New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-16
EXPLORATIONS
UTAH AND NEVADA.

TIE WILDERNESS MOUNTAIN SCENERY
FALLING AvALANCHES-HOT AND COLD MIN
ERAL SPRINGS-SHOOTING DEER IN AMBUSH
THE WILD GAME OF THE COUNTRY, &c.
SALT LAKE CITY, u. t., Sept, 8.-Since my
last letter have been extremely fortunate in having
placed in the diary kept by one of the
tlemen who accompanied the Morgan expedition, and
have also had opportunity of examining the and
| field notes of the whole route The latter TO be
very full and complete, and furnish good insight into
the mineral regions west Of the Rocky Mountains which
are Justine beginning to attract the attention of Brigham
| Young and the Mormon people.
At daylight on the morning Of Oct. IS. continues the
narrative from which have already quoted. parted
| company with Sam Joness party after camping with
them oryeght hours. and continued east by
south. We lost sight OF the Beacon Hills and entered
upon fine plain of rich meadow land covered with lux
urous growth of wild oats. shallow stream, with several
feeders, flowed through the AS far could
see the banks both sides lined with cottonwood
trees of large proportions which occasionally extended
out to considerable distance the rich aluvia bot
TOMS and formed beautiful natural parks where the lark
robin and other birds OF the Atlantic States flying
about in great profusion At first these birds showed not
the slightest fear at presence, but hoped nmby
about all sides Of singing their sweetest matn lays
from the spears of the wild oats if determined to give
us merry welcome TO their Elysium. Presently fine
covey Of snipe flew almost IN my face. Before could
say word the Governor had fine shot at them with
double barreed fowlng piece. bagging eight rat JUICY
fellows at the first discharge The noise OF the explosion
only alarmed all the feahered songsters, but also
startled several herd of deer and antelope which until
then had been invisible Thrustng up their heads from
the sea Of wild oats and catching the sound OF our adj
vance, they scampered off full Jump every drec
ton 1t was splendid sight for field sportsman who
had experienced the buck fever or listened to
"view halo" The doctor this occasion proved him.
self expert marksman Before the rest OF us recOv
cred surprise at this sudden stampede he had
flying shot after fine antelope at least 300 yards
| off and handsomely brought him down. We Jared quite
] sumptuOusly wild game the whole time were In
this open meadow, while animals feased the wild
| oats
In taking observations the third day after leaving
the Beacon Hills met number of Moqui Indians
who laying in their Winter stock of provisions
When first they were chasing drove OF wild mus
tang ponies but only succeeded in killing five out of
drove of hundred after six hours chase. All the
Indians nhabng the great plateau prize the flesh OF the
mustang highly their red brethren of the Rocky
Mountains do that OF the buffalo. These Moqui braves
were all very friendly, trustworthy and grateful BY
promising Of their subchiefs rifle of the old
fashioned muzzleloadng pattern and old blue blan
ket he gladly consented to guide through the best
passes Of the Black Rock range of mountains We fitted
him out in first aristOcratic Indian style. beside
giving him plenty of tobacco TO smoke and pound or
two Of sugar. which great luxury to an Indian
| OI Canuy NOulu NC 10 al eISutHedi olu SChOo
boy.
| CAMP LIFE IN WILDERNESS.
The morning OF November l. 1868, awoke bright and
beautifu Long before the noisy nocturnal yelp of the
prowling cayotes had ceased the quick, sharp CHR
rup" OF the dainty quail had sauted the camp
was aroused blankets rolled up and strapped and all
hands making hurried preparations for the days journey
BY the time skirmshers after wood returned Ralph
our faithful cook had prepared for the frying pan fine
mess Of delicious speckled trout from 10 two pounds
each from pure llmpd stream upon the banks OF
which we then encamped. The trout in this river
| were astonishngly Every time the hook
struck the ripple the trout fairly spang by dozens 10 seize
the fly until the water around seethed and bubbed with
foam. Their rapid movements scudding, diving pung
ing and wrigging about with lghtnngke rapdity,herc
there and verywhere exceeded anything OF the kind
ever before witnessed With the trout and venison
steak cut of buck shot tho day previous
pot Of coffee, and the usual Accomplishments breakfast
was soon cooked and dispatched with vigorous appe
tite. Arms then inspected, the animals waered
the mules packed. and more in the saddle
ready 70 resume our march. Emerging from pass i'll
table land found ourselves upon the verge OF
other vast and ard plain filed with lava and absedan
but no craers of volcanoes visible in the
neighborhood To the South the lost in hay ill.,
fnitude while to the East could family discern the
distant mountain peaks. After travelling twenty miles
we altered to East by North, skirng along
the narrowest part Of this desert and the morning OF
| NONeInDef D, WtTo BTduudlly Approaching tHo HkHeT
plateau the east OF The picturesque wldness Of
the scenery exciting wonder of romantic jour
ney the many obstacles yet TO be surmounted, the dan
| gers to be overcome, lent additional charm TO the
pleasures Of the ascent Of Nomolmbo Pass On these
rocky RIDGES far beyond the barrier of civilization
some OF my early boyhooOd dreams OF the excitement
and fascination OF wandering were realized Here was
rapid to be fanked there stream to be forded. The
deuge the night before, still iecked aud partially OBJ
scured the rough and jagged outlines OF some OF the
elevated peaks In the far distance. one alone in
full view, towering like giant sentinel far above all the
others and standing out IN clear and bold relief against
the blue sky During all my experience rs traveller in
many foreign lands whether in ascending the Alps with
BEATEN trail over the highest peak Of the corders in
South America, or even when stlesay gazing on the
huge cataract Of Niagara, while mentally contrasting
their falls with the superna beauties OF Bridal Vail Of
the Yosemite never have seen anything that so thrilled
column of basatc spendor, whose snow-clad summit
gistened and sparkled with the radiance Of prsnatc
| cOlors. We named this peak the Column Of Alham.
bra" Its sides perpendicular that presents
the appearance OF gigantic pedestal Of hewn stone than
ascertained to be nearly 1900 feet the level Of the
Its position IN 1.-THE, the Black Rock bearing
miles. In clear, bright atmosphere tins column, with
it's white cap can be distinctly seen with the naked eye
| AN AVALANCHE.
suddenly exclaimed, pointing the peak "Do you see
iti Look there. How grand. how lnspiring!" Gazing
avalanche moving with the face Of the wind and gather
ing increased impetus every moment On 1t came whir
ing all the that interrupted It's terrible
flight until finally 1t reached the brink Of the mountain
| and dashed headlong into the dark abyss beyond
| ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA.
large and small We could scarcely ride 100 yards in any
direction without startling deer, antelope, cayote wild
cat wolf, and, occasionally, bear, from Of the
neghborng recesses and gorges OF the mountains All
along line OF march, quail, plover, jack snpe tom
tits, and other BIRDS squirrels, and rabbits fairly
swarmed The barometer exhibits these high ridges
daily oscillations but slight variations are observed
when extreme cold weather sets ill., The great dryness
| Of the atmosphere produces free development OF
electricity. BY rubbing the hair OF animals In the
dark could elicit prOfusiOn Of electric sparks and
other phenomena OF similar kind constantly occurred.
When the 9th Regiment OK Infantry crossed the plains