The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-28
DIR LETTER FROM ITALY.
gotcs Of a Forty -One Mile Walk on the 1T.
Gotthard,s Pass Biasca Voyage by
Steamer Down the Lingo Maggiore-Arona
md Milnn-Observations of n New Or
lcanian Abroad.
European Correspondence Of the BuIIetin.l

Dear BoIetta-If it were not matter 0
principle with me to record the events
each day when we stop that night, shoui'
certainly postpone any mention of this day
adventure until subsequent occasion, when
instead of being literally half dead will
fatigue, | should feel only moderately tired
limb and com paratiyely fresh az regards
mental vigor; but no, we have redeemed our
selves from the self-cast imputation OF not
being "good walkers" according to Bar
decker's ideas on the subject and if L fall
asleep writing, the public shall be made aware
of the fact, without further loss of time, that
the quartette of whom | am the recorder
Jones, Brown, Smith and Robinson-as
we call ourselves, have this day performed a
walk of forty-one and three-fourths measured
miles and are alive to tell the tale; nay, that
we have even the energy left, after imblblng
more or less hot punch all round, to quarrel
with the waiter in bad Italian because ne
wants to stint us in the matter OF bath-tuos
and water for the fellow has evidently very
imperfect conception Of what four Christian
white men could want with such convenIences
after tramping fourteen hours over post
road. We left Andermatt at $50 this morn
ing, and in two hours and halt had passed
the eliminating point of the pass, more than
6OOO feet above the level of the sea, and in an
other hour and half had reached Airolo, the
little italian perditon of village at which the
southern opening of the great st. Gotthard
tunnel is situated, and from there onward the
descent is SO gradual that one feels as if walk
ing on level ground.
But up to Airolo the descent is 80 steep that
the road winds about like a corkscrew; in
fact, no one who has never it seen can form an
adequate idea of how crooked that road 49,
The tunnel opens upon less rugged scene
toward the south than where we saw it yes
terday at Goeshenen. This, when completed,
will throw the tunnel of Mt. Gents quite in
the shade, for this st. Gotthard affair is to be
more than nine miles long. Its completion is
anticipated for the year 1880. From Airolo
to Faido, eighteen miles further on our walk
was rather monotcnous.
The road is exceedingly fine, and we went
Mt a swinging gait that put the kilometer
stones behind US in hurry; but the air was
fine and bracing, and We felt proud to find
ourselves getting along SO famously, and 30
we kept up the same rate of speed without
tagging, only.stopping an hour in the middle
of the day to eat dinner and rest little, after
which we pushed on SO vigorously, that at
3:15 2. NJ, we reached Faido. the twenty
eight and half mile town, at which we had
planned to stop all night, but we were SO
much pleased with ourselves, and felt in such
high spirits, that it was unanimously agreed
to push straight on to the railway terminus,
Biasca, twelve and half miles further.
That was q mistake, very, very iDjudicious
move on the part of the quartette, and before
we had gone five miles further we began to
find it out Animal spirits and enthusiasm
are all very well, but they can't put sufficient
force into faded muscles that have been kept
on steady strain for thirty miles, to make
them hold out four leagues further without
fatigue The kilometer stones now began to
come more slowly, and after often concluding
we must have passed one without seeing it, it
would turn up when we were beginning to
look out for the next one. AS is usually the
case, as our fatigue became more and more
intense we grew less companionable, and
those who were strongest began to get far
ahead of their less vigorous friends. Thus
Brown soon left the other three of us out of
sight, and we began to abuse him for his
foolish desire "to show off.
When we reached village thirty-nine
miles from Andermatt, and, of course, two
and three-quarter miles from Basca toward
which we were striving, Smith and Robinson
gave ont completely, and said they could not
walk a step further to save their lives.
Smith, who had on tight boots, sank upon a
stone bench near a little inn, and said he did
not care what became of him; he was fairly
sick. Robinson and went in and discoursed
the people Of the inn relative to the hire of a
conveyance to Biasca, and as soon as the ne
gotiation was completed l left them to wait
for the buggy to be hitched up, and feeling
still strong enough for the undertaking, and
determined at least not to be outdone by
Brown, | babe them adieu and started on to
oyerstake the latter, who must by this time
have been a long distance ahead.
At last found him lying on the grass in a
fence corner waiting, and having explained to
him the circu5 Instances of our friends delay,
we trudged on, expecting to have them over
take US. But We had been at Biasoa some
time when they at last drew up, feeling much
better, and iravenous for something to eat 1t
may be we'll imagined how well satisfied
Brown and I felt with ourselves, but We did
not exult over our less successful friends, for,
in very truth, we felt so jaded and dilapidated
that there was no spirit of exultation in us.
BY happy inspiration Smith said he was de-
termined on having hot punch, and though
we are all opposed on principle to ardent
spirits" the idea seemed so excellent, that
hot punch was ordered for four.