Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-06-30

six, broke still and clear, and the moment
the sun rose the air lost its tinge Of frost,
and became like the zephyrs OF Paradise.
We had no time to waste this morning.
neither could our eyes rest upon the
beauties of Manitoa. rs the white snow in
she distance WAS the one object alone Of
all the train commanding our attention.
The horses were ready at the appointed
time, with heavy Oyercoafs fastened be-
hind the saddles, to be used for protection
against Indictment weather. Our lunch
was carefully wrapped in the folds of one
of those garments. Thus was cur prepar-
alton completed. and We only waited for q
few words of guidance from the hOstler,
who said but one man had been able to
reaci. the signal office thus summer, and
he was compelled To make his way through
snow three feet deep for several miles
i1he minister contemplated his straw hat
and white vest-l Then we rode west
ward through Paradise stopping only
once to take hasty drink from the
strengthening cordial Of the Iron Ute;
then on. single file. M the ridges and val
leys and around the siues Of mountains,
; too high to cross directly over; not at q
speedy pace. as the ascent was very steep.
with rocks and roots of trees frequently
obstructing the path. About an hours
ride brought US to place from where wo
could look around and see the most gigan-
tic specimens of loose rocks, some of them
as large as any house in this city, and
nearly as round as ball. They lodged ON
the side of the hill, and looked As if a gem
tie push from the hand of q giant would
send them rolling down. l stopped to
give one of them ''send of, but Just
then the minister came up. and. in the in
terest of humanity. begged me to desist,
saying that the mountain rock would
never stop this side of Manitou, and that
the blood of the many editors now Ioung-
ing about the springs would be spilled.
The suggestion was lust ~ time. A few
miles further we crossed the first stream,
and the temperature of ths water indicat-
ed snow at no great distance. Another
mile or two, and another large stream was
reached. Ut might be well to state here
that no person had been up this road since
last summer.l This stream reminded us
Of Bunyun's slough of despond. One of
the horses cautiously placed his fore feet
into the bed of the stream. He balanced
himself on his launches and pushed his
feelers into the quicksand to measure Its
depth. 1t was too dcep-abOve the knees.
He shook his head, and drew back in dis
gust An effort was made to lead him
across, but touch that quicksand again he
would not We finally went back down
the stream to seek another crossing. and
were successful; but, after crossing, such
n breastwork Of fallen trees lay between
US and the path that we were completely
fenced in. and had to retrace our steps to
tine other bank. An hour of precious time
was spent in VAIN search for some access
through this difficulty. Finally l crossed
on foot and went up the path to where Mr..
Wright, in his explorations. had spied an
old log house. I'VE afterwards learned
this TO be the halfway house. Il was
not inhabited. and over the stream run
ming in front of the door was a piece of
sidewalk. This sidewalk was Immediately
appropriated. and carried down TO the
crossing. With the aid of the sidewalk we
made a pontoon bridge. and marched over
IN triumph. and hurried on TO rake mp for
lost time. The path now lay through a
Lonesome, rocky road, with caves and
luugies. reminding us OF wild animals.
The subject for discussion was " how 50
kill bear By physical strength. for
weapons We had Bone. Decision--stufi an
overcoat in his mouth. soa then tear his |
jaws apart without mercy.
The br-ezes began to feel cooler. as il |
swept down from the snow On the peak. |
seemingly but few yards distant, al