Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-09-20

the Mesa in South Pueblo. Here I
the bluffs rise to a height of fifty or /
sixty feet above the city, and are
comparatively free from dust and /
convenient to the illimitable plains,
where horseback exercise can be
taken dd Ii6itata, and walking also
in the long, shady avenue of cotton
wood trees running the wholeIength |
of the place. A mile or more
THE MOUNTAIN SCENERY
in view of it is impressively grand.
Looking from the bluffs on the east
side of the town toward the south,
you behold the Spanish Peaks, the
Sierra Blanca, and toward thes south
west the great Bald Mountain in
the Green Horn range. Turning
then toward the northwest, Pixies
Peak looms up in majestic grandeur,
reaching an elevation Of Il, 1886 feet
above thesea. All these mountains
are capped with eternal snow.
CANON CITY.
After spending over two weeks in
Pueblo, we started for Canon (pro-
nounced Canyun) City, which is on
the Arkansas Valley division of the
Denver and Rio Grande railroad,
extending to Pueblo. 1t is only
few miles from
THE GRAND CANON OF ARKANSAS.
1t contains the Colorado State
penitentiary, and is a principal
point from which supplies and out
fits are taken for mining operations.
west and southwest of it. The great
point of interest, however, to all
visitors centers in the Grand Canon,
less than an hours ride from the
city. In one part of it there are
precipitous walls of granite rising
two thousand feet above the surface
of the river, which dashes along al
a velocity of eight to ten miles an
hour. In the construction of the
railroad up this canon, men were
let down by ropes a distance of 49,
900 feet, and blew out from the great
mural barrier space sufficient for
the bed of the road. The work is
not yet completed.
After remaining couple of days
in the city, we left for Leadville in
one of Barlow & Sanderson's six
horse Concord coaches, having
pleasant company with us and fire
. weather before us.
A man who has never Travelled
this route, will have the opportunity
to enjoy to the fullest measure OF
his capacity, the grandest and the
sublimest scenery to be found on
the continent. The ascent into the
mountains fairly begins on leaving
Canon.
THE ROAD WINDS ALONG
: their slopes, and you are brought
into view of magnificent and varied
prospects, one after another, in short
succession. In the approach to
Pleasant Valley, looking toward
: the southwest, the great Sangre dc
Christie range comes into full view
, Here mountain appears to be piled
upon mountain the view, as far as
, the eye can reach, discloses cloud.
,, piercing peaks, and monstrous un.
dulations, broken in groteSque pro,
file-wild and undesirable. There
\ is an
5 INTERESTING TRADITION
2 connected with the name of this
9 mighty range of mountains.
: 1t appears that when Cortez over
7 threw Montezuma and got posses
/; sion of Mexico, he was DESTROYS O
D ascertaining the extent of his do
\ minions, and sent a force under one
e of his cavaliers named Coronado tt
n make explorations. Going toward
t the north he discovered and named
n The Rio Grande del Norte. Cross
|, ing, he explored its northern banl
Y to a considerable distance. Being
f.; delayed in further progress b!
heavy rains, he camped at the foo
of these mountains. When a squad
II of his men went TO water thei
II horses, they found the river RET
!" like blood; and looking toward tn
- mountains, saw the blood-red fuiC
e gushing from its sides-rushinj
Il down its precipitous slopes, am
!, !, leaping in cascades from rock t
rock. Being superstitious, and nov
u awe-stricken, they fell upon thei
knees crying: "Sangre de Christie
Sangre de Christie 7" which trans
- lated means the "The blood {
- Christ the blood of Christ - an
a by this name the great range
still known.
,e PLEASANT VALLEY.
a Turning now from the southwes
r and looking in the opposite direC
lie ton, we are entranced by the beau
a tiful valley. The Arkansas course
lie down its green pastures IN apparer
a. unruffled surface, after its dash an
a. splash from the heights above
re looking in the distance Ikea strear
ID of flowing silYer-its banks studde
b, with cottages, around which al
IS clustered little groves of cottor
is wood, and cattle innumerable graz
re ing on and dotting the verdar
!" sheen throughout the long and dill
al receding vista,
d, Our route was down into this va
ct ley, where we got relay of horses
I'd and then commenced the ascent I
l the mountain again, and reache
X Cleora at O'Clock p. M, sixty-fiV
n miles from Canon, and elevate
i'd about 1000 feet above sea level.