San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-05-24
Written for the FREs PRuss.
"reminiscences Of a Texas Veteran...The
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
BY G. ERHARD.
tCopyrighted.]
XIII.

KENpALL's NARRATIVE CONTINUED.
Before reaching the chasm we had crossed
numerous trails, leading little more to the
west than we were travelling; apd the expe-
rience of the previous day led US to suppose
that they terminated in crossing near by.
In this conjecture we were not disappoint-
ed, for o trot of half an hour brought us
into large road, the thoroughfare which
millions of Indians, buffalo and mustangs
had evidently travelled for years. Perilous
as the descent appeared, wewell knew there
was no other near. The leading mule was
again urged forward, the steadier and older
horses were next driven over the sides, and
the more skittish and untractable brought
up the rear. Once in the narrow path,
which led circuituously down the descent,
there was no turning back and our half
maddened animals finally reached the bot
tom in safety. Several large stones were
loosened from their fastenings by our men.
during the frightful descent These would
leap, dash and thunder down the precipi-
tous sides, and strike the bottom far below
us with terrific and reviberating crash.
We found rnnning stream on reaching
the lower level of the chasm, on the oppo-
site side of which was romantic dell cover
ed with short grass and few scattering
cottonwoods. A large body of Indians had
encamped on this very spot buta few days
previous, the wilted limos of trees and other
signs" showing that they had made rest
ing place. We, too, halted couple of
hours, to give our horses an opportunity to
Craze and rest themselves. The trail which
led up on the opposite side was discovered
a short distance above us to the south, wind
ing up the steep and ragged sides of the ac-
clivity.
As we journey ed along this dell oil we're
again struck with admiration at the strange
and fanciful figures made by the washlngs
of the water during the rainy season. In
some places perfect walls, formed of red
dish clay, were seen standing, and were
they anywhere else it would be impossible
to believe that other than the hand of man
had formed them, The veins of which
these walls were composed were of even
thickness, very hard and ran perpendicu-
larly, and when the softer sand which had
surrounded them was washed away, the
veins still remained standing upright, in
some places a hundred feet high, and three
or four hundred feet in length, columns,
too, were there, and such was their appear
ance of architectural order, and SO much of
chaste grandeur was there about them that
we were even lost in wonder and admiration.
Sometimes breastworks, as of forts,
would be plainly visible; then, again, the
frowning turrets of some castle of olden
time. Cumbrous pillars of some mighty
pile, such as is dedicated to religion or roy
atty, were scattered about; regularity Was
strangely mixed with disorder and ruin. and
nature had done it all. Niagara has been
considered one of her widest freaks. but
Niagara sinks into insignifcence when COM
pared with the wild grandeur of this aw-
full chasm-this deep, abysmsl solitude, as
Carlyle would call it. Imagination carried
US back TO Thebes to Palmyra, and ancient
Athens. and we could not help thinking
that we were now among their ruins.
Our passage CIT of this place was effected
with the greatest difficulty. We were
obliged to eary our rifes, holsters, and
1T - - II. Il, ,i.r,har;re,