Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-15

fakir. Whether it is because he has lived alone so much, sometimes not hearing the sound of human voioe among those awful solitudes for six months and has fallen into the habit of inventing yarns to pass the time know not, but certainly Munchau- sen must hang his head before John Hance. 1 was warned before l went to the camp, "Be sure and get him to tell you the story of his horse's jumping over into the can yon." So when we sat in his daintily swept and freshly scrubbed log cabin, hang ing on the rim of the canyon like an eagles nest to a tree, after much entertaining con- versation I said, Captain, what was the greatest peril you were ever exposed to?"
 "Waal," ho said promptly, "1 reckon twas when my hoss jumped right clean over the prccipice and fell over 5000 feet, with me on his back"
 "Dcar me-" said, land you ivedp' "Why, yes! Faint so easy ter kill John Hance. I reckon I hain't sense enough tor git killed. My hoss got scared at some mountain sheep and drove 'em a-goin after 'cm. and scs, Now, John, hang on, and jest give him tF., whip and spur and over we went. Now, mind ye, whilc he was a-fallin l was a-ridin, and jest before we struck the bottom of the canyon jumped of, and so saved my life He went on and was dashed to pieces"
 All this without blush or tremor of tho cyclids. There was silence for the space of half minute and then, while the liar yard professor who was with me looked sadly at the floor, said, "Now captain, know just aS well as you that am ten derfoot, but you can't expect me to believe that yarn.
 Strong Proof.
 1T never tell no stories I can't prove, " replied John Hance of Arizona. "Come hero, mom." And leading mo to the door way of his cabin ho pointed down 3, 900 feet into tho canyon. Right down there, do you see that white spot? Yes? Waal, thcms tho bones of that thar critter a-bleachin.
 Most remarkable theory in physics, D | unused tho Harvard professor as we walked back to camp. ''Tho horse was falling, | you notice, and Hance was riding. As tounding!" And he shook his head gravely. | Subsequent investigation proved "that | them bones a. -bleachin'' were the remains | of n pack horse belonging to n cowboy. | John evidently found them bones" and l Muve his delightful little story around l them.
 | Hanco takes people down the trails into l tho canyon and charges for his pack horse | and his company $12 day for each per | son. which of course is not exorbitant | when you consider tho entertainment he l provides. It is a frightfully rough triI | for a lady and seldom undertaken. A l woman must ride astride going down | She should provide herself with equestrian | tights, high cloth gniters or leggings, thick l shoes ono or two sizes too large for her feel | and very short skirt. A loose blouse o silk or some wash fabric and n hat which | shades the faco arc absolutely necessary l An Alpine stick will bo found useful or | tho return if one wearies of tho horse ant wishes to walk awhile. Men should pro vido themselves with high boots such a. | tho miners wear or leather leggings coming to the knees. Never go into the canyoI l without whisky and ammonia, in case O rattlers. Tho best plan to follow in visit ing the bottom of the canyon is to go dowl ono day, stay all night at Hance's winte cabin and return the next morning. Th view at night looking mp the canyon wall is indescribably magnificent
 Into the Gorge.
 It is an event when the little procession | leaves the camp to take the trail dowl into the awful gorge First goes the grea | Hance himself, scolding because so few ar riding horses. Then you come, feelin; like scarccrow and assuredly looking lik one. The pack horsc laden with provisions blankets, etc, brings up the rear. Every body comes out of tho tents to wish yol goodby and good luck Tho dog barks l "Ming'' waves q towel Of farewell, tn pines shut out the friendly camp iron your sight, and you begin your descen
 into the unoarthly ohasm. Seven thou
 sand feet down lies the river, and to reacl
 it you must ride six miles.
 Two hundred miles away you see
 mountain peak in Utah, and the canyol
 itself stretches before you, one vast, gigan
 tic rent in tho earth's crust, If miles iron
 rim to rim. And out of this tremendou
 gash rise temples, pyramids, domes caS ties, cathcdralS, towers, ramparts, fOrtiflca | tionS, huge mOnOliths and ObeliskS an
 spires, hobgoblin and elflsh faces an
 shapes, streets and boulevards of ruine
 cities hurled together as if the hand whic , had caused this chaos had flung them fror
 him in righteous wrath. And, broodin
 above all, the softest, blucSt sky, the mos
 glorious sunlight, the heeciest of clouds
 The whole superb panorama is suffuse
 with soft violet and crimson light. Tn , cooring of the cliffs ranges from pales pink to deepest rcd, with bands of browE gray, white, yellow and blue. Coloring shape, size VnstncsS, beauty, surround an ovorwhelm you. You arc crushed wit
 your own insignifcancC You are trant , ported to tho very portals of paradise.
 EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER.