National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-22
A RAILROAD TRIP TO THE
CLOUDS.

Springs.
From Denver to Salt Lake travellers
understand that the whole world possesses
no grander scenery than is passed through
while taking this trip on the Denver and
Rio Grande railway. This road is tho only
transcontinental route passing through
Salt Lake City, connecting the trunk lines
at Denver and Pueblo with tho Central
Pacific at Ogden. Our party, consisting Of
the minister, two deaCOns, and choir, left
Denver on the 7:40 a. m. train, Just across
the car was merry "Mlkado" company, and
not far of sat a couple OF dude tourists,
who seemed suffering from the effects Of
Apolllnaris water, or other beverages OF
the night before, for heard one remark to
his companion.
snow, Awthah, I've got you, ali, on
board, nice and safe, !, ali, pity youah
pooah head, II 1t feels as mine does this
mawning Try and take a, all. sleep, deah
baughn
eau rcvnugh, Gawgle," was the reply, as
the ADgl o.manlac, who was already curled
up In corner, closed his heavy eyciils.
Out OF the great union depot we swept,
leaving the medley Of tracks and discord OF
escaping steam behind, and In a short time
were gazing through the windows OF the
Pullman car upon long stretches Of fairy
land, which lay glowing In the early morn
ing sun. Foaming torrents and broad
rivers seemed to glide by as in u dream,
while CLASSY lakes and snow-capped peaks
appeared but to disappear, At Palmer
Lake, where the train stopped for an instant,
we threw up the windows to breathe the
delicious air blowing across the water, and
to admire the picturesque pavilion and gay
sbifls floating idly on the stream. Colorado
Springs was the next point OF interest aud
many were the signs because time
wOull mot nnrmft n
in all fairyland, known as Manitou, an Fem en-.
chanted garden Of beauty, called the Sara
toga Of the west, which nestles among
emerald hills at the very base OF Pixies
Peak and six miles west OF Colorado Springs.
But the train sped on for Pueblo, where the
southern division OF the Denver and Rio
Grande DIVORCES for Wagon Wheel Gap,
Santa Fe, Silyerton, and the sublime scenery
of southern Colorado and New Mexico.
Just beyond Canyon City, where stands the
state penitcntlary, the train slowly and
cautiously entered that gloomy and mys-
teal gulf Of yawning shadows known as the
Grand Canyon of the Arkansas. Within
this labyrinth OF somber shades, which the
SUMS rays seldom penetrate, there once
seemed scarcely room for the madly rush
ing river, which foams over huge powders
as though eagerly seeking the sunshine Of the
plains beyond. The granite lodges when
once blocked the path with their mighty bulk
having been blasted away and road bed
made, closely following the contour Of the
cliffs, the plucky little train now steams
along the edge OF the roaring Arkansas with
all the vim Of the nineteenth century
aboard. AS the train proceeded the granite
| walls grew higher and still higher, while
the sky slowly diminished to mere blue
streak far above. No birds penetrate this
| gloom. No flowers are seen, and the trees
| gradually disappeared. The canyon became
narrower, the river more closely confined,
| and the threatening crags scared upward
thousands Of feet, while through this mar
| rowing, shadowy abyss rolled the spirited
little train, its rocky confines trembling
| with Its laboriDg advance. just ahead
long iron bridge hung suspended from
the granite ellis, a whistle sounded, the
train stopped short, and the tourists, whose
| half-paralyZed bodies were hanging onto the
steps Of the platform, vainly endeavoring
to drink In the wonders Of the heights and
depths, were informed by u clarion toned
| conductor that they were In the Royal
| Gorge. In other words, we had reached
the most beautiful and demoniac portion of
this internal region. One Of the dudes
| who, with other passengers, jumped out to
| interview the gorge, went about very
| slowly, with his legs wide apart in the
| most approved English style. He merely
touched the tips OF his toothplck shoes to
| the ego OF each stone. A firm, square step
| In the middle Of the stone would probably
have split his light pants. Finally he de-
| posted his cane, with Its head OF hammered
| silver, against huge bowlder Then push
| ing his silk travelling cap back upon mis-
| forehead and gazing upward at the dizzy
height, he murmured:
"Deuced bad taste to, ah erect such
horwid stone thing. Twying to wival our
| Egyptian pyramid, l suppose"
Nobody didn't build:this canyon" blurt
out. boy, who was jumping from rock to
rock. The dude languidly raised his eyes
and gazed at the rosy, perspiring face Of
the youngster In unfeigned, but feeble dis
gust:
myyhow the common folks do persplah, and
such an odah. Wun away, sab. Wun rapidly.
Isay.n The boy,with alook ofmingled hatred
and rage, jumped, toadlike, upon. another
rock, but not without deXteriousIy upset
ting the dudes cane, which fell into tho
| river and sank from sight. At this instant
the cry OF "All aboard" put an end TO this
| interesting scene and sent us once more
| spinning through rocky confines. Escaping
| from the gorge, the train steamed ioyously
| into the narrow, sunlit valley OF the upper
| Arkansas. Here nature suddenly smiled
upon us, from the tender blue Of heaven
| above, to the river, which, lately so tenn.
| pestuous, now flowed a limpid and DIM
| pltu bITtuIl, ONtT-SuuuOWcu Dy the SeTTuLeu
| peaks OF the Sangre de Crlsto, that lowered
| In tranquil beauty on our left. Salida
was the next station OF interest.
bears sas no rtRSn to 'n0 Len nddigTHy
to Fremont Pass, and the Mount of the Holy
Cross, while the main line spans the Ar
kansas, and, leaving Poncha Springs on the
left, climbs into pleasant valley between
low-browed hills preparatory to making the
famous ascent OF Marshall Pass. This
wonderful pass, which appears TO start cir
cautiously for heaven, In reality only crosses
| the great continental divide. Its course is
| In the shape OF ribbon.like loops, and it
measures thhty-two miles from valley to
| valley, having meantime embraced the back
bone OF the Rockies, which thrust theirmajes-
| tic heads above the very clouds. OF course
| everyone knows that the continental divide
| extends from Alaska to the Cape of Good
| Hope, and rises to such vast height as to
separate the waters Of America. Alpine
tunnel, 1,7T3 feet in length, Is cut through
the South American Andes this tun-
mel is the highest railroad point ever
| attained. The trains enter from the
Pacific. When the traveller reaches
this height he is apt to imagine that the
| whole world is at his feet, aud something
| fully as large is In his head. This is the
effect Of the light air, which, at this al
titude, is rather destitute. OF oxygen.
Language can never do Justice to our
ascent of Marshall Pass. The train stood
still for few moments In the cool, gray
valley, and we gaZed upward. IT was sun
set, and while shadows and dark pines
shrouded the somber base Of the mountains,
| their snow.Capped peaks blushed rosy In
the fading light. Fleecy clouds, like gayly
tinted fairy skifrs, loated idly on the Grim
son sea of the sunset sky, while away In
the cold, deep.blue Of the eastern horizon
slowly arose phantom moon, Looking
up at the distant heights narrow rim OF
earth is seen, which marks the onward
course Of the track, Our train was a
double.headeT all over the rond 1t con-