Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-13

''teppee," and the tall form of Cree or
Sioux, enveloped in his bright red blanket.
lends variety and color to the scene as we
speed along the Yellowstone in the palatial
coaches of the modern railroad.
THE CITY OF TACOMA.
Approaching the slope ofthe Rocky range
up and through its gorges, our train whirls,
now skirting mountain lake or stream and
now disturbing the stately whisperings Of
the pines; winding down the western sIope
we near the great Pacific, upon whose waters
our ship will soon glide to still higher Iati-
tudes, and soon reach the northern gateway
OF this mighty ocean. Puget Sound-riyai-
ing in size the great waters of Long Island
where, sitting in state on a bluff overlook
ing the water, is the city of Tacoma. won
derfuily alive and bustling, magical citv
which seems to have sprung from the stroke
of an enchanter's wand, so suddenly was it
ushered into the world of business activity.
From the broad verandas of the principal
hotel, looking southwark, NAV be seen the
snow-crowned Mount Tacoma rising in
grandeur Il, 440 feet, without COMPANIONS to
detract from its imposing height. Thus it
seems more majestic than Mount Blanc. aud
yet is almost pigmy to the great sentinel
OF the North, Mount st. Elias, who rears
his hoary head near the solemn stiffness of
the Arctic circle, rising from the level of
the sea 20, 600 feet fitting monument to
stand in the northern confines of our orest
nation, and toward whose base our eiviIiza-
tion is slowly moving. How near to nature's
God he stands! What mighty secrets and
memories of chaos he holds in his broad
breast since the first call to his silent watch
through the ages.
From Tacoma we start on the freight and
passenger steamer George W. Elder. She
comes from Portland and is two days late.
The traveller must not be in a hurry for
there is as yet no choice of routes to these
Northern seas or method of conveyance save
those vessels of the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company scheduled to sail in summer abont
every ten days. However, one of the charms
OF the trip, to those seeking rest or surcease
of annoyance, is the fact that our good shin
is 20 be our home for about three weeks and
no railroad or cable shall bring us ill tidinps
to mar the dolce far niente of this journey of
pictures.
AWAY TO THE NORTH.
All in readiness, a command from Cantain
Hunter from ''the bridge"-lines were cast
of, a splash-the whirr of the screw-and
we are of. Our good ship is $50 feet long.
about 30 feet beam and ], 800 gross tons bur-
den, and her passenger list numbers 100
quite evenly divided as to sex and repre-
sentlng many localities, mostly from the
Western slope, but many from the more
Eastern States, and one or two from En-
gland.
The smoke from forest fires prevent our
view along the Sound, and we spend the day
in getting things to rights between decks
until the first stop, Port Townsend. where
coal and some freight were taken. and then
sail was set across to Vancouver's Island.
where we landed at Victoria, its only city'
but most beautiful and peaceful abode Of
Quiet and conservative people, more English
than England, good roads and beautiful
drives, homes embowered in flowers; the
denizens an easy going people, generation
behind the times, having very little regard
for Canadians and ignoring the "bIoomiu'
Yankee don't yer know"
After a stop of half day we leave this
place in our wake and push northward still.
the great pine-clad and mountainous island
of Vancouver on our seaward hand for dis
tanee of 800 miles, and the mainland of
British Columbia on our lett. We can
hardly believe our ship is on the salt waters
of the ocean, so peaceful is its face, but
fathom upon fathom deep drops the lead. No |
cause for sea sickness save at short intervals |
when we cross channels leading out to sea.