The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-08-06
miscellaneous.
For tie <Eg,S and Intelligence
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
a Hartford Man in the Far West-What
He Saw ON His Journey.

Hartford Man in the Far West-What
He Saw on His Journey.
My last letter was written on the cars,
while passing through Nebraska | arrived
safely at Council Bluffs, on the Missouri
river There are good many houses in
Council Bluffs, the country is level, the bluffs
being the only high ground to be seen. From
there | took the Union Pacific and crossed
over high bridge to Omaha. This is inc
looking town, with some good buildings
We left Omaha at A. M. The next morn
ing we travelled througha barren and level
country, with a few settlements. The houses
were principally dug-outs, made of sod, with
dirt roofs. Nothing was to be seen but
prairies. The only trees were a few willows,
along the streams. At 0 o'clock we reached
the Platte river, a large stream. For miles it
tlowe smoothly along and seemed to have
no banks. In some places it spread out for
acres. Many settlements were seen and some
towns and churches. The country between
the towns is sparsely settled and the houses,
with few exceptions, were low, one story, and
built of logs, or adobe as they are called.
We arrived at Denver, $50 miles, at G
o'clock and went the Metropolitan Hotel,
which is conducted in excellent STYLE the
charges being very reasonable. Should any
of my Hartford friends wander out this way
they will do well to stop there.
Denver Is beautiful! city and lies on gen.
tly rolling ground The streets are all
paved, mostly with i1agstones. 1t has several
large stores and three theatres. After good
supper and nights rest was ready to re-
sumo my journey. Took the Denver & Rio
Grande narrowgauge road for Gunnison at
7 o'clock We travelled through some pref
ty country with handsome stations. Palmer
Io1yn 80 OF 10 Cot,
The lake is large aud saw many boats on
it.
Colorado Springs is beautiful place and
has fine buildings and large hotels. In fact,
ii seems equal to Saratoga but tits only place
for rich people and poor ones can pass. So
journeyed on We got to Pueblo about 9
O'Clock, and stopped 90 minutes for dinner.
This is considerable manufacturing town,
containing large iron furnaces, silver, gold
and lead smelters, all doing n large business.
After leaving there we struck the Rocky
Mountains, and passed bluff after bluff of large
stone, so regular that they appeared to have
been built by masons. We ran along the
Arkansas river and entered the mountains.
That is sight worth the trip. The railroad
passe through terrible and dangerous look
ing places that it is wonderful how it could
have been built. Royal Gorge was too
HiuCu iOl me. gov on tNe pldllOIul anu uau
a good look found that we had two engines
and that the baggage and mail cars were
ahead with another engine. The grade was
very heavy and the rocks, on each side were
so high that it made it quite dark. Beyond
the gorge we entered the Grand Canon of the
Arlisnsas | couldn't make up my mind
which was the grander sight ofthe two. We
were under the rocks with the river rushing
and tumbling over stones as if it would wash
them away-and would you believe it ? there
was fellow fishing in the river. We passed
some cabins and coal pits and the river ap.
pearcd to be running up hill.
We rushed along until we got to an open
country and saw lots of snow and the town
of Salido, stopping ut Leadvlle Junction.
Leaving there we began winding around
high hills, going on one side and coming
back on the other The road twists around
so that we could see our baggage train every
few minutes. 1t began to get pretty cold.-
Here we passed under snow sheds, made TO
keep the snow from drifting over the track.
AT the top of the mountains is Marshalrs
Pass; big snow-drifts were seen all around
From there we went down the Pacific side,
winding In and out of the hills as before
The scenery is not as grand rs on the eastern
side.
We arrived at Gunnison about o'clock at
night After seeing about my baggage
started for the town, most of the passengers
having already gone. Meeting man | en-
quired the way. He asked me all sorts of
questions and then wanted me to strike u
bargain with him to 60 up to the mines and
dig gold, if | was not afraid of Il pick and
shovel. told him l was used to such tools
but could not bargain with him until had
seen another party. Then he wanted to
know what the ID wanted to do that for
but had better go with him and make a
fortune. He would give me half. AS we got
near the town he asked me to share his
blankets, as be was going to turn in in an
empty house. | declined and said l would go
to hotel. As we we're about to part he said,
Hold on, stranger, if see you in the morn
ing | want to know you, and we will have a
talk about our enterprise" So he lit ma Oh
and held it to my face which thought
rather Cheeky" | looked at him, too. He
was pretty clever-looking fellow, dressed
very much like the cowboys / have since
seen with large brimmed hat and leather
band leather pants, with fringes of leather
along the seams He was further ornament
ed with leather belt. containing six-shooter
and cartridges. made up my mind to give
him a wide berth, and have not seen him
since. stopped at the first hotel l saw,
| DelmOulCOe. luey were uUOuJ Closing. L
was met by girl, who asked what l wanted.
told her wanted bed and would take sup
per- if convenient. 1--WE amt got none
cooked" said she, land you can get bed for
so cents and no less, and so cents for your
breakfast; and if you want a bed, pay now
or you won't get it." OF course complied
with the terms.
Gunnison is u town of from 5000 to ., 900
inhabitants. 1t lies in wide valley, along
the Gunnison river. The soil is sandy and
as the wind blows the sand follows it. The
town was started only four or five years ago,
and built in hurry, of green lumber. Con-
seauently 1t is as rough as can be. Most of
the houses are mere shanties, except on the
eastern side ofthe town. where there are some
handsome private residences and fine stores
1t has large brick court house and Jail
and sheriff's house. The yards look we'll
where they are irrigated, but where they are
not the grass is burned up. The drinking
saloons looked empty. have not visited
them and don't intend to. Beer is Is cents a
glass and whisky 20. Many of the gold min
ers gather in Gunnison and often spend a
hundred dollars in one night. There are
some rich gold mines in this county.
l remained in Gunnison until Saturday,
when Mr.. Cunningham came for me and /
went out on his ranch, two miles north of the
town, near Ohio creek. This is a swift-fowing