, 1872-12-12
FROM CHICAGO TO DENVER.
"Reminiscences and incidents.
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune

PUEBLo, Col, Dec. 4, 1872,
Leaving your snow-clad city On the night of
Dec. 1, awoke to find myself beyond the limits
Of tho recent Storm which seems not to have
visited tho western part Of your State. Taking
o late breakfast at Quincy, VIC are soon On our
way across tho Mississippi River. which, at the
present time, is at very low stage, sand-bars
being visible I'll along the shore. The main
channel is still open, a1ad boats are passing free
" up and down the river.
As we speed along the eastern portion Of the
Hannibal & st. Joseph Railroad, the writer's
memory is carried back to the early scencs Of
our late war, when the Nineteenth Illinois we're
sent to guard portion Of this line Of road, to
prevent its being cut by JEFF. Thompson's bush
whackers. From Quincy we went in two de-
tachments uia. Hannibal and the shortcut, to
Palmyra, which, for time, was our headquar-
ters. Here Lieutenant Charles Shipley, ono Of
the original Ellsworth Xouavcs, and Lieutenant
Lambuson, with their Glee Club, culled from the
regiment, serenaded tho pretty girls of the
town, some Of whom wore decidedly "se-
We had our first marching experience
in going to Emerson, eighteen miles distant, to
break up recruiting station Of JEFF. Thomp-
sons. a short distance from the town, we dis
either sido Of the road. We found . keg OF
powder in one Of the corn-felds, which was con-
sidered q great trophy Upon reaching the
town, We found the enemy had flown: After
searching for eecreted arms, and demolishing a
flagstaff, which was carried off in small pieces
BY the boys as mementos, We commenced our
weary march back to PalmyTa. Being inexperi-
enced, and not entirely prepared for it, the men
soon gave out and struggled, and then pressed
into their service horses and wagons to carry
them back to camp. for which they were stigma
tized by General Pope as set of horse-thieyes.
This road, as well as this section Of Missouri,
has improved since the war. As we pass along
through the towns. I noticed the flags at half
must for the death of Horace Greeley. At Clar-
ence the staff was surmounted by large white
hat, appropriately drapea in mourning,
We arrive at Kansas City too late to get g
view Of the city. An hour later, re are on our
way through Kansas, on the Kansas Pacific Rail-
way, comfortably sleeping in q Pullman palace
ara luxury to be appreciated in this Western
country.
Shortly after daybreak re stopped at salina
for breakfast. We find We arc fairly started on
the Plains, or what WAS formerly known as the
entirely disappear, except a few at the
stations of the road. Fences are IN
known, only as used by the rail-
road company as protection against snow.
first day. was exceedingly SO on the second.
There we're no signs of snow, and, had it not
been for the scared appearance Of the vegeta-
tion it would hare seemed like mild spring
mCIMuE.
At Ellsworth, the next station of Importance,
the Company has erected round house and ma
chine shops, which give the place very lively
appearance. The houses and stores are Of wood,
painted white, and look very neat.
At Ellis, the Company has erected an eating
an ornament to any town. The building
is Of q peculiar kind Of stone found in this
vicinity, which is 80 soft when quarTied as to be
easily sawed, in this case into blocks about u
har5ara with mi
makes q very fine appearance. G. N. Pratt, OF
your city, has house On Wabash avenue the
window-caps Of which are made OF this stone.
The keeper Of the eating-houso has farm near
by, upon which he has boon able to raise excel
lent gerden-yegetables.
notice, at many Of the stations along the road,
stacks Of, and cars loaded with, dry buffalo
bones, which. am told, mako quite business
and shipped East, where they are manufactured
into fertilizer.
We now come to what is called the buffalo
country, but 1'nary" & buffalo did We see. The
railroad employees say they have all gone south,
to tho want of grass, which has been
burnt off in large quantities for miles on each
side of the track: The stations now grow small
1er in size, being only. in some cases, q single
shsnty for depot and telegraph station;
| night being now upon us, VIC turn to the lighted
interior Of our Pullman car, and, from Mr. +. A.
| s. Reed, Of Chicago, gain many interesting
facts He has twice crossed the Plains BY
stage, ID 1860 and 1868, and now, for
| the first time, is crossing by rail. He was the
I pioneer Of railroad men ct Denver, and circu-
lated the frst railroad advertising matter at that
place. Ho, with others, canvassed the prob
| abilities of railroad to that place, but never
supposed at that time that it would be in his
| day.
| In the morning. awoke to see one OF the
| grandest sights it has ever fallen to my lot to
witness: the long range Of mountains,
with the peaks Of Longs, G1ay's, and Pixies
ovorreacting all the rest, and the snow-capped
summenta in the background, the sun shining
| on them with dazzling Light. It is d spectacle
| 7 shall always remember. G.