Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-12
DOWN PANTHER HOLLOW.
A VIEW OF THE ROMANTIC BEAUTIES OF
ScHENLEY PARK.

Mayor Gourley's Little Mishnp-A Tramp
That Was Full of Incideut-How rho
Work of Improvement is ProgressIng>-
A Member of the Party Lost In the
wilds.
Chief Bigelow, of the Department Of Pub
lie Works, yesterday gave nearly a score of
newspaper men a carriage drive and ro-
mantle tramp through the wilds Of Schenley
Park. Mayor Gourley and T. Holmes Mil
Ter accompanied the party from City Hall,
and James Mcknight, who has charge OF
the workmen engaged in the park, joined the
tourists at the park. The party occupied five
carriages and left City Hall at o'clock.
The entrance to the park was made by way of
Boquet street, down the valley across Four
Mile Run, past the ruins of the comatose Squir-
rel Hill Railway. and by a long, winding road
to the summit of the highest hill in the park.
From this point the party enjoyed the grand
view which may be had in every direction. In
one direction the spectator beholds Heron Hill
reservoir, and to its right Bloomfield,
with the big stone tower of the Allie
gheny Cemetery in the distance. Toward
the east the spires OF the East End, further to
the right the rolling hills up the Monon gahela,
and to the south the green heights across the
river. present beautiful panorama. A cooling
breeze blowing over the hills. waving the tree
Z,
lockers and Increas cd their appreciation Of the
scenes glories.
A ROMANTIC GLADE.
Through Schenley Park, from east to west
there is a deep valley. whose steep sides are
heavily wooded. This is Panther Hollow, and
the walk down that rough glade was the princi-
pal event of the day. The carriages were left
at deserted house which stands near the head
of the glade. The members of the party were
led into old springhouse where they drank
pure cool water bubbling up from the stones.
On the hillside above this house is a log cabin
without doors or windows. Here, Chief Bigelow
said, romance about George Washington
would fit well. The party was grouped in front
of the cabin and photographed. Then they began
the descent of the gully, Mcknight leading the
way. Although the way was romantic it was
toilsome. The explorers climbed down steep
green banks, over logs, through uhderbrush
and over rocks and pools. here and there slip
ping on mossy stones and splashing into the
turbulent rill flowing down the bottom of the
shaded glade. There are numerous neat water
falls and embowered hooks which lovers like.
No one met with serious mishap, but there
were narrow escapes. The Mayor took a header
from q slippery stone and plunged into pool,
only his umbrella saving him from headlong
fall Another unfortunate toppled of a rotten
log across lthe stream, and went into water
above his knees. The tramp was over half
mile long, and when The western end OF the
valley was reached 1t was discovered that one
member OF the party, an old soldier, had been
lost somewhere. No one was sufficiently
venturesome to return for him, and it was
voted that he knew how to find his way home.
A GOOD PEDESTRIAN.
After climb up long hill the carriages
were again reached. Chief Bigelow proved
himself to be pedestrian. He was as fresh at
the end as at the start, while many others were
blowing like hippopotami. The party was
driven to the farm house near the eastern
border of the park where the BEARS the eagle
and other curiosities we're kept. A lad work
ing in the park wrestled with the larger bear
for the amusement OF the visitors, and the car
rIages then drove to Forbes avenue and re-
turned to the CITY,
Two hundred workmen are now engaged in
making roads through the park, clearing up
and burning rubbish, cutting grass, etc. Some
of the roads arc only temporary, to enable
working teams to reach various parts of the
4l5-acre tract. Chief Bigelow was busy during
the afternoon explaining the details Of his i'm
provemeDts, pointing out the location of the
high iron bridge which Is to cross the ravine
north of the park and provide driveway from
St Pierre street, indicating the course of the
speeding track around one of the hills, and
showing where other drives and ornamental
features would be constructed. Work is going
on rapidly. By July the park will be in good
condition for driving.