Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-21
THROUGH GORGE AND CANYON
An Adventure on the DESERT
A Baby that was left
In Utah-An Interview With
mo. H."
a walking Mormon.
corss.pondsnss Of ceurlsr.JournaI.

a Walking Mormon.
Correspondence Of Courier Journal,
SALT LAKE CITY, December TO-
Leaving Colorado Springs going West,
the Denver and Rio Grande railroad
passes through some Of the most stu,
pendous scenery the world has pro,
duced. The track follows a ioaming
stream winding its way through rugged
gorges 1000 feet deep, and Os the cars
dash along the tourist is inspired with
a wondering awe such as only nature
sublime, rugged nature-can inspire.
Originally there was but the fissure
cut out by the mountain torrent, the
walls of granite on either side we're
steep, precipitous-thousands Of feet
high. But modern science and engi.
neering skill we're brought to bear.
Mules and men we're let down from
the summit Of the cliffs by ropes, a
pathway along the bubbling stream
was hewn and blasted away, and few
months ago the road was finished
(uearly a thousand miles long) to 0g-
den. The iunumerable curves and
twists in these gigantic canyons pro-
duce startling effects. The curves
obscure the view in front, and the
novice catches his breath as the train
every moment seems on the point Of
dashiDg headlong into solid noun
tain Of granite; then a twist, sharp
jerk, and the seeming danger is over
for the moment. to be repeated five
minutes later with as startling effects
as before.
Two hours through these magnif-
cent canyons and the train begins to
slowly crawl up the lofty peak, with
two engines sbrieking and putting and
belehiDg forth great columns ofthick,
black smoke. Up, up we 20, 1900
! feet above the sea, above the clouds,
ISmid perpetual snow. On the ex.
IRENE summit the train stops few
minutes to let travellers have game
oil SNOWFALL, perhaps, or possibly To
give the screaky engines a rest-then
we begin slowly TO descend, and an
hour later the tourist who has just
been shivering amid snow banks, sits
in his shirt sleeves by an open window
as the train flies along the lew, sandy
level Of the great American desert,
The transcontinental passenger by the
Union Pacific or Northern route will
not be called on to 60, even in winter,
through fields OF ice aud snow; he will
miss these changes Of temperature, but
he will miss, too, the grandest and
most magnificent scenery in the world
ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED MILES EAST
of Salt Lake we had quite little sd
venture. The train was aourishing
gayly along when of sudden bridge
over q mountain stream fell in and the
locomotive, tender and several car.
dropped into the water. The engineer
and fireman were nearly drowned, {
few people we're bruised aud all badly
frightened. That was all the imme
date damage, but about night time thu
indirect damage became painfully APP
parent. We we're four hundred mile
from Salt Lake, nearly the same from
Denver and not a bite to est TIT
hungry "castaways" eyed each othel
with dismay and though some Of III
must have appeared pretty tough, | car
not help thinking many Of those CLAN
oes we're accompanied by canabalis
tic thoughts. Fortunately at thi
critical juncture, the railroad
company came to our relief with I
supply Of crackers and weak tea which
had been obtained from a sectionhousl
that, by good luck, Happened to b,
only few miles away. Crackers anC
diluted tea do not, believe, rank verl
high with epicures, but on this occa
sion, with a bridgeless stream in iron
Of us and several hundred miles O
rock and sand behind us, that simpl
diet was received with heartfelt
thanks. Crackers and tea for supper
we had tea and crackers for break fast
and with this alternating change from
, crackers TO tea ana tea to crackers W
managed to get along until the follow
ing midnight, when temporary foo
bridge had been flushed and we wer
enabled to transfer to the Salt LAX
train that was waiting on the othe
. side.
i, There were some amusing scene
that night as the impatient passenger
Q hurried across the narrow way bur
= denod with bundles aud valises. III
immigrants were loaded with hug
bundles Of bedding, pots, kettles, paLi
1 skillets, and generally a complet
A kitchen paraphernalia. One red lace
German woman who. with her bundle
, and baskets, doomed up in the dark
ness like another Jumbo, dropped
s tin bucket in the river and blocke
q the narrow way fully five minutes a
4 she jabbered in Dutch and watche
, il float away. There was, among 9th
ers, dapper young man, who under
c took to show sore ladies across. TIL
ladies were timid, and the dappe
young fellow glowed with pride as b
j jauntily declared; There's no DANCE
D no danger at al" and tipped for
I ward with his head 10 the cir. Jul
as he was almost across, his foot stun
bled and he tumbled into the waite
= Il was not great fall, but | grieye /
say an unieeling crowd laughed Ion
and loudly as the dspper young ma
picked himself up and scrambled u
= the bank not half the conceited an
q dapper young man he had been. /
z was cold and chilly night, but pei
haps the experience gained was wort
the ducking.
i Finally, all, bag and baggage, wer
L safely across, and the conductor haI
y pulled the bell rope, when a woman
r with a young, plump looking face. VII
. had hitherto seemed quiet enough. be
; gan without moments warning /
scream At the top Of her voice.
"HELPl HELP SHE sHRIEKED.
as she jumped up and rushed Wild
toward SAo dcc-.
For Gods sake what is the ma
terri Communicative conductor and
dozen passengers t5getheE
FOR some moments the woman vi
. frantic. When paoiiied enough
explain, the conductor ierked the be
rope, and in another minute we wei
again backing toward the wrecl