Mohave County miner., 1889-09-14

nature upon the walls, and can only give
you superficial view Of things as they
appear to the mind Of ordinary intelli-
gence. We reached Peach Springs on
the east bound passenger about o'clock
a. m, and having previously arranged
with J. II. Farlee, Esq, proprietor Of
road and stage line, we were soon on our
way, in light buggy, well provisioned
with refreshments solid and liquid, a good
team, and agreeable companionship.
The distance from Peach Springs, by
Farley's stage line, is twenty-three miles,
the first mile and half being up grade,
then an easy descent along the Peach
Springs wash, one Of those many streams
flowing into the Colorado, occasionally
swollen with floods but for the most part
OF the year entirely destitute Of water.
As you descend this wash the scenery be-
gins to challenge attention. Presently
you come to low ridge and the team
halts, and Farley says, "This is Inspira-
ton Point You rise up and look
around on the left you behold what ap-
pears to be vast cathedral. II you have
ever been in London you will recognize
it's resemblance TO Westminster Abbey.
You think it is about five hundred feet
high, IL is In fact 2 400 feet; farther down
ON the same side il Red Bluff, 5000 feet
high; four miles further, on the same
side OF the road, is Agassiz's Bluff, 4,6J0
feet high; opposite this, OH the right
hand side, and towering equally high, is
the "Sphynx," and looking ahead as far
rs the eye, aided by good glass, can
reach, you behold rising thousands OF feet
IN the air, all the forms OF architecture
and sculpture known, figure heads of per-
Sons, resemblances OF all animals and
wild beasts known and unknown, possible
and impossible, all figures Of every de-
scription that the eye has seen or the i'm
aginatioh of man conceived, all are there.
Each strata has its own color, the
colors ranging through all the hues Of the
FtiHpo" WIN iuii eoibpiSihcht vi hhto
! and shades. A bend in the road reveals
the magnificent Sunset Peak, 5000 feet
high, rejecting the golden sunshine like
some mighty genius towering above his
fellow men and beholding the light Of
truth while all below is sfrouded in dark
| ness. But we have reached Farley's
house, called by courtesy, Grand Canyon
Hotel. 1t was built six years ago and
under many difficulties, before the road
was completed, and though very unpre-
tentious building it has sheltered many
distinguished guests from every part OF
the world. Immediately in front Of the
hotel is the pyramid, rising 5000 feet
above the house. How insignificant seem
all human structures in comparison with
these sculptured mountains.
Glancing at the hotel register one is
surprised to see how few of the local in
habitants have visited the Canyon, and
how many eminent men from Europe as
well as from our own country have
travelled across oceans and continents to
witness these marvellous works Of nature.
The hotel Is situated at the junction of
Peach Springs Canyon with Diamond
creek, clear, sweet, natural stream, the
| canyon of which resembles the large one
| in miniature.
After refreshing ourselves with good
dinner we assembled this canyon under
FarIey's guidance for about three miles.
So deep and narrow was the rift in places
that the feeling Of an eclipse was expert
enced, and only narrow line Of sky was
| visible. It was strange, novel feeling
OF awe and wonder as the narrowing walls
and their increased height more and
more limited our vision.
Diamond creek was 80 named because
in 1869 company of prospectors found
some crystalline quartz or California dia-
monds in the bed Of the stream. Others
say it was the locality Of the great
diamond swindle perpetrated by set Of
sharpess seyeral years ago, but this lacks
confirmation. 1t Is one mile from the
hotel to where II empties its limpid wa
ters into the turbid tide OF the Colorado.
Just across the swirling river at this point
rises the so-called Tower Of Babel and
near it solomon's Temple, the former s."
800 feet and the latter $3.50 feet in
height. Standing at the foot OF these
great buttes one can hardly realize their
vast dimensions. 1t is only when you
have surveyed them from Prospect Point
and various look-outs on the Diamond
creek, and the mind becomes somewhat
familiarized with their vast proportions,
that the truth OF what has been uttered
by those best qualified by geological
knowledge to Judge, wherein they have
pronounced this great plateau region, and
especially the Grand Canyon OF the Colo
RADIO. the "most sublime Of all earthly
spectacles," ;" can be fully realized.
Captain Dutton, a famed geologist, after
careful and prolonged examination
makes the following statement: Taken
all in all the Grand Canyon Of the Colo
RADIO Is the most sublime and awe-inspir-
ing spectacle on the globe" Many other
travellers, geologists and scientists, have
borne similar testimony.
We spent but one day in the examin-
alton of these wonders, duty forbidding
a longer delay. It would require many
days to study the details or comprehend