Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-08-25
BAD LANDS WONDERS.
A STRANGE, UNcANNY AND FAscI-
MATING SIGHT.

+" AC AIC1AACslAOuh Outs |
put of Sature-Problems Beyond the
Depth Of science-The Marquis DC
Mores-An Underworld of Fire.
Especial Correspondence
MEDoRA, n. D., Aug. 15.-This strange, I
uncanny town is situated in the very heart
OF the Mauvaises Terres. or Bad Lands-a !
weird and wonderful strip Of territory, and
one that has no counterpart on our planet. |
It lies in the northeast corner of North Da-
kota and is 30 miles in length by 10 in
width.
Circumstances lately called me here. and
l will try to transcribe my impressions of
the infinitely fearful yet fascinating scenery
by which Lam surrounded.
l boarded a Northern Pacific t~.in a. St.
a as shutdown was splashihy the sky
with scarlet splendor and was soon brin,
whirled through the sylvan scenery of Min
nesota. Night drifted in. and when day
break pearled in peerless light we were far
on, on thundered the train over leagues,
leagues and leagues Of prairie. On. on, on
thundered the train for hours. hours and
hours through a timberless land-a land
without a hill, valley or forest to break the
monotony OF the view. On, on, on, until
suddenly the scene underwent a trans
formation SO unreal. grotesque and uncan-
ny that gave a start and stared out Of the
car window, wondering if l had become the
victim Of an optical illusion.
My awe and amaZemenr grew the longer
l gazed upon the view unfolding before my
vision as the train wen spinning through
the sunlight.
Todescrlbe the marvellous scenery-to de.
pict its miracle combinations Of form. col
or and suggestion-would require an inspi-
ration denied to finite man.
To paint it would throw a Dore into de-
spair.
To picture it with the pen would cause a
Ruskin to reel from the task.
Buttes from 80 to 80 feet high tower on
every hand, huddled together like freaks
that seek the sympathetic society Of fellow
freaks, full knowing they nave nothing in
COMMON with the common world. These
buttes are formed Of argillaceous lime
stone, Ignite, acoria, friable sandstone and
raw clay-some possessing all of these ele-
ments. some possessing four, three, two or
only one.
Many OF the mounds are striped with
varying dyes. Here is one that is blue,
brown and gray. There looms one that is
golden at the base. its primrose tint chang
ing to bright white higher up, while its
summit is scarlet as your blood. Yonder
is one that looks like a vast pyramid of
spotless snow, while farther on is anoth-
er green with grass. Hundreds, thousands.
triple rrine thousands Of these unspeakable
formations stretch of, off and off till they
fade in the opal sky line and are lost ia lone
some space.
Between the buttes are great gulches
spread with bunch and buffalo grasses and
ground juniper. Trees are few. but stray
cedars can be s:en On the margins Of the
streams that wind their whipping way 10
the Little Missouri.
self as l walked up the silent. solitary
street OF the .iscie hamiec-s hamlet 0: in
ternational hamlet suggesting a
Renaissance al every step. It is situated
On a plain OF several acres in area aud is
cinccurcd By commanding butces. II was
founded bE ea= Marquis de Mores. was
chriscsna in honor OF his young. dazhiag.
beautiful American vile. and had a popu-
larion OF so in its pa!my days. when the
French noblenan held cour in that hand
some villa ~ yonder beautiful plateau
overlooking the Little Missouri.
And this is Meiora.t'
Not a sound broke the silence, nor song
of bird. nor hum of bee, nor chirp Of cricket.
nor lowing Of herds-n0hing. Not a foot
step on the sidewalks save my own. and
the windows Of every house I passed were
boarded up.
Istroiled on, looking for a sign Of life.
How silent it was! I shirerei, though
the air was the air Of July. If 1 could only
hear the crill or buzz OK chirp Of a ~sentien,
thing. If only a dog would run GU, and
bark at me! Bur, no. Silence like that Of
the dead NON rolling through space.
walked Oh. a feeling Of terror beginning
TO clutch at my heart. An. here was an
open door ct last. and an old man doing
Out a stick Of candy to a kid. saun,erei
in and was soon in converse with the Soii-
tary tradssmaa left in the town-a fine gen
rleman; one Of the good old type.
After resting nyselt and recruiting my
scanr? store OF knowledge from the utter
anca OF my new acquaintance I requested
him to direct me 70 the home Of Nj. James
W. Foley, who s~uperin,ends the immense
American properties Of the Marquis de
Nors. He ? tinted out a substantial brick
house a few blocks of-she fines. residence
in the place barring the one tina, was for
merry the home Of the French nobieman
himself.
l had a delightful reception at the hands
Of Mr.. Foley, and he Impressed me as .
man of native talent, supplemented b. ex-
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