The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-13
LIFE ON THE Q. S. L.
A Charming Picture of Hotel
Existence at Granger,
THROUGH THE NORTHWEST.
The Omaha Observation-Disclosures of
soda sprfngs-RustIe at. Bustle
at PocateilO.
rrom an Occasional Correspondent.

at 1CCdIe1lO~
vron an Occasional Correspondent.
Upon being dumped OFF of the fast
freight at Granger, at the unseemly
hour of 2am., we endeavored to pierce
the almost Stygian darkness, and, if
possible. ascertain if there was in the
vicinity a place where ii was possible to
Law our weary heads. After casting our
ewes in every direction we at last
discerned in the distance a luminous
glimmer. Keeping eur orbs steadfastly
fixed On the light, we labo1iousiy picked
cur way through the affectionate mud,
and while carefully trying to avoid the
vatery pitfalls, We succeeded informing
the intimate acquaintance iof every
muddy puddle en- the treacherous route
Finally there doomed up before us the
fnky Blackness of the night, q huge I'M
calmly shanty, through the window of
which our guiding star was shining.
Approaching thedoor we soon made it
resouHd with artiiierylike knocks. In
a short time, in reply to our frenzied
demands for admittance, we saw adj
yanciDg through the room an ancient,
and venerable relic of the days of " '49. :"
After peering out to gaze at US, the dis
furbers of his rest for a few moments,
he, as if apparently satisfied that we
we're mot dangerous characters, threw
open the door and bid us enter his
hosiery. Upon entering and receiving
an affirmative answer as to whether we
could secure lodgings for TIE night, our
host in a gruff voice commanded US to
follow him. Keeping in the wake of
cur guide, we soon commenced the
ascent Of a shaky staircase, which was
almost perpendicular, it was so steep.
Arriving at the landing, we traversed a
snort hallway and were ushered into our
room. Having performed his duty, our
kost with surly good night retired,
and his queer visage and quaint prim-
tive costume vanished from our gaze
Upon his departure, we, with as much
eemplaeency as we could summon up.
commenced an examination of our
quarters. In size the room was similar
to that of Pullman car drawing room,
but certainly did not resemble it in any
other respect. The furniture consisted
of a bed which was positively suffering
because it was compelled to hold to-
gether, an old cane bottomed
chair which locked as if it
had done good service during the
rebellion, wooden trunk tied together
with ropes answered fer a table, and a
dilapidated pair of cast-of pantaloons
filling the vacancy in the broken win
dow pane completed the characterization
of this romantic bedroom. Although
slightly appalled, by the gloomy appear
ance OF our surroundings, we concluded
to make the best of bad bargain and
made preparations to retire for the |
night; but on throwing back the bed !
clothes, the greasy sheets showed such |
signs of occupancy by a i
colony OF man-eating insects that our
courage forsook US, and gingerly seating
ourselves upon the three-legged chair
and the breken-down trunk, We patiently
awaited the coming of dawn and enter
tained each other BY relating expert
enees, receuRting "reminiscences and tel
ing stale yarns. With long pent-up sigh
d relet We greeted the appearance of
he beautiful sun in the far east. Bid
ling our room a foEd farewell. we
5rasped our luggage and safely de-
'ceaded the rieketty stairs. Taking as
)ur guide the suppressed hum of many
folees, we opened an adjacent door and
uttered the bar-room, washroom,
'hice, postofice, a singular COM
nnaton, to say the least Here
We found a score or more of noisy
cowboys, ranchmen and section hands {
Waiting for an opportunity to wash; {
orming in line We awaited our turn to .
omplete our toilet. Arriving at the !
OK which constituted the washstand, /
re grasped the battered tin pan and f
cached down in the murky depths of q | ,
Ihlsky barrel which was almost drained
I water. Bringing the pan out to
Sht once more, we found instead of its ,
eng filed with clear, sparkling water, y
nat we held in our hands basin filled !,
nth dirty, black liquid, SO thick that it .
ould be stirred with spoon, from )
INCH arose a stencil that was simply y
oErl5le. Our fcrtitude was feerfully I
laken, but In the presence of our host II
nd bis band of dark looking followers, 2
e dare not refuse to continue our >
ASKING, for fear of offering them an y
isult and receive as a reward bullet y
ON revolver or stab in the back II
ON a knife. After making a well o
lgned attempt at LAYING our faces and q
aSslng through the fearful ordeal of - =
iplng on the dingy, black towel, we u
ere led into the dining-room, and a
,eld only escape eating the very unin- I
ang Vietuals by feigning sickness as a ~
use for our loss of appetite. eH
e then paid the proprietor &C
Dill the size of which would have re- oe
'csed credit on the Walker House; and IN
IN nnrestrained feelings of gratifica- w
N rushed eagerly to the station. and
,alted the coming of the train which 40 40
- 70 carry us on our way nOrthward, --l
ank1ui that we had escaped with
iole skin, and mentally resolving that lnl
would never, never again spend %
otner night In Granger, Wyo. The toI
uilIry along the line OF the o. S. L. r.
Ter the first seventy-five miles after s.s
wing Granger. is barren, desolate, al,
99Ttntalnous region. covered with the ~
! !. IAN liar sagebrush. Passing through o1
: desert, we arrive at the celebrated ~
YIN creek coal mines, where hundreds
men ne are daily employed in delying