Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-08-01

Is approached by grade OF ll6 feet
to the mile. The tunnel is $500
feet in length and 5,572 feet above
the sea level. Livingston has pop
ulation of about l, 500. The Yellow
stone river here makes an abrupt
turn to the southwark and flows
through the Renowned National
Park. A branch road here connects
with the main line for the Park, 81
miles long, which carries passengers
to within six miles of Wonderland,
the remainder of the passage being
made by stage. Eighteen miles east
of Livingston are Hunters Hot
Springs, celebrated for their nedi.
Gated waters.
The next 80 miles nothing of spe-
cial interest is passed if we except
the grand scenery, which differs
considerable from our western land
scape on the Columbia. 1t presents
rolling mountains piled up against
each other, covered with a grey
heritage, the buuch grass after it has
matured, pr, sentinS more tho char
scteristics of hay than grass. 1t is
very nutritious and supports the
vast herds of cattle which supply
the world with beef. Here the cat
ticking holds his sway, and his
reign each year becomes more auto.
cratic. We met one of these gentle
men on the train, and in the draw
ing room car he was the peer of
any man in intelligence and good
manners, Notwithstanding his life is
mainly spent in the mountains. He
owned his l 800 head Of cattle, but
spoke very modestly of his posses
sions.
Billings is situated at the foot of
Clark's Fork Bottom, 997 miles from
Portland. 1t is the county seat Of
Yellowstone and the last station on
the Montana Division. The popu-
lation is about $500. 1t was found
ed in 1882. It has q fine brick
church (the gift of MIR. Billings) the
Headquarters Hotel, round-house,
shops, etc., of the company, besides
the usual stores and private resi-
dences of growing town.
Pompeys Pillar, a mass of yellow
sandstone rising abruptly to the
height OF 400 feet, is passed, just as
shades of evening begin to fall, tho
base covering nearly an acre. High
up on the north side is inscribed in
rude characters: "Wm. Clark, july
rs, 1906. This was doubtless cut by
the great explorer. As the darkness
increased the signs of storm be-
came imminent. Great sheets of
lighting flashed ahead necessarily
down the valley, but unaccompanied
BY thunder. This continued for
hours, and about twelve O clock, the
most terrific hail storm ensued that
it has ever been our lot to expert
encs. The crashing globules on tho
roof, combined with the roar of
the wind and the rumble OF the train,
created a perfect pandemonium. The
current of air extinguished our lamps
ana we were in total darkness.
About 3 o'clock the train came to q
halt 81 miles west OF Glendiye.
caused by slide which the engineer
bad fortunately discovered just as
the wheels of the engine were upon
it. While the workmen were en-
gagged in removing it, the engineer
went ahead with bis lantern and q
few rods further on found that the
ties yielded with his weight, and on
closer inspection that the rains had
washed away Dearly 20 feet of the
high embankment, leaving the ties
attached to the rail and apparently
in safe condition. The slide which
led to this reconnoitre seems to have
been providential, for 1T is quite
certain the wash out would not have
been discovered from the cabs by
the headlight. and the result would
have been an engine ditched and q
number of the cars thrown into the
river, with the loss of many lives.
This engineer then walked to the
next station and telegraphed to
Glendive for a repair train. It
came down about 10 A. NJ, and by
building q series OF cribs of railroad
ties enabled US to pass on, after IL
hours detention. It was a matter