The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-04

Q great Union depot at Kansas CITY, where We
. change cars and take the great A., IT, & 8. +. Ry
:, and are soon on our way across the continent. d
the weird grandeur of the plains, their ocean
like vastness, together with pen picture pf the
grand old Rockies and Santa Fc, spoke IN
former letters, having little thought then that
would make the trip again 80 soon. VIII hot'
therefore, go into details or attempt lrepetiton,
but simply make few notes on matters and things
and places not touched in former letters, and a
continuation of the trip on from Santa Fe TO Call
fornia, giving as much attention TO the latter as
time will permit while on the coast.
As morning dawned, We were well out upon
the plains, and on the morning of the second
, day we were skirtng the grand old Rockies, their
snow clad peaks towering high in cloudland,
while glance to the left showed us the grand
and ocean-ike expanse where
"'Tis not hall Gentry since
i The red men traversed here;
Il And o or these vast and wearied plains
Pursued the bounding deer"
r. ia seldom now that the traveller passing
across the plains sees what in times past was
terror to both red man and pale.face, and that
was a prairie fire. Man, with his system Of fore
a
that; the thousands of sheep, the tramp OF great
herds of cattle and the restless knives OF the
moving machines keep down the luxurant
growth OF grasses, so that none OF the old time
fires on the prarles or plains can be seen in this
age Of the nineteenth century. But last night
We were treated 10 just such Il scene and what 10
us was "a glorious sight, and II not AS grand ana
thrilling us old timers, 1t answered the purpose
lust as well. The night was moonless, but the
stars shonc with brilliancy and twinkled with
luster never seen cast OF the Father of Waters.
We were about retiring to our little beds in the
Pullman, when far to the south bright CLEAN OF
light illumined the horizon. 1t grew brighter
and brighter and soon came rolling toward US
| like an immense column OF flames, casting weird
shadows ON everything around and lighting the
| heavens for miles with scene ofawful grandeur,
and afIordlng US sight that was glorious In the
extreme, a scene of brillisncy and picture that
no pen could portray. On it came with terrific
Jumps, faster and faster, and to all appearances
would soon reach the flying tram, while It's CLEAN
rose higher and higher and It's lurid glare illu.
mined the heavens. The great herds of cattle
and the thousands of sheep running mad in all
could be seen by the bright glare of the fire tight
ing the maddcning flames On sped our train,
ard soon we were beyond reach, leaving far be-
hind Us one OF the grandest sights imaginable
and one that it has been the wish Of our lifetime
to see.
On we rode and soon passed Lenlora, Colora-
do Mexican village and then Tr'n'ddd, where
the world the Aesh, the church and the devil all
live apparently contented and happy Purgatory
then Vegas, "the city Of souls, where cherubs
without wings, sanity O. cow boys, and the
Pententcs make pilgrimages and whale them
selves for the love of God until blood flows In
streams from their backs; all about which told
in previous letter. Now we begin to climb Rd-
| ton Pass; with an engine before and another be-
hind, we 20 to the summit and in sixteen miles
gain an altitude Of 7,770 feet nearer heaven than
those who dwell beside the sea. Now our train
dashes through Il tunnel 1000 feet long; we enter
it in Colorado and emerge from its sable dark
ness in New Mexico, and u few miles beyond
we reach Ration Sutton, where we eat our hrst
Mexican breakfast. The location Of Ration is a
delightful one, lying at the base of the southern
slope of the Rocky mountains one may look out
grand old pines, and fertile valleys through
which flow streams olsthe purest water. At this
point one the most stupendous feats OF modern
engineering known rs the switch back" was
completed, by means of which the train climbed
the mountain side, and so beautifully had the
genius Of man sealed the rocky Businesses Of
the mountains that the grade was scarcely per-
ceptible. This point has been dubbed the ALPS
of America" Las Vegas is reached and for one
dolla, we are given dinner that is nothing more
nor less than banquet and the idea of being
furnished so elaborate Il lay out in this high alti
tude causes a fellow much surprise Las Vegas
is fast becoming full .hedgcd American city, ow
ing to the curative qualities of the springs near
by. Whether they have any real merits over 9TH
crs nearer home seems Il debatablc question.
Onward moves our train through rather IA pic
turesque region of country. The red hills and
sun Drowned plains dotted here and there with
stunted pines and pyramids of brown stone, pre-
sent a picture quite unique and original. TWEEN
ty miles beyond Vegas our train stops at San
Barnard or Starvation Rock This is the most
interesting point in this entire region and has
quite tragic history connected with it, Before
| the war between the United States and Mexico,
the Navajo indians made descent upon the
place, then Inhabited by Mcxcans, and drove
twenty six Of them to the top of the peak. The
Indians numbered about four hundred, and for
the Mcxicans to attack them was sure death
Like Starved Rock in our own beautiful valley,
there was one way up, and they could hold
it against any number; neither party would sur
| hn Ipdia aatar ypat he Npyi nd
| from that on it was known as Starvation Rock.
Starvation Rock is oval in form, shaped at the
top somewhat like n goose egg. 1t is rather slop-
ing for four fifths of the way up its sides, on
which pine trees OF various sizes grow in pro-
fusion. The summit is brown rock, upon which
stand out conspicuously two immense crosses,