The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-18
PIXIES PEAK.

COLORADO SPRINGS, July ~, 40.
went up to the Government Signal
Station on Pixies Peak the other day.
Looking west from the window where L
write, the Peak seems to be within the
range of Rodman Rife. 1t is "a shining
mark" such as Rihemen and Death love
to aim at, 1t shoots up into the sky IA, 1856
feet: SO high that the drifting summer
clouds almost daily drop down below itS
summit and seem to pay obeisance to it.
1t wears a perpetual cap of snow, more
brilliant and dazzling 10 the bright sunshine
of this climate, than the well-starched cap
which my grandmother wore. 1t reaches
5000 feet above the timber line and Its
barren sides are grooved and furrowed like
the marks of Time down the rugged face
of Dr. Gregg.
To the lett, the nearest neIghbor OF this
Monarch of the Mountains Is Cameron
Cone; to the right, the Snowy Range
stretches away into indefinite distance; to
the point, as the eye descends from the
sides. it strikes the timDer-line with its
scraggy pines and aspens, down over sunny
slopes of pasture and underbrush, down
over the foot hills, through the "Garden
of the Gods!" Across the luxuriant val
ley of the Fountain Greek. until it rests
amid the cosy houses and shady streets of
this most lovely little city.
The atmosphere is very deceptive out
here-as deceptive as the bottom Of a
beer mug. Distances and directions are
not what they seem. | am told of a tour
lat who aimed at an antelope, browsing
near the foot hills opposite this city, aDC
came near killing bis neighbours dog some
where back in Iowa. While the Peal
seems to be within easy Rodman Rife
range, am told it is ten miles distant il
an air line. and k,noto it is Is miles and
hours riding distant by the government
trail
TRANSPORTATION.
The best, and easiest, and cheapest, AM
funniest transportation to the Peak is b.
Marsh & Brent's "Burro" train. Marsh
Yankee, Brent is an EngIishman and tn
Burro is Spaniard He came over wit
Pizarro in 1923 and located 10 Mexicc
No death has ever occurred iu his tamil
aud being OF a prolific temperament hi
progeny has greatly multiplied and eX
tended up into Colorado. The BurrO
10 many respects peculiar animal. ID
consists chiefly or pair OF ears sttache
10 slight body aud set on four legs aboU
the length of John Zeigler's pipe stem
His color is something between drs
and brown and his entire outfit weigh
from 800 to 400 pounds. lie is not
handsome animal but is exceedingl
strong, easily carrying burdens as big +;
himself up and down the most precipitor
mountain passes. His voice is similar
that Of mule, though more penetratiu
and pitched in higher key. He love
nature 10 her widest forms. MoliL
avenue or the Milan road would not d.
light him half so much as some breakneC
mountain trail, over whose most deviot
and precinitous points he carries his pa
senger with equal safety and uDcOncer
He turns up his nose at oats or corn al
gathers an honest but independent IlvlI
from wild heritage which would starve a
average family of grasshO2pers Hene
needs any mustang IMMINENT, or gargI
oil. aud ii he ever gets tired all he neeC
to timber him up is chance TO roll.
Occasionally a boulder breaks avn
from its ancient moorings and comes cras
iug down the steep mountain sides again
the .diaphraghm of Burro; but Il
boulder always gets the worst OF the c.
tislon aud never saves a piece big enoul
10 try the trick over.
The Burro has a countenauce as plaC
as u preachers, He has an air OF resign
ton that would become saint An G
preston of docility and childlke innocen
plays over his features and gives his rid
undue confidence. His disposition
characterized by great tirmuess He do
''slop over" nor change his course,
quit nor speed. Bride aud whip
equally useless He is never guided
the former nor moved by the latter
supply follows the narrow and Shift
trail according to his OVID Judgment; SAT
aud patiently carries his human burC
where wiser feet might slip and trip l
hurl their precious cargo into dep
whence resurrection would be impossll
THE PARTY.
There we're twelve buns. and ten .
sengers, including our guide, Mr.. Bre
The two extra buns travelled ahead
carried tent, blankets and provender,
give you an idea OF the distance men &C
to this resort, | will mention the nal
and residence OF our party; j. A.Stratt
was captain 10 the army and had
right eye shot out during the Penins
campaign; DR.. Fl. X. Brown: was
surgeon in the army; both of Leomins
Mass; Hugh M. Herbert, a deaf NUT
Colorado Springs, speech is silly
silence is golden" Jas. A. Wilson, a t
graph operator from Monongahela PEI
A. w. Sleeper. merchant from Mt He
DIR, j. w. +. Birch, Jr., bankers c
from ST. Louis; Geo. w. Logan Int
agents clerk, Homer Neb. JAS. s. Will
machinist, from Wabash, Ind.
myself, kock Island Ills., Only tw
the nine were from the same state; b
wish to mention. Tor the benefit of
Phmmer and other Mud Heads
Rock Island, that three of uS-the ft