Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-11-07

IFoul Une DrOad, level PLAIN over Whlcn
we had been passing, and within few
miles the appearance of the country
changes entirely. This is a section al
most impossible to describe. The name
comes about as Tear doing 1t as anything.
You may travel all over the continent,
and not find anything likeit. If you can
imagine yourself in the crater of all ex-
tinct volcano you may be able to form
some idea of what it is ike, for it is all
of volcanic formation. There are the
most grotesque rocks and knobs and
peaks and hills of all heights and sizes,
and made of stone of almost every color,
bright red and blue predominating. Then
yellow, purple, brown and green of every
tint and hue. We could not but think
of the great Artist who made all of these
tints and colors to blend in such perfect
harmony amid such grotesque wildness.
The Little Missouri flows through this
section. On this river, near the railroad,
stands the ruins of a deserted old fort,
built years ago by the Government.
As it was some distance out of our
route, we regretted very much that our
limited time would not permit US to see
that wonderful piece of Natures handi-
work-the Yellowstone National Park.
At Mandan, the next station beyond
Bismarck, we found our watches were
one hour too fast, owing to the change
from Central Standard to Mountain time
At Dickinson, Dakota, the train stop
ped twenty minutes, and we saw Mr.
John A. Close, formerly of st. Clairsville
who is now located there.
We struck the Yellowstone just al
dark, and we went out and sat on the
car steps while we were crossing the riv-
er. 1t was almost with a weird feeling
that we looked down into the dark water
and thought of all we had heard of this
wonderful river and valley. Here we
are in region of country where it sci
dom, if ever rains, and where the land
has to be irrigated. This being done
many pleasant little homes are seen and
very good crops of corn, oats and potatoes
the verdure contrasting strangely with
the dry and parehed plain surrounding.
We reached Elton, Montana, at 9:15 A.
NJ. Monday, August 10. Here. we were
just about half way on our trip from
Saint PaaE, and had been out forty-one
hours,
1t was raining as we lett Elton, and
here the tops of the mountains were hid
den by clouds. 4 few miles further on
we passed through a grand canyon 1S,O0C
feet above the sea level, where the cliffs
rise almost perpendicular to a great
height, in many places overhanging the
road. We went on the rear platform
where we enjoyed the beautiful scenery
to the best advantage. We were now
right in the heart of the mountains, and
oh, the scenery was grand There are
terraced heights looking down with ma
jestic stateliness into the deep valleys be-
low, where the stiffness of silence is al
most oppressive. Itseemed almost as il
we had no right to disturb the eternal
solitude which reigned supreme. This is
certainly some of the finest scenery on
this continent and some thing which has
to be seen to form any idea of its grand
uer
In crossing the mountains, an addition
al engine, an immense one, made for the
purpose, was coupled on, and our train
| or Of
teen coaches. These heavy engines are
known as "Decapods," and were built by
the Baldwin locomotive works at Phila-
delphia. There have only been six OF
these made, and they are said to be the
heaviest ones ever constructed. Five be-
long to the Northern Pacific Company
and the other one is to be owned by a
Brazil railroad company. These locomo-
tives outweigh any other machine of the
same kind, their weight being 250,O00
pounds, or 125 tons each. While this en-
| gine was being attached, as we stood
there on the platform, we could see far
up the moutain side aud view the cir
cuitous route we were to follow in order
to reach the other SIDE There were high
trestles on short curves, winding in and
around, and a tunnel-two gaping holes
in the earth, and from our position it
was impossible to tell which end we were
to enter. On leaving the valley we passed
| over very high trestle which formed a
complete half circle, and from the rear
car the engine seemed to be going in the
opposite direction. This was one of the
most interesting parts of our trip as we
wound up the mountain side for short
distance, then turning, would go in the
opposite direction, then back again, yet
each time getting little higher, till fl
nally when the top was reached, we could
look away down past tunnels, line after
| line of the terraced track into the tops of
the tall pines below. This was a thrill
ing experience throughout, and every
moment filled with the deepest interest.
Two gentlemen who had made the trip
from the far East, were comparing the
scenery of the Alleghenies, and said,
THAT was fine, but this is simply grand"
Away up on the lonely summit was lit
tie shanty and board set up beside it
bearing the appropriate words, "Sky
Line"
One of the most sublime sights which
we witnessed while in the mountains was
vast forest fire. 1t was about 10 o'clock
at night Away up in the mountain top
and far down the side the fire was raging.
Oh, how Insignificant and helpless we
seemed as we stood there in the dark
ness and watched that fierce element
twisting and tearing those immense trees
in its mad fury, as though they had been
mere straws The wind was blowing
| very hard. and it was with an aWed feel