Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-08-27

credltable sketches which he had finished.
A start was made for Pilot Knob, about four
miles away. Two streams were crossed. The
boidest riders who attempted to ride through
them were rewarded by "headers,o the 9TH
ers got over dry shod on stepping stones.
Pilot Knob reached the wheels were left at
the base and the climb of fifteen hundred
feet commenced. Half way up the party
entered the mines, trip of half mile
through the mountain in the dark.
1t was novelty to most of the wheelmen.
The other side reached, the climb to the top
was soon over where one of the prettiest
possible pictures presented itself. Seven
miles away was Iron Mountain and about
two miles to the left of it rising just above
the horizon could be seen the tops of Granite
Mountain where run was to be taken later
in the day, to the west rising to almost the
same height as the Knob was Shepherd
Mountain, and the Pilot Knob valley. In
this valley is the town of Pilot Knob with its
four hundred little frame cottages for
| the miners, all severely alike and laid out
with the utmost regularity. To the south of
| the town lies the fort at which of the
sharpeSt engagements of the war was fought
The Confederate soldiers attacking, lost in
one afternoon, thirteen hundred men. To
the south lays the beautiful Arcadia Valley
with its winding streams and the towns of
Ironton and Arcadia nesting close together,
while away beyond them was the ever rolling
hills of green, which even to look at was
rest for the eye. Nothing could be more
| enjoyable than lying on the rocks on the top
| of the Knob, hasking in the sun, for your
| average wheelman can be most noble loafer
on occasion: but the exercise had sharpened
even their keen appetites and dinner was
four miles away, so hasty descent was
commenced; but hungry as they were, ut the
solicitation OF an amateur photographer
whom they met half way down the mountain
| they good naturedly consented to allow him
to point his camera at them. Then "bikes"
being reached, in fifteen minutes they were
| astonishing the natives and walters ut the
hotel tables.
men visited the country residence of Mr.. w.
III. Thomson, where they were received with
the greatest hospitality, and in few minutes
every one felt at home. Croquet, lawn ten
mis-, horizontal bar performances and athletic
exercises generally ruled the hour, to the
great enjoyment of the wheelmen and the
evident amusement Of the ladies. Refresh
| ments in the shape of fruits and liquids.
After the wheelmen had said their farewels
to their host ond hostess, they reluctantly
left to take their prearranged run to the
Granite QuarrieS, on the way to which they
voted Mr.. Thomson and his agreeable spouse
the prince and princess of entertainers. The
trip to the quarries included five miles of
uphill, but the party made it. Arriving
there they saw the result of the biggest blast
of powder ever made in Missouri, viz, by
two and half tons, which had been prepar
ed for several months. Though no rock was
HuIieu III tue ili, "HoIe acIes "a sIaHlle were
cracked and loOsened so that it could be
easily worked. An hour Or.so spent in the
quarries, the return to the Arcadia House
was made, it being coast almost all the way.
BY what means of locomotion other than
the wheel could so much be accomplished
and so much enjoyment be obtained in one
day! By what road and by what hotel could
the wheelmen be better treated than by the
Iron Mountain and by the Arcadia House,
and where could they find more interest
ing place to spend day than in the lovely
Arcadia Valley.-iSt. Louis Spectator.