Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-11-10

=
Former Citizen---A Storm In the
Rockies---"Big Alice" as Chairman of q
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Now in Order /"
Correspondence of the Ledger
OPHIR, COLORADO, October 3d.
So much has been written by cores
pondents describing in glowing terms
the beautiful landscape, magnificent
scenery and the Italian-like skies of
this ''far away" country, and having
lately witnessed the counter view of
the picture, I set myself down in my
cabin this Sunday morning (my mind
filled with thoughts of home and
friends far away and endeavor to
give you faint idea of a
''sToRM IN THE ROCKIES
Imagine yourself standing about the
centre of beautiful park or valley,
walled in on the North, South and
! East by lofty mountains towering
1900 feet in altitude. Looking west
ward, "Sunshine' mountain stands
in the gap like a wary sentinel. barring
your view of the land of ssThe Saints
on (Utah) some 200 miles distant.
Eastward, looking up the range you
see the newly-inade wagon road,
winding its serpentine course toward
the gap through which it disappears
on its course to Silverton. The
beautiful "Italian skies," so often
quoted, have been in attendance for
the past month orsso, and by their
presence, have lulled you into repose
and fancied security against any vic.
lent outbreak of the elements above.
Whilst in this dreamy mood you iu-
advertantly cast your eye westward,
and discover, in the far-off horizon,
as they say here Back of Mt. Wilson,"
peculiar group, or rather flock of
clouds, shaped like brush heaps, or
as nautical men describe them,
''Mare's Tails To the experience
ed eye they are indicators of CON-
ing storm a peculiar change in the
atmosphere, scarcely descrbable, yet
palpable to the feelings, appears to
pervade all space. Suddenly slight
mist or vapor becomes visible around
the sky of "Sunshine''-the weather
barometer of this camp. Anon, you
hear low, moaning sound OF the
wind as it forces itself through the
heavy spruce timbers of "Yellow
Mountain" as it gathers force. Its
slow, shrill whistle begins to manifest
itself as it IS forced through the can
yons and gulches amongst the rug
ged peaks and high cliffs; like rail-
road train, its momentum increases
rapidly and at this elevation you are
soon enveloped in the battling ele-
ments. ''Sunshine,' the direction
from which the storm comes. is new
shrouded in a black pail, the draft
through the gap,in the east drawing
the ''storm king rapidly on his
course, and on your cheek is felt
the spray from the PROV of his bark;
this warning drives you in doors on
ly to seek some opening through
which you can watch the future prog
ress of the storm. The winds in
esease vn,siIe shsir force e from the low
md occasionally as they yng aps hear a
into somsr ID a7ee" forming the .'bass"
to the wild concert of sounds. An
extra deep roar is heard coming up
the Park, portending concentrated
power and possibly danger Cat least
to weak structures) when the full
force of the blast strikes. The house
trembles and quivers from foundation
to roof, each section (the house is
built of logs 6 inches thick, 10 feet
long, block house style) alternately
wove in and out. For an instant
there appears to be concentrated
effort of the elements to demolish
the structure but the wind passes on.
ward with bowling, believing,
roaring sound, but the same expe-
rience is repeated until the back.
bone of the storm is broken. The
storm is over, and after a night o
!, gloom, daylight breaks in the eas'
} and soon the sun cast its light or
"Sunshine Mountain" (the tips o.
, the rising sun are visible there first
: hence its name, } and you soon see hi
, face blazing through the gap O
"Lookout Mountain. You arise t.
= take view of nature after the de
. monstratlons of last night. From
t the valley below to the topmost pin
nacle of the surrounding mountain
;. ''the beautiful snow lays like
winding sheet; even the mountain
pines droop like weeping willow
bending under the superdous weigh
u of its fieecy covering. AS the su
e advances toward the zenith his re
g tlected rays increases the temperatur
't until soon you are sitting in you
q shirt sleeves in the southern expos
IS ure, scarcely able to realize that 20
3 are at an altitude of over 5000 fet
7, and in the midst of winter--but nigt
:, rolls her''star lit car over the mouG
Is tain covered scene the heavens al
s. 5, free from clouds and therefore til
II ''twinkling stars as they sho
Ct themselves one by one In the clea
D. crisp, frosty atmosphere, shine lii
:; diamonds. The ''sllver moon
81 throws flood of light on mounta
10 tops, whose shadows are defined {
l. the fleecy covering below, forming
IS picture which language cannot d
ne scribe and l doubt if artists PEN
IL could delineate.
~ s'BIG ALEC
A meeting was held last night
Goebel's store to nominate candida,
for precinct No. 8. On motion
Az AZ F., whose cognomen is as abo'
ne was called to the chair, when
ho following ensued:
me Chalr-'Fellow-convicts, nomil
ire ire tions are now in order"
he Citizen-''I nominate Mr.. B. K
a u" Justice for long term ss
'he Chair-"All Of you cusses "
I" who are in favor of Mr.. B. K.
'se Justice for long term, will signify
~ .. same by saying Help Yourself.
'hs opposed, by saying Wv Course