The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-05

much abont what going in Armenia. The latest
that had reached thcrc Is that kars still holds
aud that there immediate prospect OF rs
capture OF course the desire Is general that such
a prize viii soon fall to the army OF tho
which 10 base opuion must wait until reach the
actual seat OF war before giving you war news Even
here Ia riis only rumors prevail. One cannot rely
the mouth to mouth stories that come The
mountains for army ,csmsiers are natural liars. and
the most Insignificant item OF news becomes magni-
ned into .sbg thing when II has made the journey
IRON Alexandropol TO r'lis
OUR LUCK.
There was such a rush OF strangers At valadicaucas
that could procure change OF horses
first made this discovery We were very much dis
couraged, dee med long certainly ono of
We were very lucky Ny ioiiow-traveiler. Mr. w. for.
turately tell in with Russian officer who with
selves could get no place In the diligence. He was
however, able to hire wagon, being AN army man.
and he allowed US TO go with him share
the journey. So We were abs to leave valadicaucas
In the morning after reacniDg there.
II Is only with full knowledge OF the difficulty OF
procuring transportation through the this
particular time that one estimate the luck that
attended getting through Had II not been for
the officer with whom we fell in at Valadicaucas We
might still DO trying curb impaiience OF the
other side OF the mountains. The stations through
the Caucasus full OF people waiting "a cb ancc TO
yet on and tho hotels IN Vaiad are
with travellers who OBTAIN any kind OF convey
ancc. ALI the horses now under the control OF the
government, SO that travelling depends entirely the
ability OF officials to spare teams Tor that purpose as
the army transportation overtsxes their resources
OUR FRIEND, THE CAPTAIN.
the Caucasus except IN the service oi the government
a change OF horses must be procured each of
the twelve stations along the 40 miles road we
reason TO bless the buttons compan on's coat
during the journey. Our military friend a captain
Of cavalry, who comos from ST. Petersburg to JON the
army before Kars He is TO have charge OF siege bat
terry, and will doubtless do good work the cnemys
works with mis- guns at each OF tho post stations he
maze tho attendants give fresh horses and vehicles
but Notwithstanding this our journey interrupted
by delays that counted altogether over eight hours.
This extremely tiresome TO us, but then have
no reason complain when We think OF the upfortu-
mates who had captain OF cavalry to help them
OF trouble.
We started from Valadcaucas at eight O'Clock IN the
morning In what could be called very PORTABLE
convey ance. But then We had three fresh and fiery
horses yoEed abreast to pull up the steep grades
thai u,,nroach the base OF Mount Kasbek AWAY we
went, ut ''dcad run, over u superb roadway that
wound like a light drab ribbon through the green hills
and wooded valleys that lie at the foot OF the great
mountain chain. AS We climbed the mighty slope
Kasbok seemed to be continually changing its shape
and presenting features at every turn OF tho road
The immensely OF the mountain mass before us
dwarfed ever thing else into nsignihcance and hills
thousands OF feet in height looked like littlc
undulations presence OF that majestic peak
That curious optical illusion experienced by tray
Oilers In the Alpine and Rocky Mountain regions
by which the grandeur OF the scale OF the surround
ings seems 10 destroy all estimates OF size and dis
lance, experienced fully. My companion, Mr..
W., from the Yosemite State could not conceal
his enthusiasm when gazing at the glorious picture
The fields became dazzngly brilliant under
The morning sun, and presented respondent con
trast with sombro color OF the woods that
snow line far above u.s. II Kasbck looked beautiful IN
the moonlight such a description would lot do ju tcc
10 his appearance as W pproached HIM toward noon
There are in regions such that we have
passed through which language fails TO describe and
though familiar with the mountains oil the great West
many oil which l have scaled, was never much
impressed by the grandeur ana beauty OF this great
bastion OF the Caucasus
the MILITARY ROAD.
Tho road which passed Is, from all can
learn finest the world. All that the Turks
done in the way Of internal improvements, either
In Asia or Europe, cannot approach In magnitude this
engineering enterprise. 1t was completed about
twelve years ago under the auspices Of the Emperor
Alexander, ana is now and Will continue to be OF
the grundes monuments Of his reign II Is constructed
through what Is known us the Daria Pass. and forms
a very direct lnc between Vnadicaucas and T,h,s II
wide enough tor the passage ut full gaiiop Of two
OF four horses abreast cach aud has roadway
nard marble. THIS width is maintained
even when passing along the edges of the
most stupendous prscipices. thick stone
wall with an ornamental coping extends Tor
fifty or sixty miles along chusms the most dan
gcrous places the Europeans, who love speak Of
Russia as a barbaric nation, could only travel over
this piece OF roadway thor opinions Of
Russians and their engineering would be changed
very much. Iron bridges OF the finest construction
ana strong enough to carry tho heaviest freight
trans span gorgcs and mountain rivers that
the road Long galleries and tunnels pierce the
arIas isr ABOVE At some places .rsmenaous
avalanches descend and block the passes. At these
points tho road is carried under the stone.covered
galleries, which completely protect it from great
land and snow slides.
ALONG THE WAY.
largo Of borers tantly emp1oy cd Keep
ing tins great military highway IN perfect repair
Earth slides are constantly falling, especially IN the
vicinity OF Kasbck, which Is region Of storp and
snow. AT places the roadway RUS clear up TO the
snow line. Yet along It's entire length to be
all the evidences OF orethought OF it's con-
structors in equipping IL for the accommodation OF
travellers and rendering It Safe ut oil Foup-
tans play az Intervals along It's sides Converts chap
els ses and Circassnn villages are to be met
far above the timber line Fine post houses, with
painted sheet iron roofs and modern bay windows
built at intervals OF ten to eighteen miles
Tor the accommodation Of travellers and
their But, with all this precauton,
the utmost III making the journey. Last year
nitytw0 travellers were swept over tho edge OF tho
precipIces and steep slopes OF the roadside. Fortu
nately all escaped wIth more less injuries.
but their horses were dashed to pieces The Russian
horscmen however, thunder over tho road day ana
night military post houses always open and
stables filled WITH horses.
We left the foot OF Mount KasDek at six O'Clock in
the evening and reached the summit OF the road at
midnight We met al various points fully four hun.
dred teams loaded with army supplies, and passed
at terrific speed down one steep grade OF
fully sixteen miles in length In little moro
thrown stone from the point whence
started this headong to the base of the
asleep their loads. With den,oniac yell and lash
OF his whip the faces oil the sleeping teamsters,
our driver urged his horses ut full speed.
Another long climb up tho mountain sides aud
found Ourselves again gradually approaching clouds
AS we dashed IN and out Ok the mist we could catch
glimpscs Of silver ribbon cleaning In the profound
and terrible abyss beneath That silvcry streak
great river, flowing TWO miles directly below
and winding lis 10 the distant Caspian Sea through
the tropical valleys OF Georgia. AT this elevated poiut
u slight accident might have cast down INTO that
chasm OF clouds and darkness Two hours later
ana | was looking upward from the bank
OF the rivor toward the distant and
mendous height where we had been at mid
make DIZZY We were now fairy degccuding into
the plains oil Georgia. route TO fills Four hours OF
hard driving took out Of The foothills into Tho
Oriental villages with their h9 trees rho
odor of fruits and flowers filled the tropical with