The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-09-22

the perpendicular precipice of Mt.
Mcdonald, towering still above Hermit
Mountain. Against it lie great patches
Of snow. so near that t seems almost as
if one could touch them. 1t is as though
these two gent mountains had once
been united and some mighty blow had
cleft them asunler barely leaving room
for the railway between them. Half a
dozen glaciers CLEAN from as many
peaks.
As we begin the descent Sir Donald
takes chief place in the line of peaks
Looking away down the slope, the line
Of the road can be traced for many
miles, crossing and re-crossing the
tumbEng stream, and doubling upon
itself in wonderful curves. \ sharp
turn brings the train directly in front
of Glacier House, to our minds the
most wonderfully beautiful spot in the
world. Eye and brain and heart are
all touched and filed Imagine at your
left a great. rugged pyramid rising a
mile and a half above YOU. From un-
der its crown of snow comes a beautiful
stream falling almost perpcndicularly
this whole distance. Directly ahead of
you, and with its fore foot only few
hundred feet above you, lies the Great
Glacier of the Silkirks, said to be larger
than all those in Switzerland taken to-
gcther. In the foreground, directly
hn { =
full little Swiss chalet, surrounded by
perfectly kept lawns and a profusion Of
flowers. Fountains play on either side
into great basins of stones. Curving
about the lawn runs sparkling stream,
fed 10y the glacier, that speeds on its
way down the valley, giistening here
and there through the misunderstanding
pines and great rugged rocks, the beau
tiful Ll!iciIliwast, from which the valley
takes its name. Great snow-capped
peaks cluster all about this spot, like a
guard of honor, set to protect it from
desecrating hands.
As the train rushes down through the
valley We can but marvel at the great
forests Of mammoth trees for which
British Columbia is 50 noted. This
range is said to be the home Of the
Highorn sheep and Mountain goat,
while Bear and Caribou are found
through the valley.
Nearing Albert the train runs along
great assures in the rock, through
which the river runs. At the station
platform has been built out over the
chasm and the train stops for five min
utes to give opportunity for nearer
view of the canyon. Looking directly
down the river boiIs and foams three
hundred feet below, in a channel only
twenty feet in width
Again boarding the train our rapid
descent takes US through beautiful val
leys, past mirror-like lakes, under one
snow-crowned peak after another,
through forests that seem almost bound
less, the constantly changing scenes
r.valling each other in their attractive
ness, The train follows the shore line
of the great Shuswap Lakes. Night
slowly drops her star-gemmcd curtain;
the calm bosom of the lake reflects each
star. \ faint glow prccedes the rising
mcon-as she appears the silver peaks
breathe benson, while her soft radi-
ance, falling upon the water, OutIints an
inviting path that leads away to the
forest in the shadow beyond.
Upon rising Saturday morning we
found ourselves just entering the can
yon of the Fraser River. The line is cut
into the rock on the right hand side.
The great river boilS sullenly between
walls of solid brownisle gray stone.
while prccipltous, forcst-laden cliffs rise
thousands of feet above. Ali along at
tcHtion is drawn to the old government
wagon road which is cut into the side
of the mountains opposite the railway.
At times it runs down to the rivers
edge but it soon climbs again, and is
seen seemingly pinned up against the
cliff with slender sticks. Its bridges
are broken and washed away, in many
places the supporting timbcrs have
given away, and ayalanches have cut
great slices out of it. y short distance
below Cisco it runs across bare cliff
1900 feet above the river, built out upon
bracing timbcrs like q narrow shelf
One shudders at the thought of riding
along that road in a stage drawn by four
horses, yet in that manner miners and
their supplies We're regularly carried
over this old Caribou road.
The canyon widens and narrows.
Down on little lodges Of the pcrpen-
dicular rocks, close over the swirling
river, one may see Indians, looking
like the tiniest little images, so far be-
low as are they, sitting motionless with
spear upifted, waiting for salmon, or
more frequently they drag their great,
long-handled dip nets up the current,
lifting them to drop them below again.
Beside each Of them little booths are
built of a few rough poles, the roofs
covered with leaves, and occasionally.
Is the line drops near enough to the
river We can catch sight of the glisteu-
H.. tth : "a Ci HttIlIltIl liidl INC -! III vs.
are hanging under these sheds to dry.
\ cable stretched across the torrent.
from one great rock to another, with
two ropes swinging just unnerncath it
attracted our attention. Upon inquiry
We found that it was used to transport
miners. \ great basket suspended
from the cable is drawn across the
stream by means of the ropes. one
fond Of Wild adventure might enjoy
such a trip in midair.
At Boston Bar the great black walls
come close together: the river is repeat
edly forced back upon itself. then dash
ing over great masses of fallen rock, it
hurts its force angrily against the next
obstacle that bars its way. 1t has grown
white with foam, and the roar OF its
fury deafens the ear. The line cuts
through ledge after ledge Of projecting
rock. Looking ahead it seems that
there is no way to exit for either river
or railway. Great froWninr walls Of