The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-07-21
INDEPENDENCE DAY AT TWIN LAKES.
HOW the Fat Contributor of tho ~New."
Snant His Fourth OF July
TWIN LAKES, Col, July 4, 1881.

TWIN LAKES, Col, July 4. 1881.
Through the kindness of my friend j.
Fl. Mccarthy, who is a whole host with
in himself, was induced to come
here TO spend the 4th of Ju-new-
years. Twin Lakes is situated at the
base of Twin Mountains, southwest of
Leadville fifteen miles. About half of
the road leads down the Arkansas valley
and is very picturesque, and a smooth
road the other half leads over the foot
hills and is billy and rocky. We were
seated behind flying darter-in fact a
$500 horse. ! demonstrated against the
time we were making over this danger
Gus road, but Mac replied that he had
rather go to hi with gentleman than
to heaven with rogue. subsidized.
From the top of the foot hills the seen
cry is truly grand. at our feet lie the
Twin Lakes. One is two by three miles
in length, and the other and upper one
is two by two and one-half miles. But
for a narrow strip of land (fifty yardsl
they would be united. On their bosoms
they bear dozens of little boats all loaded
with pleasure seekers. Among them
is the beautiful little steamboat Idlewile,
owned and commanded by Captain
Severn, who afterwards invited US to
make voyage of the upper lake, which
we did. She's daisy. She has all the
appointments of a firstclass steamer,
even to the bar. This is said to be the
highest lake in the world navigated by
a steamer, being fully 10000 feet above
sea level. The lakes next to the foot
hills are bordered alternately
with beautiful soded lawns or
hills covered with evergreens
The water is from snow drifts on the
mountains beyond, and is as cool as our
streams are in early spring and as clear
as water can be, and as the sun shines on
the tiny waves, it has silvery and spark
ling appearance. Beyond the lake the
Twin Mountains rise very abruptly from
the waters edge, and are covered with
beautiful pines and cedars and rocky
precipices until they reach the timber
AAAAS q bAAOAAoeAAO AOCS "a AAAOAC AOOVC tuC
lake, where their bald peaks are partial
ly covered with huge snow drifts, the
whole of which is reflected by the lake
like mirror, and presents the finest
picture imaginable, and is worth a trip
around the world to see. Around the
lakes are tents, arboFs and covered wag-
ons filed with parties that came over
here on Saturday or Sunday
A rude platform was provided for dane
ing and covered with evergreens. /
need not tell you that this was in con-
tinuous use, and even shower in the
afternoon did not stop the dancing.
Other tents furnished meals and pro
visions and things that were not pro
visions. A brass band was in atten-
dance and foot and horse race enliyen-
ed the occasion. Aparty of fifteen filled
with the spirit Of -, sang "The Star
SpangIed Banner, J" "Wide Wide River"
"Noah and his Ark "Golden Slippers"
and twenty-seyen other pieces. But for
the miserable mosquitoes the pleasure
would have been unalloyed. Whoever
invented mosquitoes certainly was out
of g job. suppose they meant to show
US that they could aspire to as great q
height as q steamer. A heavy rain
wound up the Fourth of Ju-New-
Years about 8 p. m. CHATHAM.