The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-21
THE HAYDEN SURVEY.

PIXIES PEAK-A VISIT 10 THE GARDEN OF
THE GODS.
CANYON CITY, June Il, 1875.
one morning previous 10 arriving at Colorado
Springs we arose at i've O'Clock and found the
vino blowing hurricane We were encamped
on the divide between cherry Creek and Plum
Creek, at an elevation of some 1900 feet. and as
we sat down to breakfast eacn man was obliged
10 grasp ms tin plate In one nard to prevail upon
1t 10 remain at the table, and with the other be
ready to rescue any stray culinary article as IL
arose Ia the air. THIS was, in reality, eating
meal under great difficulties. The ordeal of break
fasting being passed through safely however
gave p ace to OF still greater diffculty. To
pack In such a wind was almost an lmpossiollity.
AS We took our tents down the wind caught up
every loose object which was exposed to its
mercy, and hats, towels, papers and blankets
danced across the country lndlscuminately. To
saddle the mules it required two men-one to
hoG tue blanket wnlle the other adjusted the
saddle.
Our route lay to the south, across the plateau,
and, getting an unusually early start, we travelled
steadily until late In The afternoon. Three miles
an hour is the average rate OF loaded mule tram
and twenty miles q dav fair average distance,
but, vefything being favorable. we accomplished
a Journey OF twenty miles, making our
camp IN the vicinity Of q sawmuL Meeting man
who lived in the neighborhood we asked him the
distance to this mil ana were informed that Is
was Just TWO miles. After travelling on for
nearly an hour we stopped at log hut which we
passed, and, inqutring OF woman the distance,
were informed II was Just four miles. This intel
lIgenoc was truly dlsheartening. for we were all
weary anu hungry and the sun beat down and
was ref cited up from the not sand until we
could scarcely see to guide our animals. Four
miles, however, was not far, and we beguHed
the time by picturing to our hungry
stomachs the savory viands which would soon be
steamIng on supper table, and as we rode
hopefully forward another Cooradoan crossed our
path. 10 our casual inquiry regarding our desti-
nation the man told Us IL was scarcely SIX miles,
all err wnicn he barely escaped with his life. Here
we were steadily approaching DESIGNATED point
az tue rate Of three miles an hour, and as we ad-
yanced the distance increased IN an arlthmetical
progression. But dsappoiutments cannot con-
tinue forever and late n the afternoon we erected
or tents o. the side OF tue mill. We were still IN
the confines OF civilization, although the latter
was gradually thinning out. In going 10 bed we
witnessed a very range phenomenon. The
siues oltne tent were charged win electricity and
in accidentally striking the canvas with the
kouckles a severe sh OK vas communicated 10
tie system. THIS was repeated several times. ana
i ~ each repetition an electric spark and accom-
panyng snap were obtained
FIKE's PEAK.
pixies Peak rose grandly in the distance 10 our
right, and lor three days, we approached IL, we
could Distinguish perceDtiDle dlmInution IN It's
distance from rs. although II never seemed more
than a mile away. on the 10th day OF June We
passed through the town or Colorado Springs and
we're surprised 70 discover that there were no
springs in lis vicinity, Its name had lei
to suppose. rive miles from here, however, a. the
loot Of Pixies PEAK, s situated the village OF Mani
ton, at when place numerous medicinal springs
bubble up rom The rocks. These contain IN solu-
ton soda ana IRON. with smaller quantities Or
other minerals. and are rapidly becoming
popular and fashionable resorts. The town
or colorado Springs Is situated On the
Denver and rio Grande Railroad, seventy
SIX miles south or Denver ana forty-two
north OF Pueblo. The nrst stake was driven about
July, 1871 on the SIZE or the springs, and since
that time beautiful and rapidly increasing town
has spruag ~, whose population to-day Is N the
ncighnornood 81 $500. Pixies Peak, one OF the
gr4udest mountains of the range, Is estimated AZ
I42lG ieel above sea level. and on rs very sum
nit there i 4 United states signal station AMI
observatory, which WIS established In the frst
rart or Eove nber, ISIS. Here i a stone building
waich Is occupied during the whole year, being
the xnest naDitati0n On the continent trait
rms RON the bottom to the summit or the peak
ana tourists can make tue entire ascent on
horseback. A. the foot 81 the peak lies
Monument PARK, which abounds IN gigantic
monuments towers and s.atue-liKe formations Or
wmte sandstone. Near this Park u the Garden
ofthe Gods, which sOounds m immense rocks o.
red sandstone. The so-caled gateway i formed
or lofty walls Of this rocs, through which the road
passes into the Garden.
Leaving Colorado spring. our road took "a
through and over the "hog-bacKs, which form
the foothills At the base or the range. The way
lar through q canyon In the red sandstone which,
on either side, assumed fantastic shapes and con
stantly surprised rs BY their resemblance to ami
mate OBJECTS. In gazing up the sides OF the "a.
vine which rose for hundreds Of feet. one could
scarcely realize that he was Standing al
an elevation Of over 1900 feet, but
r4taer that u was a low, depressed
valley through which he was passing. As We
penetrated farther and farther into the neart Of
tie hills the way became narrower and more In.
tncatc. In some places the road c0ursed the dry
bed o. mountain torrent and the perpendicular
rocks rose scarcely eight feet apart. strange AMI
mails aud new plants 10 ID greeted every
side. The horned toad and prairie Lizard gided
across our path. The large crimson flowers Or the
globe cactus boomed among the rocks. and A.
every step unknown trees and plants came INTO
view 4 was a Wild, picturesque country, made
barren 10 many places Dy tue sediment and sand
formed by the wearing away or the rocks. and Tor
miles the red dusl lay SIX inches deep Ia tue tran.
BEAVER CnFFKs
We camped on Beaver creek. northern tribu-
fary az the Arkansas. While rambling among
tue rocks one or the parry picked up fragment
Of Indian pottery, which bore the appearance
of great age. Il was about TOUR by three inches
In dimensions. made, 81 coarse, sandy CLAY,
red on the outside and burnt black inside.
Tnere Is reason % suppose that, had We mad tlmc
TO make a more thorough search farther up
among the crevices, we might have made some
interesting discoveries but from this single piece
we could determine notniRg satisfactorily
A CHARMING SPOT ron A TOWN.
On leaving Beaver creek orr road led % due
west fur nearly eighteen miles. u took MS
Il through a beautiful, level PARK, which extended