New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-15
THE HAYDEN EXPEDITION
IN THE SIERRA MADRE.

IN THE SIERRA MADRE.
AMID THE GRANDEsT SUBMITS OF THE ohAi'
TWIN MOUNTAINS RENAMED THE WHITE noooD
AND THE CAPTroL--ERARLY A SCORE OF fhAA0
FOURTEEN THOUSAND FEET HIGH-rHE siEhNA
MApRE TO BE CALLED THE NATIONAL RANGE
GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
lPRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
CAMP, Rocky CREEK, Col. Ter, Aug s.-We are
but two days march from the foot OF the Urand
Teocalli, whence my last letter was dated Dut our
route and its side excursions and asoents nave cast
much new light upon the structure and character Oh
this great group of mountains l will briefly de-
scribe the steps of our journey. We had but 10 iol
low down again for three or four miles the Teocalh
Creek through it's broad and richly-grassed valley
in order to come out upon the broader and equally
fertile valley of the East branch of the Grand d.
rectly opposite their point of union. and command
ing in like manner the entrances of more than one
other rver-troueh, is vast circular mountain,
about 1900 feet high, of gray granite benehed all
about its foot with cretaceOus shaee cut clear down
to them on all sides, and rising in succession Of
crests higher and higher toward the west. Stand
ing thus like o gigantic watchtower, it is most
notable and a most beautiful object from many
points of view We have named it Crested Butte
Turning nearly right angle at its base, we foi-
lowed I'D north-westward the course OF the East
River, entering by and by its narrower valley OF
gorge Here on the left was another gray granite
mountain, with vast perpendicular cilifs th'tt re-
minded many of the party OF the preclpiees Oh 'no
Yosemite. A herd of a dozen mountain sheep were
feeding in one of the open gullies on It's hahS' III
full sight from trail ana very near US; but rs
one of our party tried steal around upon the side
of the mountain and get shot at them, their watch
full leader led them up to the edge of the gully ana
away they bounded ought Of sight among the rocks
and bushes of the higher mountain. AS usual, Ihere
was network of moraines, though hardly upon inc
usual scale of grandeur, where the valley narrowed
then the ground rose rapidly to the hight OF about
II 600 feet at the divide, where was, as 80 oiten'
beautiful little lake, deep sunk between ciiiis anu
shaded with tall dark eyergreens. Around the
left corner. on the other flank of the mountain are
the Elk Mountain silver mines. We camped here,
lust over the divide on broad, sloping meadow,
near lively rivulet fed by the near SHOWS, which
Law thick upon the SUBMITS that hemmed us IN on
every side, shutting off all distant outlooks
AMID TIE GRANpEsT SUBMITS OF THE CHAIN.
We were now, we we'll knew, in the near neigh
borhood of some of the grandest SUBMITS OF the
chain, peaks that had formed our objective point
during weeks of travel; but where were they
Half dozen different opinions were expressed ana
defended and there was only one way ot setting
the controversy-by climbing, namely, one OF inc
SUBMITS, and getting wider outlook. ACCORDINGLY
party of us scrambled up the hilltop as IL seehed'
next behind the camp, really the extremity Oh one
of the lines of nights that bordered the pass up
which we had come and rising full 200 feet above
| u.s. And there we found what we sought at ABOUT
eight miles distance, to the north, scared INTO the
sky q monstrous bare back of gray granite, when
| could be nothing but the reverse OF that great
| amphtheater filled with unbroken snow whose
sight had so impressed and attracted US from the
peaks to the eastward. We found also. what we
! had not expected, view whose picturesque beauty
and grandeur combined surpassed anything we had
before SEEM and of which the charm was maglcally
heightened by the level rays of the setting sum- as
they broke out through misty ar under heaVy
clouds near the western horizon.
Our next days journey was one of the grandest
that even this grand region offers. About US headed
number of brooks that joined inithei valley below
us and went tumbling down to lose themselves IN
an immense Canon whose entrance and rocky sides
were plainly visible few miles off. This was no
puide for us to follow. To the right OF its course
rose q high ridge with wavy outline, showing all
along its back the edges of overturned sandstone
strata and along this skirted. at the hight OF
about II 900 feet until turning its further corner
we found ourselves oyerhanging another side valley
and with the great mountain we were pursuing
before US. Unfortunately for us deep ravlne cut
us from immediate access to the latter and we were
forced to plunge down the steep slope to It's bottom
and 10 make our camp on meadow by the creek
side And what it is to descend such slope no one
who has not tried it can form conception. Where
the angle of descent alone would be enough to
frighten the ordinary rider rock and bog and thick
underground and fallen timber add their terrors
Ii is not very rare that a laden mule loses It's
balance and rolls over and down the decliyity
till stopped by tree. enabled by level space to
regain its footing And, what is most remarkable,
after an adjustment of its load the animal goes on
as well as before-at least it has been in every
case with US as vet.
A GRIZZLY DISPOSED or.
On this beautiful green meadow, then, carried ont
as il were from the forest which elsewhere closely
skirts the creek. and waiting for us, all three
divisions are encamped. Not that it was wholly
destitute before of an occupant and owner. Unmis-
taxable signs IN great abundance and freshness
showed at once that it the pasture aud play
ground of a large bear. To avoid any strife as to
rightfu possession, of the party shot his bear
ship Yesterday. 1t a good-szed grizzly, old and
tough beyond the average of his kind. His teeth
were well worn. one or two of the front ones even
giving way aud decayng, and his skull was COM
petely ballproof. He was really killed by the first
shot. one of MeigsS explosive bullets taking effect
lust behind the head and blowing the first cervical
vertebra to pieces; bat as he still moved. two or
three solid shot were, by way of precautiOn, fired
through his head as was supposed, from a good
Remington rifle at 81 yards distance. but they sim
ply flattened against the bone, without penetrating
il or leaving mark People may look incredulous,
but have in my pocket of the iattened bullets
A. 81 nd fha tax.illa
arch, and the skull may be examined by any one in
q IL -, -i.a+o-