The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-06-02
AN EIGHT-DAYS JAUNT.
A Flying Trip Up tbs Grsa. Valley, Through
Colorado and New 'Eexiss, and
WHAT Saw,

On Friday evening, May llih, the under
signed left the great business mart of the
Arkansas Valley for flying trip TO Colorado
and New Mexico. joined the Arkansas
Valley Editorial Association at Dodge City
where il had held a two days session and had
received the hospita!ities Of its generous cit
liens under the direct supervision o. Brother
Shnn of the 7am.s, who is secretary OF the
association. Three O'Clock y. IN. found the
party, about fifty in all, comfortably seated
in n Pullman car, chartered for the occasion,
travelling towards what the residents term
''thc hills" over the great banana line,' Il
railroad which, to-day, in my humble judy
ment. stands without peer on the American
continent. and through country which
in the near future will be known Ne the gar
den spot Of this aforc mentioned place. sun
down found Us crossing the Arkansas river
two or three miles west Of the state line.
The nights travel brought liz TO the flourish
ing city of Trinidad, at the foot OF the Ration
mountains, whence great deal of the coal
comes that il consumed in this valley.
This is rich town with lattering prospects
before it. II is also, at present the end OF
the passenger division, and it WAS with no
little interest that 1 watched the prepare
tions which Were made by the train men pre-
paratory to ascending the mountain with our
train which consisted of two Pullman, four
passenger. two baggage and express and one
mail coach that We're hooked to two en-.
sincs which We're in front, and the famous
engine. UGclc Dick in the rear. There were
msgiyings on the part Of Some of our party
as TO the results. hi, UP the steep mountain
side we started, The grade being 1Sj feet 10
the mile, higher and higher we were safely
hoisted as il were until we reached Il point
perhaps 800 feet from The summit of the
mountain ut this point tunnel has been
constructed waich dispenscs with any further
climbing. | did not learn the length of
the tunnel, but there is hi, fact about IL. one
end Of il is in Colorado and the other end is
in New Mexico. Having reached the sum
nit the extra engines were unlocked and
the descent was made. Your business man
having desire to get good view of the
country accepted an ipyitation from the |
fireman of Uncle Dick 10 seat on lump of
coal on the tender. After sufficient time |
had elapsed 10 put the tram good distance |
ahead, Uncle Dick started down the noun |
tain through the canon, first ON one side then |
on the other. Occasionally l would get a |
glimpse of the train ahead OF u ricochcting /
along as it were. until our head grew dizzy. |
The fac. is the engineer did not seem 10 have |
respect at all for my feelings in the matter.
even after he had been assured that I was
not in any hurry. We lit safely. however,
at the foot of the mountain in Time for
breakfast. thinking while eating that the
Santa Fe Railroad Company had a right 10
take out letters patent on flying machine.
After leaving the Ration mountains. nothing
of interest srccts the eye. save to my right
the snow-capped mountains stand out in bold
relief lc0 miles away. while apparently
they seem 10 be close by. or the herds of
sheep lazily grazing in lots from - to lo.e0o
head. tended by Mexican poems and their
faithful dogs until reaching Las Vegas. Il
city OF about 6.ooO inhabitan,s--tha /, the
cid and new town together. The new town in
habitanis. great majority OF them. are Kan
.as men, quite number OF them from Wicl-
ia, and they all complain alike, viz: making !
|
Ierest greet the eye at every turn in the road
Until you reach .nta Fc. aud the turns are 5
almost as numerous rs the lengths OF the I
rails with which il is builjed. First. We 4
pass finely cultivated fields. handsome farm c
'esiJcnces, then comes the La Glorieita {
in which range stands out bold u
nd alone, large mountain called Starvation 3
Peak, about which the following story il c
old: The Mcxirans and Indians had fight d
century ago at the foot of this peak. and o
he Indians succeeded in routing their al 4
,ersarics, and drove them up the mountain, o
he top of which could be reached by mar Il
ow path. The reircating party climbed To :
he top, the Indians closed in on them, guard -
ng the path so closely that there was no A
hance for escape. and they porishe'l-sey a
nty-two in all--for water, in sight Of clear, o
unning mountain stream. and their bones. q
said lay bleaching on the mountain TOP, Il
yer which Is erected a rude cross which can Il
G plainly seen from the railroad. 4 few Il
lilies further on is the summit of the La
ilorictta mountains and Just before reaching IA
nis point, OF to the right. on little plateau ca
re the ruins OF an cid building said 10 be %,
&c old Mon,exuma church, given in Pres OF
otis history of the conquest o, Mexico, n
e place where Moniczuma made his last 5,
and against Cor,cz in his Invasion Of Mex cd
o in 1919. 1t is built Of adobe, a par; Of the IL
all still stands. ie
The ride down the mountain is very cxci,- in
g and the scenery picturesque beyond de-
ription. Five hours ride brought lie 10 de
inta Fe, distance by railroad about la
xty five miles frcm Vegas, While IA
e wagon route directly across or
o range is only about half that distance. 20