New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18
IN THE DEADLY GORGE.
TrIUGREAT COLORADO CANON.

Washington, Aug. 1.-the recent attempt oy
Frank NJ Brown to survey tho Coio'sio
River to ascertain the feasibility OF
railroad between its high banks, and the end OF tne
enterprise in the death OF Brown and two members VI
his party in the canonS, induced me to mann SUM
inquiries Of Major J. W. Powell director OF inc Wv
logical survey the only man whose parties have ever
succeeded in traversing the deadly gorge
Asked why Brown failed, Major Powell answered
For the same reason think the other par'les nave
always failed. lie underestimate the peils 10 W
encountered The Colorado Canon, to speak OF many
canons as one Is unique There is nothing else nho }.
I'm tho world none bu. Itself can be It's parallel anu
so II Is difficult for the Imagination 10 foresee ana az
prcciate It's furious whrlpoois. dangerous rapu' n'
tremendous abysseS. think that Brown iai'od ~
comprehend "a, significant that nothing can get
through the Colorado Canon that cannot hoat. boa's
arc repeatedly upset and inferior boats arc mashoo A'
egg,hclls7
Did you know Mr.. Brown"
~Y,s. somewhat Last winter | received le'terS
from various persons interested In locating ralo''
ro,c down the Colorado River II believed that
q wafer grade for railroad could be found ana Una
thus the vast coafeids Of Utah and Colorado coud "
connected with tide wator in the Gull OF Caiiiori,a
most desirable thing 20 accomplish. Tho pIosluo".
Of the Denver company, Mr. Brown, finally vsI'ed
Washington and called upon mo and made inquiries
about lie best method Of making the survey ho
seemed courageous and iudcious. But In my JUG
mont the plan was qul.e mpraccable and toh DIM
so and fully stated 10 him reasons for such con-
clusion."
What were the reasons .!
They cannot b., repeated in limits more brief than
a magazine article furnishes. Bnt can outline '"'"
IN word No rBilload can run along The TOchs d.
the tor Of the canon because thc whole region is
l9bvrintb OF snipcndous lateral gorgcs from nan
mite 10 a milo deep and running back from the 'oio-
RADIO for many miles both sides, and no engineering
known 10 man can bridge them In the nam oan"h
the river often rises forty Ia sixty icct SO tha' tno
roadbed would have 10 hang upon the sides oil the cl'
which much OF rho way /, pependicuar The hoou'
here surpass in and suddenne's any Others on the
globe
Was Browns party overwhelmed In the most diff
cult part of the descent!7
ION. no. by no means. Brown had just begun 10
encounter the real difficulties when he met win us
astcr I'm Marble Canon. 1t is bad place, buu he had
not Yet reached the most dangerous portion oil Inc
river He had descended less than 600 feet, while
the fall Of the Colorado below was moro than 1000
feet"
Was his boat suitable onc!'
Il would not have gone in it, by any means ]
was anxious about it even before he started II did
not seem 20 lie adapted to canon waters. 1t seemed
TOO lat-bottomcd, and must have been at tho meTj
Of the swirling currents
Major Powell was asked about The stories that
various parties had succeeded in descending the Grand
Canon al different times. and an wcred;
Nobody has ever successfully uavcrsed the Colo
RADIO Canon but NY parties The story that raft
once lived to get through is prep0sterOuS and was
long since exploded. Invariably all attempts nave
been suspended have met with disaster. The boat
L. 20 down the Colorado Canon must he sturdly punt
on pattern which experience has proved the strongest
aud should have three alright COMPARTMENTS the
men should wear I1e-pre-cHcr5 at all places Ci
danger: and all tools, clothing. and rations should
be- carried in alright ocean mall sacks, 80 that they
will hoat If these conditions fulfilled, If the
boats arr tough enough. and The men al once p!uck\,
intelligent and prudent enough, and al the maximum
Of their health and strength The canon may yet
be ran again
could not forbcsr saying You do not seem to
have been quito up 10 this mark, for you first at
taclcd tho canon long after You had lost an arm
al Shiloh
lucky