Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-02
THE GRAND CANON.
A TRAIN or CARS PASSES THROUGH
THE GREAT GORGE FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
Thrilling Adventure in Climbing the
Canon Walls.
Denver lColondol Tribune.

Denver (Coloado) Tribune.
On the eth instant the AtChisOn, To-
peka and Santa Fe Railway Company
made the passage of the Grand Canon
of the Arkansas with train of cars con-
tanning two hundred persons. 1t was
the crown OF the most stupenduOus
achievement in railway engineering. The
Grand Canon of the Arkansas is now
known to nine miles in length, being
the narrow winding way OF that river
through converse paliside OF granite
rock, rising in many places to the
height of 5000 feet. This rock-bound
river pathway became known TO the
Spanish missionaries as early as the
wear 1912. From that time it was not
known that any animal life had ever
passed through it successfully until the
summer of 1870. The long passenger
train that accompanied us through this
mountain garge was preceded by q
number of open platform cars, securely
guarded by a balustrade of railing, and
provided with comfortable seats. Here
the passengers assembled, and being
either seated or standing, silently gazed
the grandeur of the scene, above, around
and beneath them. As the train wound
slowly into the entrance of this noun
tain gorge the whistle gave its widest
scream, which, echoed through the
windings Of this Causeway, mlngllng ITS
distant, softer murmurs with the roar OF
the passing swift Arkansas. lmmedl-
atelv upon entering the canon a chilly
sensation seemed to creep over each
passenger, while a yellOwish hue APP
peared to impart its COlOrlng TO sur
rounding objects. The waters OF the
Arkansas at once become confined to
width of forty feet, which 1t retains Tor
the distance OF four miles. AT the end
of this reach the Royal Gorge COM
mences its granite palisade on either
side, rising out of the river with con-
yex formation and towering TO the
height of 300 feet. He who looks
upon this scene and then upon Mag
ara's height OF 100 feet, will be inclined
% regard his view OF the latter as tenn
pOrarv, shOwer-made stream, to turn
the water-wheel of the SchOol-bOy.
Everywhere though the Royal Gorge
tine palisades on either side TO q width
of from sixteen to thirty feet. Many
places may be seen where a supple
acrobat could leap the roaring waters OF
the river at a single bound. Along the
convex palisode that forms the north
ern boundary of the gorge, and about
ten feet above the boiling waters, the
engineer for miles has carved a pathway
for the iron horse, where solitude has
reighed for countless ages undisturbed
by the sound of human art
CHARLES STORY.
Accompanying our party was Charles
Nav, who told US OF an adventure he
once had here. He and his brother
Robert in the spring OF 1870 offered to
pass 10000 railroad ties down the Ar
kansas from the mountain source. lie
saws: "Our offer was accepted, when
we started into the upper entrance OF
the canon with a large skiH provided
with six DAVIS provisions and two hun
bred feet of rope, with which, by taking
a running turn around some hrmiy
planted object, We could lower our boat
a hundred feet at time. In this way,
al the end OF three days, having set
adrift many hundred ties, We Raced the
entrance to the Royal Gorge. Here we
ditcovered that an attempt TO descend
the first waterfall with two IN the boat
was certain destruction, and to return
WAS impossible. Accordingly deter
mined 10 lower my brother down the
fall I'm the boat, a distance OF two hun
drcd feet, give him the rope and let him
take the chance of the canon life seem
ell more certain in that direCtionl while
I would risd my physical ability to
climb the can on wall, which was about
two thousand feet high. About ten
o'clock i'm the morning l shook hands
with my brother, lowered him IN the
boal safely 10 the foot OF the tall, gave
him the rope and saw him ma more.
Then throwing aside my coat, hat ana
boots, and strippind the socks from my
feet, I commenced my climbing way,
often reaching the helghtht oil one or
two hundred feet, only 20 be compelled
10 return 10 try some other way. ~
length. about four o'clock in the alter
noon. | reached a height upon the
smooth canon wall of about thousand
feet. Here my further progress was ar
rested bv a shelving ledge of rock that
iutted out from the canon side loot or
more. To advance was without hope
to return. certain death Reaching up
y9rl and outward | graSped the rim OF
the ledge with one hand and then with
the other, my feet slipped from the
smooth side Of the canon and my body
hung suspended in the air, thousand
feet abOue the roaring waters OF the
Arkansas. At that moment i look
downward 10 measure the distance l
would have To fall when the strength OF
nv arms gave out. y Singing SenSa-
ton crept through my hair rs my, eve
caught the strong root OF cedar push
That projected over the ledge-a little
beyond my reach. My grasp upon the
rim Of the ledge was fast yielding TO the
weight of my person. Then | determln-
cl to make my best effort to raise my
bodv and throw it sideways towards the
root 50 rs 10 bring 1t within my grasp.
At the moment OF commencing the
effort saw my mothers face rs she
leaned out over the ledge, reached down
her hand and caught me bv the hair.
/ Stranger, my mother died while yet
voung woman, when | and my brother
/ we're vet small boys, but l remember
/ her face. | was successful IN making
| the side leap of my arms when l. drew
mvseli upon the ledge and rested LOT a
time From here upward my climbing
way was laborious, but less dangerous.
/ | reached the top OF the canon Just as
/ the sun was sinking down below the
| snowy range. and fastened to our camp
/ AZ the mouth of the canon, where l
| found nv brother all safe. Charley
/ said he have YOU had your head IN a
/ gHTr sacI9' II was then | discovered