The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-20

All o'clocl; we mounted our horses and
slowly and carefully made our way down
the mountain to the railroad depot, which
Is situated nearly mile below the hotel.
We purchased tickets to Vitznau, which Is
the terminus of the road, and after waiting
until time was up, commenced the descent
Of the mountain. Tue engine which drew
the car in which We were seated looked
like huge iron bottle, standing on a low
platform, which carries cylinders, cranks
and other locomotive gear, and is much
lower at one end than at the other. This
difference Of height inparts an awkward
ness Of appearance, and the immense bottle,
which is, in fact, the boiler and chimney,
leans to one aide, as if about to fall. When
the engine asccnds the mountain, the floor
becomes level and the boiler is on the per
rendicular. In front Of the boiler Is a
railcd;placc, IN which baggage is carried.
The engineer and fireman stand, rs usual,
in the rear, ard the fuel is coal. The car
we were in was about ten lect wide, with
nine seats placed trInTersely, and when
filled would hold about sixty passengers,
who find their comfort cared for in the
shape Of the seats. The car is open on all
sides, something like the Third avenue ex-
cursion cars in New York, which enabled
ne to have an excellent view Of the scene
~. Tie cars and locomotives are built at
often, a busy centre OF Swiss industry.
The railway guage is five feet; the sleepcrs
are longitudinal and continuous, Us on our
city railway tracks. Between the two rails
is what may be termed heavy irsn ladder,
with thick steps. On this ladder the To-
connective walks, by means Of heavy
cogged wheel, fitted beneath the floor Of
it. There are no trains, unless single car
and engine can be called one. In ascending
tho road, the engine is behind the car and
pushes It, instead Of pulling it up hill.
Passengers who arc nervous had better sit
in the middle of the car, so US to avoid the
sight ofthe CULTS and precipices over which
the railwaypasses The finest view either
ascending or descending i on the right
hand side. The speed is about twice as
fast as ordinary walking, As soon as We
LEFT the depot, signal man started of
ahead of the engine with red flag in his
hand and buglo swung at his side, and
ran before of us all the way to Vitznau.
Ills principal business is to see that no
distractions have fallen from the upper
slopes on the track, and especially to pick
out any stones that may have fallen on the
steps OF the iron ladder or cog-way. Tray.
elers who have been up Mount Righi know
that it is n mass Of pudding, with millions
OF stones for plums. Hence, constant
watchiulncss is necessary, for stone in
the cog-way might probably throw the
engine from tue track. We noticed way.
watchers at short distances apart, whose
duty 1t was to SEQ tho track was In good
order, aud each of whom Is responsible for
his section of the road. As an additional
prccaution against accident, each car is
fitted with an exceedingly strong brake
The line stretches in one continuous slope
up the mountain, with but slight depart.
urcs from 4 straight line. and is very SINH.
lar to the one on Mount Washington in the
White Mountains. There are no zig-zags,
as on the road over Mount Gems. Half
way down the mountain the engine stop
ped at water. tank to take in water. We
then slowly but surely descended, and in
short time were at the end of the road.
About lOA. N. tile steamboat stopped at
the wharf on its way from Luzerne to
FluolCn, to which place We purchased tick.
cts after getting on board.
The Lake Of the -Four Cartons Is one Of
the most beautiful of the Swiss lakes, and
the sail on It was one Of great enjoyment.
Afterleaying Vitznau, the mountains, with
few exceptions, came sheer down to the
waters edge, as on the Lake of Como.
The length of the lake isabOut twenty-five
miles, and is distinguished above every
lake in Switzerland, perhaps in Europe, by
the beauty of its scenery. 1t Is hardly
less interesting from the historical recol-
leCtions connected with it. Its shores are
TO all Americans, classic ground the sane.
tuary Ofliberty. 0uthem took place those
memorable events which gave freedom to
Switzerland. Here the first confeleracy
was formed AMI, above all, its borders were
the scepe of the heroic deeds and signal
vengeance of William Tell, b, N,