The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-03-15
DOWN THE COLORADO.
Tho Story Of n Trip Through tho Canyon.
NJ Told by lfnIor Powell,

Tho Story OF Trip Through the Canyon.
~ Told by lInIor Powell.
When Major Powell and his party set
out in their boats to descend the Colo
rado river, which dashed over falls and
predpices and througha narrow channel,
with walls OF solid granite or marble,
in some places fully mile in height, on
each bank, the expedition was looked
npon rs full Of hangers. The Major
and his party went through and the
story is told by the leader OF the party
in ScriJn6r's magazine. While told
in q vein OF exceeding modcsty 1t Is yet
full OF thrilling interest.
Major Powelltells us TINT they oncoun.
tered dangers along the whole route,
but tho men Of tho party showed no
signs Of holding back, however dark and
dismal or full Of terrors the new canyon
they wero about to enter might be,
until tho perilous voyage was near its
end. Then they came to one canyon
that was evidently more full Of dangers
than any they had passed.
Capt. Rowland, Of tho party, aud
three men declared that they would not
attempt its passage. Major Powell
fully comprchended the danger before
him, but he felt TINT unless the
passage of this canyon was attempt
cd his long and perilous trip
was not accomplished, md he determined
togo on. Tho night before tic leader did
not and could not sleep, so important
seemed the occasion, and so great the
excitement within him.
He made his preparations as though
feeling that lle aud his party were not to
come out of the abyss alive. One SGT OF
the records was given to Capt. Rowland
aud his men, who wero to go around by
land. Letters were given them to friends
Mt home, and keepsakes were intrusted
toCapt. Rowland. Nfnior Powellsays, too,
that somo tears were shed at parting,
each party believing TINT the other was
taking the most dangerous way, and TINT
they would not meet again. Now lot
Major Powell tell the story Of the trip:
My old boat having been deserted, l
went on board ".The AIaid Of the Can.
yon." Tho three mon climbed crag
that oyerlung the river, to witch US of.
The "Mqid" pushed ont, we glidcd
rapidly along the foot Of the will, Just
grazing one great rock, pulled out little
into the chute Of the second fall, and
plunged over it. The open compartment
was filled when We struck the first waye
below, but We cut through it, aud then
the men pulled with all their power to-
ward the left wall and swung clear OF the
dangerous rock below.
We were scarcely minute In running
It, and found that, although it looked
bad from above, wo had passed
many places that wero worse. The
other bout followed without more .diili-
Guilty.
We landed at the first practicable
point below, fired our guns rs signal to
tho men above that we had gone over in
safety, and remained couple OF hours,
hoping they would take the smaller boat
and follow us. We were behind curve
in tho canyon and could not SEQ up to
wherc we left them. As they did not
como wo pushed on again. Until noon
wo had a succession Of rapids and falls,
all Of which we ran in safety.
Just after dinner we came TO another
bad place. A little stream came in from
tho left, and below there was fall, aud
still below another. Above, the river
tumbled down over and among the
rocks in wliirlpools and great waves, and
tho waters were white with foam. We
ran along the left, above this, and soon
saw that We could not get down on that
side, but II seemed possible TO lot down
on the other, so we pulled up stream for
two or three hundred yards and crossed.
There was n bed OF bnsalt on this north.
ern side OF the canyon, with abold oscarp.
m0nt TINT seemed to be n hundred feet
high. We could climb 1t and walk along
It's summit to q point where we were
inst at tile head OF the fall. Here the
basalt seemed to be broken down again,
and directed the men TO take line to
tho top Of tho cliff and let the boats down
along the wall. One man remained In
the boat to keep her clear Of the rocks
and prevent her line from being caught
on the projecting angles. l climbed tile
cliff and passed nlong to q point just over
the fall, aud descended by broken rocks,
md found that the break Of the fall was
above the break Of tho wall, so that We
could not land, aud that still below the
river WIS very bad, and thoro was no
possibility of a portage. Without whit
Ing further to examine and determine
what should be done, I lastened back to
the top Of the cliff, TO stop the boats from
coming down. When 1 arrived 1 found
the mon had lot one Of them down to the
head Of tho fall; she was In swift water
and they were not able to pull her back,
nor were they able to go on with tho
line, as it was not long enough to reach
the higher part Of tho cliff which was
inst before them; 30 they took blight
around crilg, and / sent two men back
fer the other line.
The boat was in very swift water, and
Bradley was standing In tho open com.
partmsat holding out his oar to prevent