Morning journal and courier., 1891-07-14

ward and upward, until far above timber
line, we find ourselves in q vast semi-cir-
cular amphitheatre formed of red noun
tains, whose jagged and seerrated peaks are
outlined against the soft blue heavens Red
is the prevailing color with here and there
dashes of yellow and OF brown. From q
distance these bright peaks, rising from
their evergreen base, are gorgeously beau
tiful, but here in the glaring light of the
sun the colors are painfully dazzling.
Near the summit of one of the southern
peaks are the buildings of the Sailor Boy
mine, while to the west on the pinnacle of
a mountain stands lone cabin silhouetted
against the sky. Over the slender trail
that winds its serpentine course up to it,
we see moving objects, which, by the aid
of our glass, we discover to be a man and
woman walking slowly. As the woman
carries parasol, we conclude they are
"tenderfeet," who, deceived by the dis
tance, have attempted to climb to thessum-
init, as parasols are unknown necessities
in the mountains.
Climbing over mountains of red rock,
sharp and broken, my attention is fully
occupied in clinging to the saddle, as my
horse stands almost perpendicularly in his
efforts to climb the steep ascent. As we
pause at level space for our horses to re-
gain breath, look for the figures moving
so slowly over the blood-red trail, but they
have disappeared from view.
AS we proceed we Cross small mountains
of snow, solid enough to bear the com
bined weight of ourselves and horses, al
though they occasionally break through
and struggle and founder to reach the
surface. The snow is coarse, granulated
and very dirty, and has probably lain here
for ages.
Our horses can go no further, so we dis
mount and Chamber up the rocks, using
gosl-the summit of Red mountain peak
No. 3. The wind is blowing perfect
gale, yet the air is warm and pure. We
shout to each other, but can scarcely hear
the sound of our own voices.
What grand and wonderful view of
the mountain peaks. They encircle us on
every side. To the east is Bonita noun
tain, on the western slope of which is the
Sampson mine An old toll road, fallen
into disuse since the advent of the new
Rainbow route. skirts it's base. To the
south King Solomon rises in lefty majesty,
and still further in the same direction are
The Needles, their slender columnar peaks
dim and misty in the distance.
Here are mountains of cool gray ira
chyte, like turreted castles, with many par
apets and moats and battlements, looking
like fortresses of feudal times. Indeed,
throughout the whole Rocky mountain
range these castellsted peaks are frequently
seen. Other peaks are black and crum-
bling, showing the action of fervid heat al
some period of their history. Still other
peaks there are of red, of yellow and OF
brown. In fact the mountains are of
many different forms and colors, with un-
even surfaces and wave-like peaks, like
stiffened ocean pillows.
We gather clusters of pink and of wild
flowers growing out of crevices in rock,
where no soil is visible, neither is there q
green leaf to be seen, yet the little bios
SONS are as delicate and beautiful as il
fostered with the tenderest care.
With a last long look at the marvellous
view we make our way carefully down the
steep declivity, mount our horses and de
scend the mountain, which is more diff
cult and hazardous than the ascent.
When we reach Corkscrew gulch, The
sun, directly above our heads, is pouring
his hottest beams upon us. Our faithful
dog, who has patiently followed us, hai
succumbed to the heat and lies painting
and weary in the scorching yellow sanc
| before our horses feet.
As we enter Ironton we find the villag
still quiet and deserted. 1t is as peaceful
as Puritan Sabbath in a New Englan,
country town. The saloons are conspicu
Gus by the absence of their usual 1ounger
and hangers-on. Can we have mistakel
see two small flags hanging limp AM
motionIess in the hot noontide air. 1t i
the glorious Fourth. Heated and tired W
climb the mountain to our comfortabl
quarters at the Paymaster mine.
| Late in the afternoon heavy detonstion
are heard The sound echoes and re-echoe
through the canyons, crashing and reve1
berating through the mountain ranges Gk
heavy artillery. The employees of the Yan
kee Girl mine, waxing patriotic, are 81
ploding dynamite to celebrate the day
which echo prolongs and repeats.
At 6 o'clock the sun sinks behind tn
tallest peak of the opposite range and de
lightful change is felt at once in the stmos
phere.
For many days the woods have been o
fire, caused by sparks from the locomotiv
on the Rainbow route. AS the breez
freshens fires which have been shoulder
ing all day burst into flames We coun
five from our open door. How quickl
the flames run up the trees, leaping from
one to another as if in sport, and ho'
slowly, but surely, they are creeping u
the mountain side, leaving ia
monuments of glowing Goals to mar
their course. The cracking of the gree
wood is heard above the roar of the rive
in the canyon below. 1 hear expression
of regret that SO much valuable timber
being destroyed, and 1 know that to-mo
row the green shimmering groves of "qui
Xmas" will be sadly msrred and disfgure
by the charred and blackened trail of fir,
yet glory in the sight.
AS the night deepens the scene is ind
scribably beautiful; the glowing, brilliaI
flames, and the calm pale moonlight ov'
ALL
1t is natures grand pyrotechnic, and
fitting close of our unique and long-to-b
remembered Fourth of July in the Rookie
RACHEL ROGERS