The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-09-16
In THE COLORADO CANYONS.
Where IL Requires Nerve TO Even SIT
in a Railroad Car.

Leaving this oasis In the desert of sage
bush, we soon began to wind in and out
among the foot of the hills of the western
slope, and finally, after many wagers as to
how many feet we advanced in going a
mile, we left the curves, at least some OF
them, behind us, and as last looked down
into Los Pinos Valley. The approach had
scarcely anything of scenic interest to claim
the attention, but now we found our mar
row-track accommodations clinging to
perches cut out of the mountains side,
while far above US hung great masses of
rock apparently ready to drop on us at any
instant. Across the valley bristling crags
frowned on us from every point. The val
ley gradually narrowed and the river SEEM
ed to plough deeper into the dark recesses of
canon and gorge. The sight was thrilling
in the extreme. As we slowly worked
toward the crest we looked down from our
cuts in the rocks several hundred feet over
yawning precipices. and as some particu-
larly frightful abyss was being passed faces
blnnched with the thought of awful posi-
bilities. And yet we were but entering the
gateway to more fearful scenes. Soon we
came to point where speech ceased. We
were bowed down with the terribly grand,
awe-inspiring, painfully impressive scenery.
The breath was short, gasping, and when
the fsr-famed Toltec Gorge finally appear
ed, still towering far above US, the power tc
move was gone. We were under a spell.
Still our sauey little engine led the way,
and as we watched the faithful engineer
leaning far out from the side of his cab,
keeping close lookout for the slightest OBJ
struetion, our courage returned, and then,
firmly braced against the side of the car, we
begin to family (the word is used advised
ly) appreciate the picture before US. How
terribly insecure appeared the strong
bridges which enabled us to clear the tor.
rents We hug the mountain side on a mar
row shelf, "explore every intending gulch,
boldly stride across the water-courses, and
move undismayed upon the utmost verge,
where rough cliffs overhang us, and the
gulf sinks away hundreds of feet beneath"
When satisfied that we had passed the
most striking scenery, we come upon the
Phantom Curve, with its uncanny groups
of rugged, ghost-like rocks-demon attend
ants of the great gorge. A few moments,
in which the blood almost ceases to flow be-
cause of the friphtful surroundings, and we
slowly wind our way under the VASTLY
.eamed and wrinkled face of the tallesi
wall Of the gorge A few seconds of dark.
ness, and we pause as if to prepare for the
r-to-be-forgotten glimpse into a chasin
which seems to be cut into the bowels of
the en- TIL, 500 feet straight down. AS we
dash on through the canon to Ainargo the
scenery is still grandly attractive.
Almost before we realized it VIC had reach
II most thorough examination-the wheels,
trucks, and couplings of the cars were crti-
cally examined, in measure preparing us
for the vision that greeted us after passing
through cut in the rocks short distance
above, when We entered the most magnif-
cent of all the canons in this range. Nov
ing slowly, not faster than man can walk,
we passed out on q marrow pathway chisel-
ed from the solid rock, and along the
mountains face around the shortest curves
yet seen. From 600 feet below came the
roar of foaming torrents, willie 500 feet
above the beetling cliffs looked down upon
us. The opposite side of the canon, against
which one could almost throw the useless end
ofhis cigar, rose almost vertically an unscnl-
able wall. After passing through this canon
for two miles we entered the defile, while
all around the mountains reared their storm
worn heads. Nearing Silverton the cabins
of the miners up the mountain sides diyid-
ed our attention with the many beautiful
cascades and waterfalls. Continuing north
ward, gradually gaining in altitude, we
finally ran out into gem of basin and
rested in Silverton, in the heart Of the San
Juan.