Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-06-27
NUMBER ST

mel which, at the present time, Was
undermining the approach to the
bridge. From this point we follow up
the valley along the river for some dis
| tance.
After leaving Mandan the road
passes through the fertile valley ofthe
| Heart river, which beauteous stream it
crosses at frequent intervals. Marmot
is situated on high plateau near the
junction of the Heart and Sweetbriar
| rivers. At this place we see our first
village of prairie dogs. 1t is quite
as the train passes, but where the
name is applicable fail to see as they
look no more like dog than an ordi-
nary gray squirrel. AT Fryburg we
enter the Bad Lands through long
cut on down grade, presently emerg-
ing upon a region, the startling APP
pearance of which will keep the vision
alert until we reach the Little Missouri
| river fourteen miles beyond. This
place is called by some Pyramid Park,
which show that the mighty forces of
water and fire, fiercely battling to-
gether have wrought scene of strange
confusion. Buttes from so to 800 feet
in height, with round SUBMITS aud
steep sides, stand closely crow ded to
gether. They have veins of different
colors caused by the change of deposits
centuries ago.
The mounds are in every conceivable
form, and are composed of different
varieties of lime stone and sand stone
lying in successive strata. Some of the
buttes have bases of yellow, followed
by pure white and tops OF deepest red
while others are blue, brown and gray,
here and there are broad spaces cover
ed with rich grass aud ground juniper
of delicious fragrance, and said to have
decided medicinal qualities, particular
ly beneficial in many forms of fever.
No trees are seen at all, but occasional
scraggy bush along the small streams
that meander through this grand pict-
uresque strip of country.
AT some day, many years ago, there
has doubtless been dense forests from
the stratas of coal that make their APP
route. Also of petrified stumps of trees
in abundance four to eight feet in
diameter, which are in proportion
equal to the inferior size at the present
prnxyth pn1 y,nrttnnS rn G Inca n 4
as rock crystals. The train halted in
the midst of this beautiful scenery
for half an hour waiting for another
train, giving us an opportunity of in
vestigatlng the hills and gathering
bits of rock, fosils, etc. Two things
that were pointed out to us of particu-
lar Importance and interest were the
watch dog and the maiden of the park,
were to represent as anything can be.
We were also shown the house that
Marquis De Mores occupied many years
ago. AT present the house and sur
rounding valley is occupied by gypsy
camp with many horses grazing on the
hills and valleys. Some of these buttes
look like the pyramids of Egyptian
days, but doubtless caused S, by the
centuries of the beating of wind and
rain. Sentinel Buttee is a prominent
object on the left hand, not far from
the track. The top of this eminence IS
said to be visible on clear days at
distance of thirty miles, but looks only
to be ABOUT three, so deceptive is the
luminous atmosphere. This region
abounds in moss-agates, specimens of
which are found near the foot of the
butte of great siza and beauty. found
one beautiful piece, but small, some
thirty feet up the side OF one of the
nearest pyramids. On the side facing
the road Sentinel Butte has an almost
perpendicular face, with cap much
larger than the base of beautiful vari-
gated colored sand stoDe. In the val
leys at the foot of some of these pictur-
esque mounds are to be seen bones,
supposed to be those of buffalo, lying
in heaps, whitened by the wind.
J. r.. S.
To be continued.