The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-23

we arrived about noon This is very pretty |
place. situated on "A level plain, but the Springs
is msnomer, as there are no springs here' ana
probably never will be. We found conVeyances
waiting to take us to Manitou Springs, about 4
miles from here, but took clrcuitous route,
going through Glen Eyre and the Garden OF the
Gods. The roadway from the Springs to Glen
Eyrie lies along the western slope OF the Hog |
backn A low. level hill, and then passes over its |
summit There is point on the summit of this
hill called Kalarama, from the beautiful view it
affords, and here you obtain q foretaste OF the
scene beyond. Below US here winds spark
ling stream-ribbonlike so far is it down-and
frlnged with cottonwood and alders far to the |
south. This valley is as delightful a one as man
ever looked upon for picturesque simplicity
There are massive mountains to the west OF us,
while between them and the elevation upon
which we stand are the high piles of red aud
white sandstone which rise SO strangely and
form such grptcsque figures in the Garden of the
Gods. Our journey takes us to the right, down
a steep roadway, across the brook, through the
thick chapparal of bushes and vines, which form
an archway here and there, over rustic bridge,
and suddenly to q rustic cottage, the porters
lodge to This vast estate inside. Around an alb
rupt projection Of rock we pass, which resolves
itself into an impregnable wall as we pass along.
We urn and view this natural fortress. Jul
feet above us, In a crevice of the rock, may be
seen the deserted eyries of the eagles, from
which this spot is named. mile away from lis,
perhaps, there stands mass of red sandstone,
called the Organ Rock, which seems only wait
IN for IF he m
and touch its keys Beyond this is pile of
white sandstone, carved by the winds ana rams
into so many shapes, that it looks to the casual
beholder like some feudal castle, trauspanted
by magic to this quiet recess Of the Rocky
Mountains, The road we are travelling winds
and twists amongst the shattered rocks that lie
scattered about the ground, and every turn
brings fresh Surprise and adds new Beauties to
the scene Wherever we turn we find confront
ing US sandstone rocks Of fantastic shapes aud
pleasing colors, "from brightest verreliion,
through orange and yellow, to almost dazzling
white; planted by nature with pi1so, douglasli,
sbfucr and cedar, all presenting, in its romantic
beauty, scene scarcely TO be surpassed. We
ride on and up the roaa%Sv until the browning
surprise of the Journey -.ects our view-a beau
tiful house perched upon the rocks, and from
which a commanding view OF the whole valley
or glen, may be obtained. We find many other
points with great attractions by going up
Queens Cauon,-an entlclng opening into tho
mountains,-and visiting the Devils Punch
Bowl, and the succession of falls each one OF
which might be taken for maids bath, This
IS typical mountaiB gorge: many are larger
Il tl,n+t al cttc
out of TIE glen, on the north side OF the brook
gives us new views fully as charming as those on
entering. We pass needles OF sandstone standing
near two hundred feet in the air and leaning
like the tower of Pisa. Another glance is had al
the eagles nest, and we pass over the bridgc, OH
our way to the Garden of the Gods, and are soon
in sight of the masses of sandstone white and
red some rising to great height and all DIP
ping more or less to the west. They are scatter
ed in picturesque confusion.
The chief point Of attraction is the Beautiful
Gate that opens Into the Gardens proper, anc
through which is seen one of the most maSnitE
cent sights man ever beheld. The opening Is
perhaps fifty feet in width; on either side stant
huge piles of sandstone, rising over three hun
dred feet in the center of the gateway, pilla
thirty feet in height, and away beyond, miles
away, stately Pixies Peak, with here and there 1
bank of snow on its cold, gray sides.
The Garden consists of tract OF land OF lit
tie less than five hundred acres in extent, penn
ed in by mountains on the west and north, Dor
dered by ravines on the south, and old red sant
stone rocks on the east, which shut it entirei,
out from the plains. Vegetation is slight til
bo;, dot Tod barn nd only
pinon and pine trees, and the grasses scarce, eX
cep: in the low valleys near water courses.
The tradition of these rocks is interesting. l
is that this was once the abode of Jupiter,-h
who from high Olympus flung the bolts of hi
wrath down upon the world; that, before hi
exploits and conquests in the Grecan archipcll
90, he lived aud ruled in This beautiful Garden
that here the forces of the Gods met in battl
array, and, hurting these rocks at each othc
caused them to- assume their novel shapes
These familiar with the locality Will take you
Jumpers cave, and also to the great hollow
the rocks where, the story goes, the beautif'
Venus was wont to perform her matutinal al
lutions.'
After leaving the Garden We drove at once
the Manitou House, where we found Mai. Hol
kins waiting to receive us, wIth goou dihh'
on the table. After dinner the party scattere
Tom Bradwell starting for Pixies Peak, Nj
Haskell and some Others to Cameron's Cav
Others to the Ute Pass, and testing the waters
the soda and iron springs. The air was cool an
delightful, and all felt inyigorated when they r
turned in the evening, which was spent by Il
ladies rolling ten-pins, and winding up with
hon at the Maritou House.
On Wednesday morning most of the party Vi
tied Cheyenne Canon, abou; II miles from Il
springs, returning to Colorado Springs about
o'clock in the afternoon, and taking the Denv
* Rio Grande railroad for Canon City, whe
they arrived about o'clock in the evening, al
were comfortably quartered in the SandcrsC
House.
Thursday morning we took conYcyanccs T