, 1874-03-01
sosefdt Correspondence n 1he Chicago I575un-

effect of these yarns was to discourage all PEI
sons OF a timorous temperament from taking tn
trip; and, with the exception OF awe-struc
! glances thrown sheepiahly down from above, th
great canon remained unoxplored until abou
two years ago.
Tho man to dispel these Utopiau dreams, ant
lay the bowels Of the great canon open to th
world, was
| N1. T. b. BRAssEL
an engineer in the employ Of tho Atchison
Topeka Santa Fe Railroad. Attha1 time, tn
Company seriously contemplated the project o
extending their line up the ArkAneas Valley
through tue canon, and out to Salt Lake City
aud Mr. B. WAS sent to explore the route, an
ascertain whether it Was within the range o
possibilities to construct road up the canon
Mr. B1aesel arrived, with his party, in February
| 1871 and the news Of his proposed trip create.
| the most intense excitement In Canon City, TIL
! old pioneers lowered around his camp, looket
mysterious, rolled over their tobacco-quids Hitt
energy, shook their heads again, turned up thl
whites OF their eyes toward Pixies Peak, and
| pointing their skinny hands to tho canon, I'd
| v1sed him hot to "go in thar" Others i'm
plored him to make his will and boqueatt
his scientific apparatus to the town
4 Jealous priest held up crucihx for him te
kiss; And tho Buperstitious fears Of three ignor.
ant fellows in tho party were 30 worked upon
that, 1t the last moment, they refused to SO, but
! fed ignominoualy toward the village. But
Drassel Was man not easily discouraged. Il all
accounts were only one-tenth part true, he con-
! sidored tho canon veil worth seeing; and,
shouldoring his compasu, and shouting to the
! remainder Of his party, -
ne PLUNGED m
or, in other words, walked up tho river On tho
ice; explored both sidcs Of the canon from top
! to bottom went through it, aud returned the
| ns1t day with tho information that tho canon
vas not only perfectly safe, but that a railroad
could be built up through it at ali expense not
exceeding 550.000 per milo...'
This report sllenced tho superstitious ones /;
the canon have been quite fre-
qucnt, while no more serious accidents
have been sustained than good ducking now
and then. -'' .
ers, and ali the accout1oments OF war, for 3
band Of mountain-eheep h3d been seen among
the rocks, while it was currently reported that
boar-BignB were numerous. Owing to the rapid
ity Of tho current through the canon. the river
mover freezes clear across, except in spots but
the ice clings to the rocks on either side, and
Affords quito safe foundation. In aome places,
Lowovcr, tho rocks jut out oYor the watoE- Hero
ice never forms, aud the pedestrian is compo1lsd
to
c1rD ur AND Go ROUND.
This is tho toilaome part Of tha expedition,
aud hers it is that nerVe and patience are re-
quired.
We set ont in single file. The preacher OF 274
followed; tho man Of original sin eoy-
cred him; aud TIE TRIBUNE correspond
ent. With his customary sagacity
aud prudence, brought up the rear. The distance
through the cavern proper is abont miles. and
to fool it up and down ID twelve hours is CUNT
ed very heavy days work. The proper outfit
for such trip ls 4 pair Of atmy-shoes, flat-bot-
toned, and spiked with nails; pole 15 or 20 feet
in length, q good, substantnl lunch; and
ANA small demijoln, warranted not to contain Mother
objected somewhat to this part of the pro-
gramme, but I am quite sure that I saw the
neck Of bottle protruding out OF lis coat~tail
pocket
We could see their footprnts plninly in the SNOW;
but tho leo lad thawed quite rapidly SINCE they
passed, and more thau once or1r preacher friend
found it impossible to follow their trail. At
such times, and Whenever lie halted and hesi-
tated over somo weak spot the General, the man
OF original sin, and myself, always stood at
sAyE DISTANCE N THE REAR,
and shouted ont Words OF encouragement aud
advice. We told him that the ico Was perfectly
Bafo that it Tas no disgrace to break through
ho had often performed the trick and always
wound up with the advice OF the celebrated Mr.
Alurdstone: Bo firm, b1aYe-hearted, and
don't grow fldgoty at triaes. 10 be
sure, our preacher-friend turned upon us
once or twice, and desired those who
were 80 brave to como forward and tnke the
lead but We paid no attention to these little !
We rightly judged That, II the ice
could support 274 pounds OF spiritual flesh, it !
10 we kept him in the lead, and egSed him on
With good-naturcd jokes. Whether tho pre- J
caution Was wise one or not, will be apparent |
before this chapter closes. !
The Grand Canon Of tho Arkansas has been |
described in newspapers, scientific reports, and |
by enthusiastic tourists, 30 often, that have
not the hardihood to repeat the story. It isa
ZIG FREAK OF NATURE,
.hough, and will compare very favorably, in !
point Of sublmity and overwhelming grandeur,
With the Yosemite Valley. At every step one
:akes new view bursts upon the vision; and all
he ndjectiyes OF which the English language is
capable give out before you have proceeded half
mile. Imagine narrow, tortuons gorge cleft
through tho heart Of the mountain, With walls
II rock rising up on either aide 1900 feet high,
Ind river rushing and surging at the bottom,
md you will havo faint idea of the Arkangas
Canon. The cir is always cool hero; tho sun
lever gets down to these depths. 4 feH scrubby
op, but, 1t the base, vegetation is diRheartened.
nd nothing thrives hut mesa and ichens-
nrings Of pure, cold water leap out here and
hero aud the water, trickling down perpendicu-
IT rocks, Is congealed into WEB OIL 1c1cles. |
1a1lows hare built their nests, and soar about
he cham in eddying circles while, now and
hen, f1shy buzzard makes his appearance on |
ONE crng, md hops about - il specializing
1hethe1 or not you would furnish him With
zeal. While toiling up the canon, tho clear,
1elodioua notes Of bird, strongly resembling
hose Of canarJ, broke upon our ears but the !
opgster renamed invisible, and refused to
ouae out in response to our encores. We set the
rtst down es one Of the tabled geni Of the place.
he rocks are all OF tho sandstone formation,
ut Lodges OF granite aud porphrJ are often seen,
are also well-dedned threads Of iron and cop
er orc. Argentiferous sealns aboaud; and,
hero the current Of the river is suddenly
hecked. any greenhozn can ehnvel up pau-tull
I saud and show you grains OF
YELLOW 0pID-
he grains Ere sma1l, but stin it ia gold Tho
unoapal gold-miues Of Colorado a1e situated