New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-30

finding 1t nearly $3.50 feet This was at the axis OF
90, fold in tbe strata and from that point the upper
- lowIv came down with a gentle dip to the
southwest until We reached tho foot of the canon
Is miles from its head rocky valley canon was
Iourd here on the left and the river maze d oohu
around sharp point on the right whlcn poin' wac
cat with ten thousand crags and ragged rocks we
lid # NIille-crap Bend. and sweeping around
this in rapid current our boats shot INTO Narrow
Canon. down which we gided at almost railroad
,naed tho walls rising vertically from the water lSU
feet high at its head, and coming down 10 hlsn
water mark at the foot, seven miles Delow' "heio
the Dirty Devil river Of mud entered from 'no
right Now we had come again to the req anu
orange sandstone. and the walls were OF peau'iAul
bright rock low at first but as we cut down throdgn
Che strata. rising higher and higher. Now and then,
on tins and that side. the rocks were vertical from
ihe waters edges but usually they were cut into
mounds. and cones, and hills of solid sandstone,
rising one above the other they stretched back III
a gentle slope for miles. These mounds have been
cut out by the showers from the bright orange rock
and glitter in resplendent beauty under the midday
sun Hour after hour we gazed entranced on them,
NJ they faded in the perspective and retreaed to the
rear for the river gentle though swift, and we
had but TO steer boats, and on we went through
this land of beauty and glory.
On the 3st of July reached the mouth of the
San Juan. at the foot of Mound Canon. and went
into camp for day or twOs rest. Then we started
again. We had now once more into the dark red
aud chocolate coOred sandStOnes with slate cOOred
beds below these usually formed vertical walls,
occasionally terraced or broken down. and from the
crest of these the orange mounds soped back, but
variegated by monuments, now vertical, now ter
ID, now in steep slopes; Others still COM
ng these forms and set with towers and pinnacles
o monuments stood alone or in groups, and
al tba land spnp far as he
reach. The little valley of Paria River terminates
this canon, making it about 100 miles long. We !
named il Monument Canon. Here the river had cut |
through the sandsoncS and reached the lmeStones |
below, the same geological formation as that of Cat
aract Canon. and advanced, the channel wascut |
into these new strata. We entered between walls |
ow but vertical that gradually increased in alti-
Jude TO the foot where they were 1900 feet high,
erraoed and broken into crags above. Half way |
down the canon we found the lower strata appearing
as marble they were white, and gray, and slate
,oorod then pink and purple, and brown, and other
strata yaregaed with these cOOrs until at last we
had 400 feet of marble walls, mostly vertical from
The waters edge. These tretted by the waters,
embossed with strange devices and polished into !
beauty. Where tlee were patches of marble floor
eft bare 10y low wafer basins have been carved out
~ the whrlpools Of the flood season, and were filed
With pools of clear water in beautiful contrast to the
@A'N4'
he rocks sparkling, foaming cascades plunged into
marble fonts and in contrast to these, after every
shower cascades of red mud poured over the walls
nom the red sandstone above, with fall OF hundreds
If feet We called thi, Marble Canon it terminated
At the mouth of the Little Colorado, and about
Ri miles long
Here a short rest and then we pulled on the homo
,tretch-not a very short ethernearly 500 miles
ey river 70 the mouth Of the Virgin. The lower
members of this carbonferOus formation are of dark
.ust-colored sandstoncs sometimes almost black We
oon ran through these and through suran red sand
onc and about II miles below the mouth of the Lit
lie Colorado struck the granite. From the mouth of |
hat stream 10 the mouth of the Virgin, our objective |
,ont the general of the river is TO the west
,ut it makes three great curves to the south, and
hrce corresponding curves TO the north. At the ex-
remty of the southern curves the walls granite
Il the base reaching TO altitude of 800 feet This
Usually rises from the water in almost vertical cliffs,
ct above with ragged crags; then sloping terrace
90 to 500 yards wide; then walls of sandstone and
marble towering 200 OF 500 feet toward the heavens
n the northern bends the marble comes down to the
waters edge. In the southern bends the river runs
U aging through narrow gorge filled with rapids and
ntaracts often falling plunge from to 20 feet
he greatest being = feet Over these we usually |
rad to run the granite walls rarely gave foothod
hOugh some portages were made. The roar OF |
Uore, that came upon them unapprised |
danger. In the last great bend to the south, we |
zane upon a series OF cataracts and rapids crowded |
Ogether into distance of threefOurths of mile |
stream came down through narrow canon on |
ither SIDE and above their mouths we found foot
lold to land; stopped TO examine.
On the river there seemed 10 be great danger, and
10 portage could be made. Coming on in the morn
ng. the day spent in exploring and trying to
NHof,r
ound that we could climb TO the summit of the
granite $40 feet high and passing along the terrace
could descend to point below but it would require
en days to get our boats and cargOes over and we
lsd scant five days ratiOns. When l returned to
lamp at night, | announced to the men that
must attempt TO run it, After supper one
If them TO and asked if l twas
willing that he and two others should leave
he river and walk out over the mountains
hey thought that they could climb out of the can
~, up the channel of the right hand creek. OF
course objected but they determined TO 60.
An hours talk failed TO shake their resolution so
vat up all night made observations for the latitude
md longitude of that point and then walked up and
Town little sand beach until morning On the
MORROW they were still in mind to CO. and hastily
tilted out the little party with guns ammunition.
and small store of TatiOns. In the time those
roing down the river ready to start. Not being
able to man it, l tied up of the boats |
aud abandoned il. When all was ready we |
shook hands, and some tears started as each |
party thought the other going to destruction |
Good bye" and away went our boats the first |
cataract then among the rocks and the second |
20 the left of huge rock and whirlpool, and over
The third and shot INTO an eddy below. The boats
we're half filled with water, but that had happened
many times before we really found it less danger
Dus than hundred We had run above The party