Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-07-22
OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY,
Or A Three Days and Three Nights
Trip Across the Country.


weather. Our party consisted of VIM. M. Som
merfeld, of Coulee City. Wash, and b5us, Louis
Urtebees and myself of WATERFOWL, W is. We start
ed happy trio contrary to the rule that two are
company and three are none. Our Intention
to take no note of time, only SO far as to note
the difference of time between Wisconsin and
Washington. which is just two hours. We
reached Bismark, the capitol of N. Dakota, the
next morning, through the monotony of prairie
land and immensely of green in all shades,
which under cultivation would supply the
world. still like the land of the Dakotss. We
passed the habitats of the little prairie dogs,
which. cute and alert, sit straight up on their
mound houses inspecting with wonder our
rushing trsins, finally lodging below Into their
dens, where their companions are saidito be the
rattlesnake and the owl quite domesticated.
The prairies wave with, fine crops, luxuriant
grass and lowers of various hues. Crossing the
great high bridge of the n. 2. r. R.. over the
wide swelling Missouri, We reach Mandan,
where we have tenl minutes to inspect the
Indian Bazar," which proved very interest
ing study OF animals native to thattcountry, all
preserved intact, looking as in life: There were
elk heads, DEER coyotes, wolves, beautiful white
owls, cranes eagles BIRDS waterfowl etc.; be-
sides Indian work, moccasins, bead work, pol
ishedI horns and dressed angora goat skins,
lustrous amt beautiful, in fact all were arranged
in perfect order and worthy a longer stay. All
were for sale, but at high prices We Journey
on and soon enter the bad lands" now called
Pyramid park; a land of strange formations a
country OF huge boulders aud grotesque pyra-
mids of q reddish brown rock, showing the
e.
vast lurking place for the Willy savage to surprise
the unwary, And look! there stands lone sem
ttnel upon the rocks above us to guard the
"pass'' as We enter, a lone Indian, with out
stretched ann, in that sombre land, silent and
lasting witness of a vanished race 10 warn
against the Invasion of tie white man. Yesl
there he stands as in life, even to his buckskin
attire. A pdrifed Indian stands upon juttIng
rock just above the railroad cut. Question? Did
he stand thee and die? His petrified dog stands
short distance away, the lone follower of that
lone and desd Indian. stone dog, stone In-
dian. stone 6ead, Hal On through 60 miles of
bad lands'we reach Glendive, Montana at
P. M, the It'll. Here we reach the Yellowstone
river. wide deep and rapid stream, which is our
interesting companion for matter of $50 miles
of it. the mountainous region upon the other side
oftrack, We reach Livingston at A. NJ, July s,
when 10, the mountain tops appearing white with
the frosts of ages, their snow-capped SUBMITS
glistening Geld and white under the shining sun.
looking so near and yet so far, we gradually as
cend Ihs, frs, belt range of the Rockies. called
the Snow mountains. Winding our way up snd
over here and there, first we see the engine then
the rear car around short curves, over high
| trestles we use our eyes, at the scene below US
with EXPLANATIONS of Oh rs and Ahs and Oh!
how grand OH how impressive. Oh! what
beauty of scenery. Running from platform to
car we lean far out, cinching the rail to gaze up
| on the rommti. scenes below and around us and
slowly swing along, while the great eight-wheel
ers labor onand up with bated breath, careful of
| their precious burden, while up the divide
| they puffpuff Now and then we catch q
gimpse.Oea purling mountain stream clear and
l. sparkling over its rocky bed, suggestive of trout
| and the finny tribe glance from side to side
| reveal the beauties Of some woodland glen, cool
| and inviting now and then III some dark ravine
| among the pine growth might lurk some savag e
| beast, begrudging us our safety far above him.
| Here we seestanding rocks like ruined walls OF
y
Running side and side, up the mountain tower
| ing high above uswe enter tunnels, and passing
| over the first belt we descend. Now and then
we see hsbtation suitable to these wilds, and
anon catch glimpse OF a veritable coal mine,
and still on We reach Boseman, ,057 miles from
| st. Paul, striking the Gallatin river fine deep
| stream, with clean cut banks Finding our pa rty
in lively spirits well and enjoying all the lovely
S lights OF mountain scenery, the beautiful rush
ing rivers, the variety of wild flowers bedecking
hill and valby the acres of the rich hued cactus
| in bloom and the many scenes passing before u,
pastoral in their beauty not to forget the miles
| of sage brush in Montana we find "Helena" at
1:30, July s, the richest mining city in the state
or county, quite pretty. nesting among the
| hills. the STOW capped mountains in the dis
! lance. From Helena we begin to climb in
earnest the "big Belt divide" Up and up the
two mass i've eight-wheeled locomotives climb
the mountain side, telling faithfully and we'll.
! bearing their rather timid human freight. Look
here we cone to the highest trestle bridge, near
! ly 3U0 feet high; we cross. looking down in
the deep gulies, some big cinnamon or grizzly
could easily appear. Down, down we gaze fir N
| some dizzy height, our track doubling again
| and again, always in sight rounding one grade
above another. Now through long dark tun'
mel. one nile long. under snow sheds, the
| scenery is as wild and impressive as that we read
| of. And lo! tits here before US feasting oul
| eyes, until at last we pass over the big divide
| and the little station of "blossburg' appears
where we leave one locomotive aud begin the
descent. We often some smooth and well
| used wagon road below us. an unexpected
sight among such solitudes. Now and then we
sight some old placer mine or ditch long in dis
| use, then some hidden little door to a noun tair
| cave, suggesting some lost or gained fortune
And all the grand old hills rounding one upol
another in our sight, Oh! these grand old hill
| and running rils. the hand of Nature hatl
| adorned. Presently we pass massive pile o
| cut wood, which is being washed down the
mountain. through q small chute propelled by
a driving stream, the same being cut and sawed
| on the mountain-top ready for use. Suddenly
we see little white house cuddling down sone
wild ravine, we futter a 'kerchief. which II
readily responded to bv its tidy mistress standing
| in the doorway. Afar off we see mountain mul
tiplied by mountain, enveloped in that soft blu
haze, the delight of the artist to copy. Not al
the hills are clothed in green. but rightly named