Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-09-01


and bare till at the Pillars of Her
cules two steep bare rocks ap-
proach so close as to leave only
room for brook and carriage way.
A little further on are the Seven
Falls in which the lovely brook de-
scends into a sort of pool around
which, as il worn out thus through
ages of time, the granite rock tow
ers precipitous. A staircase Of
many hundred steps permits access
to the top Of the fall, with charm
ing views on the way. From this
point a hard climb brings one TO
the chief object of interest higher
up, though the burro trail below,
or winding way little further
on are far preferable. That point
is the "Grave of II. H." 1t is the
place chosen by an eminent writer
of New England, Mrs. Helen
Hunt Jackson. as her last resting
place. In her "Bits'of Travel at
Home" the charm of her culture
and the witchery of her genius
were used to fix on the knowledge
and memory of many readers the
sunrises and skies, the flash and
music of the waters, the brilliant
procession of the flowers, ,'the rich
hues and hchen-tints of the crags
and pinnacles of this region. The
spot is in II grove of pines on a
peak somewhat below the highest
of Cheyenne mountain, with
peaks around and mountain
gorges below, while far below APP
pears Colorado Springs, its build
ings and streets plainly seen
throuh a glass, as also the ceme-
terry to which Mrs. Jackson's dust
has lately been transferred, while
further eastward a wide extent of
plain fades in the dim distance.
1t is quite the fashion, and not
very difficult, to ascend Pixies
Peak. There are at least four
ways by Cheyenne mountain, by
Bear Creek canyon, by Cascade
carriage road, and for a year past
by the cog wheel railroad. The
last two are the only ones followed
to any extent. After inquiry !
chose the Cascade way. We, a
party of five, took the Colorado
Midland train for IL steep rocky
miles. through or s tunnels, to a
little hamlet at the foot OF Cascade
canyon, finding when we reached
the place that only two of US could
go and since our three ladies
would not be separated, the two
were Mr.. S. and myself. | will not
attempt to describe our journey of
six hours and seventeen miles over
a road which is master piece Of
engineering skill, with no ascent
sleeper than one foot in 10, from a
point about half as high to "A, ,147
feet above the sea level. l may
note the view of South Park as on a
map beneath our feet OF the hori-
zon framed on the northwest and
west by Snowy and Sangre de Girls
to ranges and from the tops Of the
three towns and the Garden of the
Gods just beneath our feet, while
far to the east and north and south,
as to Moses, on Pisgah stretch the
fields and plains Of eastern Colora-
do, the water courses discernible
far away in the blue distance by
the green OF the trees they nourish.
We marked the gradual dwar6ng
of vegetation in the ascent, till on
ly tiny plants two inches high,
with flowers blue and yellow of
like pettiness appear among the
powders of the summit and of
the rarity ofthe air, making exer-
ton difficult to most persons,
and breathing to many, and
rendering the ascent unsafe
to those troubled with heart
disease. The descent took
less than half the time of the as
cent, at a speed that seemed at
times perilous as some sharp turn
was made, but with absolute
safety. thanks to a kind Provi-
dence, and the skill Of our capable
Jehu.
Enough of this. In those two
weeks, all too brief, were treasured
memories that will for long be
joy and an inspiration-memorie
Of the wondrous work in nature of
Him whose is "the strength Of the
hills"