sierra Ne