Wichita eagle., 1888-07-14
TIE DEVILS SLIDE.

railroad 10 l2EHl!lar WIFI Inc curl
ous rock formations In Echo and Weber
canyons, Just AFTER the road enters the terri
tory OF Utah Il would seem that here sa-
turs had made her pley ground and cut OF
pure sport had fashioned the rocks into ~
sorts or fantastic and grooesque shapes But
few If any, are familiar with the legend
which throws the gls1aours Of the superuat-
arai over thu quantity shaped cTsgs and gives
them thsi- s0lpnuTo1siy suggestive names
1 left the train az the Little Mormon village
If Peterson, t1st beyond the canyon. and Sc
curing horses and q guide, / prepared TO
spend a few days trying the trout fishing for
which the Weber river enjoys local reputa-
aoa Pedro, my guide, was a half bread
Mexican. Of the Sancho Panza type, full Ct
Indian Iaziness, Mexican superstition and a
true Spanish love for the marvellous. he mad
been brought up IN an old monastery, not
far from the City Of Mexico, and was full cr
tales Of the hardy friars who braved the ter
rors Of the wilderness, in order TO convert the
Indians, and who, If the stories be true,
used 70 laSso them when u,ilder persuasion
failed
We logged along pleasantly enough until
we were well vitnin the canyon, and selected
g grassy spot On TIE river bank to pitch our
camp for the night Then Pedro began 70
show signs Of uneasiness
''Senor, l ike not this place." he said
finally, as be funbled at the cords which
bound the luggage On the pack mule. 'W hat
Is the matter With the places" queried, as l
TOOK nose OF the pools and eddies IN the river,
and made mental calculation as to the best
place 60 commence my fishing the next day
1T Is strange, senior, the rocks are works
Of wicchery. and the story is not pleasant 70
think Of"
Wei answered carelassly, as l saw a
Dig trout. which looked to be ever q foot
long as i, flashed in the sunlight, jump from
a pool directly N front OK me, Il guess
nobody viii hurt you. we VIII build a big
fire and it VIII keep the animals away, and
the Indians are eli peaceable."
1T Is not the Indians nor the bears l fear,
senior; it is the devil"
"Pshaw. the devil does not want you re.
a waile" answered, laughingly, and Pedro
slbuisively began % arrange the camp and
prepare supper 1 unPacked ray trout rods
with care, and busted myself selecting flies
and rigging ny tackle for the sport / antici-
pased cn the Lno-row. even went so far as
TO whip the pool out Of which had seen the
trout jump, but 1t was too late II the day, OF
nis troutsilip was suLen, and had my labor
tor my pains
After we had finished our supper We lay on
opposite sides Of the camp fire | smoking my
pipe and Pedro consuming vIilainous cigar
cites made CT black plug tobacco wrapped IN
tie cosrsest straw paper, and thlnking-at
least 1 was--of how well tae natural appear
snce or the canyon gave color 20 Pedros super
scitious notions The moon was struggling
through mas OF hsecy cloud " lIch d4G not
tide II entirely. but which made the hght
trsInble as il shot ont bright and clear
through the open spaces, then was 0bscuyed
by a cloud bank The " eoar river, at cur
feet. looked IN one moment as bright IS quick
silver, IN the next II was Inky black The
trernulous moonlight gave fantastic outlines
% the strangely shaped crags, and they
seemed 10 mo7e with a sort Of rhythmic
swayIng 70 advance IN the moonlight and
bow. then recede INTO the shadow. Tie night
wind rustlad Through tire stUn5sd pines and
sage brzIsh and Eioane1 most uucannIiy
among the mysterious Essures and crev1ces
Of the rocks The river ripp.eG along peace
fully enough past our camp, put the duh roar
Of the cataract, where, a half mile o4iOV, IL
dashed tarca-h the rock rlven Devils tate
made dun monotone broken by the saaTp
yeIp Of tie coyote or the CRY OF j small hIId
frightened by the praIT-e owl
Pedro drew closer 70 B4e, ard pointing TO
two parallel walls OF rocE about twenty feet
apart, rising to height Of about thirty feet
and extending from the ccp TO the bottom OF
the mountain, be whispered in an awe struck
voice: .'Tbe Devils Slide senior"
Then pointing TO a huge mouolith- shaped
ike an Indian club, on the opposite hIIl, he
added:
That is the Devils War Club and be
crossed himself so vigorously ana nluttered
SO many strange prayers III a mixture OF had
Spanish enc worse Latin that / nrn certain
that any reasona Die Senc would have fed III
terror az bis incosnprehsusible p4tois-
His evident terror was beginning TO make
ms nervous from sympathy, and L knew that
the best way 70 restore his mental equilibrium
was 10 interest him in some sub ecr not con-
neceed with our uncanny surroundings |
tried ia vain to turn the conversation upon
hunting and fishing Az last in desperation,
thinking that the sound Of his own voice
might reassure him and that IN the interest
Of his story be would forget his position, [
allowed him 70 tell me the legend which.
lharu OF some Of Pcdros inaccuracies q
Speech, ran IS follows:
In the year III, whan tire people Of tie
EASTERN part Of America were fighting for
Independence. the Spaniar1S had already
p.ttlei oT The Poetic coast and founded sew
.-al miss,olS The fathers, win that deve-
lion and fsarlesSDess which has characterized
he priesthood IN al ages, had penetrated
I2r inland and made many converts among
ne sava.yes il the interior as early % l123.
AzoUg TIE most 1esl0Js and successful
WAS Father Plsrro del 1orra, = man OF great
oistT, and also as social and genial Z COM
aaHicn Is one could wish for. IL the fall OF
LIT Father Pl-tro had crossed the Sierras
md was preaching and bsptizinc among the
Indians OF Nevada and Utah He had
passed ne Alksii plains Of TIE Humboldt
region and the Great Salt lake. ana late che
svening was walking Il Weber canyon, wien
he came to s vaE q rock which barred MS
passage Re 1eJarutneC;. however. 10 push
n. and ssSer & hO-to2sly climbing TIE hill -
pursued hls way along the top Soon Ee 90
:esvcd gentleman dressed as a Spanish
cavalier OF the day coming toward him
Fssner Pletro was net : little surprised 70
see waite nan - far from civilization. AMI
in Truth, sc Was rot sorry. for oerng, Is NC
have said, OF s social cls.Js.liou, be felt the
Lack OF company soreiy.
Therefore, when thev met Father Pietro
smiled pleasantly saa remarked:
"a lonely wax yco are having. nv SON
1T Is reverend father. BIT Is X not Ike
uiso iane.v for yol. VIC travel Gay ter eiay
pnaSsenoedF
.Vsry lonely" answered Pather Peern
with sigh Then Frightening %, ne added.
~Lse Us sup together; a crust with pleas
ant cuuoanion l. better tha1 fast IN soli-