The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-07-01
MisfeAa,'n
THE GRAND CANON OF COLORADO,
First Passage of n Train Of Cars
Through the Great Gorge;
Thrilling Adventure in Climbing
the Canon Walls.
(Denver (Col.) Times.

denver (Col) Times.
On the 7th inst, the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railway Company made
the passage of the Grand Canon of the
Arkansas with train of cars containing
200 persons. 1t was de crown of the
most stupendous achievement in railway
engineering. The Grand Canon of the
Arkansas is now known TO be 8 miles in
length, being the narrow winding way Of
that river through converse pallisade
of granite rock, rising in many places to
the height of 1900 feet. This rockbound
river pathway became known to the
Spanish missionaries as early as the year
1642. From that time it was not known
that any animal life had ever passed
through it success sfuily until the summer
of 1870. The long passenger train that
accompanied US through this mountain
gorge was preceded by a number OF
open platform cars, securely guarded by
a balustrade OF railing, and provided
with comfortable seats. Here the pas
sengers assembled, and being either seat
ed or standing, silently gszed upon the
grandeur OF the scene above, around and
beneath them. As the train wound slow
ly into the entrance of this mountain
gorge the whistle gave its scream, which
echoed through the windings of this
caaseway, mingling its distant, softer
murmurs with the roar of the passing
swift Arkansas. Immediately upon en-.
tering the canon chilly sensation SEEM
ed to creep over each passenger, while q
yellowish hue seemed to impart its col.
oring to surrounding objects. The wa.
ters of the Arkansas at once became con.
fined to width OF forty feet, which il
retains for the distance OF four miles.
At the end of this reach the Roya
Gorge commences its granite palisadt
on either side, rising out of the rivel
with convex formation and to vering to
the height of $500 feet He who look!
upon this scene and then upon Niagara
height OF 160 feet will be inclined to re
gard his view Of the latter temporary
shower made stream, TO turn the watel
wheel of the school boy. Everywher,
through the Royal Gorge the palisade
on either side have narro wed the psthwa,
of the river t, width OF from sixteel
to Thirty feet. Many places may be seel
where supple acrobate could leap thu
roaring waters of the river at a sipgl
bound Along the convex palisades tha
forms the northern boundary of the gorg
and about ten feet above the boiling wa
ters, the engineer for miles has carved
pathway tor the iron horse, where soil
tude has reigned for countless ages un
disturbed by the sound OF human art.
CHARLES STORY.
Accompanying our party was Charlie
May, who told us of an adventure b.
once had here. He and bis brother Rob
elt in the spring of 1870 offered to pas
&C, 600 railroad ties down the Arkansa
from the mountain source He says
Our offer was accepted, when we started
into the upper entrance of the cannon
with large skiff provided with six days
provisions and two hundred feet of rope,
with which, by taking running turr
around some firmly planted object. VI
could lower our boat hundred feet at I
time. In this way, at the end of thre,
days, having set adrift many hundred tiel
we reached the entrance Of the Roya
Gorge. Here we discovered that an at
tempt to descend the first waterfall with
two in the boat was certain destruction
and to return was impossible. Accord
ingly determined to lower my brother
down the fall in the boat, distance o
two hundred feet, give him the rope snd
let him take the chance of the canon { life
seemed more certain in that direction
while / would risk my physical ability to
climb the canon wall, which was ahou,
two thousand feet high. About ter
o'clock in the morning shook hands
with my brother, lowered him in the boal
safely to the foot of the fall, gave him
the rope and saw him no more. Then
throwing aside my coat, hat and boot,
and stripping the socks from my feet,
commenced my climbing way, otter
reaching the height of one or two hun.
dred feet, only to be compelled to return
to try some other way. At length, ,abou,
four o'clock in the afternoon, reached 9
height upon the smooth canon wall ol
about thousand feet.
Here my further progress was arrested
by shelving ledge of rock that jutted
out from the canon side foot or more
To advance was without hope; to return
certain death. Reaching upward an6
outward grasped the rim of the ledge
with one hand and then with the other
my feet slipped from the smooth side o.
the cannon and my body hung suspen
ded in the air, thousand feet above the
roaring waters of the Arkansas. A
that moment / looked downward to
measure the distance I would have te
fall when the strength of my arms gave
out. A singing sensation crept through
my hair as my eye caught the strong
root of cedar bush that pi piojected ovel
the ledge-a little beyond my reach
My grasp upon the rim of the ledge wat
fast yielding to the weight of my person
Then / determined to make my best eff
fort to raise my body and throw it side
ways toward the root so as to bring i
within my grasp. At the moment o
commencing the effort saw my moth
er's face as she leaned out over th,
ledge. reached down her hand and caugh
me by the hair. Stranger, my mothe
died while yet young woman, when
and my brother were yet small boys, bu
I remember her face. was successful
in making the side leap Of my arm
when l drew myself upon the ledge ant
rested for time. From here upwar'
my climbing way was laborious, but les
dangerous / reached the top of th
Damon i,,ot "a tho ann MOO cinkin0 do NJ,