The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-07-27

pic is exemplifed by the following
anccdote:
While Cheyenne was at the height
of prosperity, it was infested by ruff.
fans of the most desperate character
from all parts Of the world. Robbie
ries were Of daily occurrence, aud
murders frequent. The life and pro.
perty of every citizen we're endanger-
ed. Things came to such a pass, that
the people determined to submit no
longer. A vigilance committee was
organized and, on the following
morning, all tho telegraph posts
around the depot were ornamented
with the dead bodies Of the most no.
torious Villains. The following night
a few more were hung; and the rest
they took warning. Thieves, pick.
pockets, gamblers and rowdies beat
hasty retreat. In two days, not one
was TO be seen; and they have given
no trouble since.
The buildings in Cheyenne are gene
rally temporary small structures.
Some are merely canvass tents.
One store was wooden building
about twenty feet square with an i'm
posing sign "BAzAAR or FAsnIoNs."
The usual number Of bar-rooms were
found. 1t is said that the liquor sold
all aloug the road is warranted to
cause death in ten minutes after drink
ing it!
A few miles from Cheyenne we
were delayed eight hours by the
! "snowing inn of two trains ahead.
One freight in attc tempting to forco
its way through the drift was thrown
from the track, and became t. complete
wreck. No lives were lost.
Leaving Cheyenne We commenced
ascending Black Hills by gradual
slope. Far off, in the distance, Pixies
and Longs Peaks reared their snow
clad SUBMITS. Their bases being hid
den by intervening ridges and cleva-
tions.
Here, the scenery would have COM
manded attention but unfortunately
it was passed during the night. Sher,
man is the highest point on the road,
being eight thousand feet above the
level of the sea. The air is very
much rare6cd, and for, while some
difficulty in breathing is experienced.
The uind blows at fearful rate, ap.
parently threatening at times to sweep
the train off tho track. A few miles
beyond Sherman is the Dale Creek
Bidge an iron trestle one hundred
and twenty feet long. 1t Isl a beau.
tiful structure, combining strength
with grace aud lightDcss.
AT last we are descending Echo and
Weber canons. On either side of the
road tower tail bluffs and pcrpendicu-
lar cliffs hundreds of ieet high. At
times We are passing through q wide
valley; and then suddenly the cliffs
converge, leaving no means of egress
save through deep gorge.
The shades of evening again closed
. upon us before we emerged from the
canon, but fortunately the moon shone
: for some time after dark and enabled
us to see some of the most prominent
points. The scene was grand. A
hundred human beings far from any
! vostiges of civilization, we're whirliDg
through the tortuous canon, the train
awakening echoes where for thousands
of Years profoundest stiffness had
reigned. On either side perpeudiou-
lar cliffs laid bare by long denuda-
tion raised their peaks to Heaven like
so many ruined and dismantled battle
ments, and threatened destruction by
rolling boulders on the heads of those
beneath, below was the narrow valley
with small stream meandoring
through it, and over all, the mellow
moonlight, casting dreamy shadows,
and softening the rugged outlines.
There are historical associations
connected with this canon. Twelve
or fifteen years ago, when tho Nor
mons were giving trouble, ALBERr
SIDNEY JOHNSTON, then colonel In
the U. 8. army was sent out to restore
order. The Mormons prepared for
resistance, and resolved to fcrtify the
pass, through this canon. According.
ly they built dam across the mar.
roweat part and then collected huge
boulders on the SUBMITS Of the over
hanging cliffs, ready to be hurled on
the invaders.
Fortunately, for all parties, peace
was restored, before any opportunities
were allowed to the Mormons Of prov
ing their prowess. The routains of
the dam, tho ruined ramparts, and
the heaps Of stones are still to be
seen. "@l
The lower part Of the canon is in.
habited, and ranches are scattered
about through the ridges. Thirty.
two miles before reaching Ogden Tho
"Thoasand Mile Tree" is passed. It
isa vigorous pine. and bears sign,
stating that a Thousand miles have
i been trsversed BY tho now weary
traveller. We arrived at Ogden at
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