The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-05-12
The Royal Gorge In Colorado.

Grand as is the view of this remark
able canon when seen from the window
OF the rushing train, its power of inspir-
ing awe can best be tested by the tour
ist, contented to make his way thither
on horseback or in the ''schooners OF
the prairie" In approaching the gorge
it is observed that the pinion growth is
rank and dense; just beyond. great bleak
ridges of bare, cold rock contrast
strongly with the profusion of foliage
hiding everything beneath from sight,
while away in the dim distance the
snow-crowned peaks of the continental
divide are outlined sharp and clear
against the solid blue ofthe morning sky.
II the tourist is impetuous, his ardor
will be checked by the guide, for
after leaving wagon or horse a few steps
will bring him to the edge of the preci-
pice. Shuddering, he will peer down
the awful slopes; fascinated, he will
steal little nearerIto circumvent a very
mountain that has rolled into the chasm,
and at last the eye reaches down tn
sharp incline 5000 feet to the bed of the
river, the impetuoua Arkansas, forty to
sixty feet in width, yet to him mere
ribbon of molten silver. Though surg
ing madly against its rocky sides, leap
ing wildly over gigantic masses Of rock,
and hoarsely murmuring against it's
prison bars, nothing is heard of its fury.
The solemn stiffness of death pervades
the scene; the waters as viewed are as if
polished, and as stationary as the mighty
walls that look down on them from such
fearful height.
If the first experience upon the brink
of the Grand Canon was startling, that
of the Royal Gorge is absolutely terTify-
ing, and the bravest at the one point
become most abject of towards in COM
parison at the other. At the first point
of observation, the walls, though fright
fully steep, are nevertheless sloping to
more or less extent; here ut the Royal
Gorge they are sheer precipices, rs per-
pendicular as the ta,lest house, as
straight as if built by line. So narrow
is the gorge that one would think the
throwing Of stone from side to side the
easiest of accomplishments, yet no liv-
ing man has ever done it, or succeeded
in throwing any object so that 1t would
fall into the water below. Many tour
lists are content with the appalling view
from the main walls. hut other smore
venturesome work. their way 600 to
1000 feet down the ragged edges of a
mountain that has parted and actually
slid into the chasm. The gorge 8 zoos
feet sheer depth, and most precipitous
and sublime in it's proportions OF any
chasm on the continent.
Among all the thousands who have
visited the Grand Canon and the Royal
Gorge, harm has befallen none, for,
despite the seeming horror OF the situa,
ton, the appalling, depths and rugged
paths, the fascination Of the drrger ap-
pears to give birth to greatest caution.
The canon, except in the dead of winter,
is approached only from the top, the
walls below being so PERCEPTIONS and
the river such torrent as to defy all
access. When frozen, as the waters are
for brief periods during tie coldest
months. the way up the canon may be
accomplished, but only at the risk of
personal comfort and not little dan