The times., 1891-01-16

far as Telluride, on our way to Silverton,
via the ''High line traip' to Ouray. thence
by stage and railroad to Silverton, 1.-THE
city OF the Clouds" After good nights
rest at Telluride and an early breakfast
next morning. found each of US astride a
ure-foOted horse. with guide equally well
mounted, and our baggage strapped to the
back of frisky but diminutive br0nchO,
lead by our guide ready for an eighteen
mile ride. BY the way, the distance from
Telluride to Ouray i'm direct line Is six
miles; by the way OF the high line trail
eighteen miles, and by wagon road, fifty
four miles. Quite difference between air
line and wagon road route. The first two
miles of our ride was on wagon road to
the Pandora Mill, thence by trail to the top
of the mountain. The Pandora is a very
large and complete mill, for treating gold
and silver ore from the mines In Marshall
Basin. The mine owners are rich English
tea merchants at Hong Kong, China, with
Mr.. Walters, an experienced miner, as
manager at salary of$15, 900 a year and
an interest in the mine. The owners GER
tainly had great confidence i'm the Judgment
and ability of Mr.. Waters, for think OF
spending seven years. time and $3.50, 600 in
developing work, before realizing any fin
nancial benefit. Men who are willing to
spend three-quarters of million dollars in
an undertaking of the kind, are certainly
entitled to great credit and rich returns for
their enterprise. If the reports are true
that they have $l5, 900. 900 in sight 1t means
riches to the owners, confidence in the sur
rounding hills, opening and developing OF
numerous claims, and a bright future for
Telluride.
From the Pandora we could see the Rain
bow Falls, $50 feet high, q beautiful sight,
for the sun was just climbing over the
mountain, and the refectian of the rays in
the rushing water gave all the prismatic
colOrs, hence the name. Soon we COM
mence to climb the zig-zag trail, every few
steps revealing change of scenery In this
great panorama of nature" The trail
was quite steep and in places narrow. Now
and then we would pass drove of burrOs
on their way to mill, each carrying two
sacks of ore weighing about 225 pounds.
On their return trip they carry supplies to
the miners. The owners of the burrO out
fits do their work by contract, and make
money at 1t. No wonder, for it Is said
burrOs live on brush, tin cans and rubbish.
In the course of two hours we find our
selves above timber line. The buildings of
mines, before mentioned, can be seen in
the distance. Above the line of vegetation,
II is wierd sight, once seen never to be
forgotten. Now we gaze on the cOld bleak
rocks, rising hundreds of feet above us, in
all their majestic grandeur. In the words
of the poet:
"On massive cliff walls natures hand
Has turned times well worn pages:
In faces carved and figures hewn,
We trace the work of ages"
About us we see broken rock, stone and
sand, without vestige of shrubbery, not
even the cactus. In this locality hundreds
of men, mostly Welchmen, are engaged i'm
active mining. They are steady, faithful
men and well deserve the wages paid them
(S4.00 per day, for to the dangers of their
work is added the fear of that dread disease
pneumonia, which is prevalent in this high
altitude, and in most cases proves fatal in
two days. From here to the summit, dis
tance of one mile, might well be called the
''lung tester" trip, and / might add If you
haven't your nerve" with you, turn back,
for it isnO place for weak lungs or nerves.
Here we dismount to give the tired horses a
breathing spell, while we tighten the saddle
girths, and make ready for the final climb.
Again we make start, this time on foot,
followed by our horses, for the trail the
first hundred yards is very steep indeed.
You must know at our present altitude the
air is very light, and it is impossible to
walk more than fifty feet without stopping
for breathing spell. Once more we take
to the saddle. The trail is now along a
narrow ledge where one mis-step or STUN
BILE, and away we go to join McGinty at the
bottom of the canon, thousand feet be-
low us. The last half mile, the so called
trail Is over bed of coarse sand. difficult
even for guide to follow. Finally the
guide dismOunts, points TO an opening be-
tween two high rocks, as the end of our
upward climb. Great Cesar we cry, how
are we to reach that resting spot, for to us
It seems an impossible feat. ''Follow me'
says our leader, and directly we see him
start his horse up the almost perpendicular
hill, while he hangs to the tail of his
horst as sort of ''cable" line to the sum-
NIT. We follow suit" with some misgiv-
ings that our ''hand" may prove "bob-
TAIL" but as we each carry an accident
policy and ten thousand dollars life insur-
ance in the Northwestern Milwaukee (best
company in the world we hang on to our
''cable" line. hoping it will not prove a
"Tale of woe" to our wiyes and babies.
Directly the Top is reached and we pause
for breath, and view of the surrounding
country, Our landing spot is about 1Ox16
feet and as smooth as floor. An inscrip-
tiOn on stone reads, ''13, 1884 feet above sea
level"
We look to the north and can see in the
distance the snow covered peaks of the Un-
compagrhe Mountains, while beneath us
the large mine buildings recently passed,
look like children's play houses. At the
south the sight is equally as grand, and the
view on all sides is worth the trip.
OF course we, like G. s. W., had to leave
our initials at this dizzy height for future
travellers to gaze ON. Time soon came for
us to resume our tramp. The trail for the
first mile was very steep and treacherous,
for In place of gravel and sand, we were
obliged to walk on loose stone and broken
rock. On our way down we enjoyed the
novelty of snowballing with one hand while
we gathered boquet of flowers with the
other.
At the Virgnius mine we stop for water.
The mine is an old one and the mineral
principally gold. At present the owners
are at work on the ninth level; that Is, every
one hundred feet down the center shaft,
they open tunnel at right angles, and
ninth level means ninth tunnel or 900 feet
below the surface. The buildings are
numerous. Besides the mill can be seen
the store ware houses, powder magazines,
boarding house, cottages, tents and library
and reading room. An expensive electric
plant run by water power furnishes light
r.xI .rAt. IL. l.