Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1895-11-06
A PRACTICE MARCH.
From WhppIs Barracks to the Natural Bridge and Return From the Diary
 Kept by K. II. slezinger.

the bridge IS curved. From its oval arch hang all sizes, shapes, colors and descriptions of stalactite, like the dome of some ancient cath, dral. The sides of the bridge are cut up with numerous small caves; one cave, only accessible by means of a ladder 10 feet long rising perpendicular up
 the side of the bridge and held m
 place by ropes, should be mentioned;
 it Is at the mouth 20 feet high and
 40 feet deep, the height gradually
 decreasing toward the back of the cave; the cave is full of stalactite
 formations from which water is con tinually dripping. A person in this cave for any length of time is con scious of a deep feeling creeping over him. The writer stood at the mouth of the cave and played on a trumpet several marches, the vibra- ton of the music playing through
 the pendants produced a mighty
 and beautiful symphony. A little stream (all that now remains of the river, which, in ages past, had mar shalled its forces against the solid rock. and by its incessent toll at last
 presented to Arizona this natural wonder) flows beneath the bridge and is lost from view in the little canyon. North of the bridge in the canyon sides are many caverns, very beautiful in their natural decora- tions. While exploring one of these caves one of the men discovered, written on the ceiling, in lead pencil, ! the name "E. V. Doris, Phenix," which showed that these caves have ! been visited before. Proceeding about POO feet in the narrow gorge, north of the bridge, one comes to a beautiful cascade having a perpend- icular descent of about 65 feet. Standing below and looking up at the crystal spray, one discerns all the colors of the rain bow. The cascade is notable for its petrifying qualities; owing to the mineral properties contained in the water any solid matter placed beneath the water fall will, in the course of a brief period, petrify; several articles "a deer's head. pair of baby shoes, toy horse and cart, a lady's silk pocket handkerchief, two bottles, 8 rattlesnake, centipede and a hair rope were then under the cas- cade undergoing petrifaction, The Natural Bridge is not visited by tourists as much as the Grand Canyon, yet the opinion of many, who have seen both, is that the picturesqueness of the scenery in and about the bridge is nearly equal to that of the canyon. The time 1.-two hours) allowed the men to view the bridge and contiguous attrac- tions was, at last, up and the com mand reluctantly turned their faces toward camp, arriving there at 6 p. m. While the troops were away two men, who had been left behind, 1 made a wheel, more substantial than any other of the wheels of the wagons, and when the tools they | had to work with-an axe and draw ing knife-are considered, their pro duction, though rough Tn appear ance, reflected great credit on their genius. On the morningof the 21th the command left Pine, Tn heavy marching order, homeward bound, Wishing to test the new wheel, prophisied by the wise ones not to last three miles, the march was very short, the troops going into camp at Strawberry, five miles from Pine. The wheel was in such good condi- ton that it was decided capable to carry the heavy load on the wagon home. The next morning the troops broke camp and at 5:45 a. m. the l march once more resumed. The awful Strawberry hill was climbed, the wagons doubling up, in good season. From the top of the hill a splendid view of Tonto Basin ex- tending for miles was had. The march was over the same ground travelled on the way to the bridge. When Soldiers Tanks" were reached the command was thrown into great consternation by the re- port that the tanks were dry, and they must continue on to Mud Tanks" hoping that, during their absence, the king of the elements had smiled on the dessolate place and from His mighty store, in rain, allowed enough water to fall i'll the tanks to supply the command. How ever they were saved from this inn probability by the discovery of some water down in a ravine near the tanks, and the men now beginning to realize the true worth of water, their canteens empty, and with parched throats, were soon partak- ing of the pure @ sparkling bever- age provided by nature; there was vet enough when they had quenched tbeir thirst and the animals watered
 for cooking purposes, and the com mand having marched eleven miles camp was pitched here. During the evening the "camp chorristers," by singing such inspiring songs as Little Annie Rooney, Comrades and Who Wouldn't be a Soldier, sue ceeded in raising to considerable degree the spirits of those who had not yet recovered from the shock oc- casioncd ny the thought of again camping at Mud Tanks"
 The uI.n were astir very earl ly the next morn.ng, for before them, on this day, was the longest days march of all. Within twenty mln- Ltes after breakfast the wagons were packed and at $50 a. m. as. sembly sounded. Ranks were opened and knapsacks inspected to see ii they were packed according to the regulations, i. e., one blanket, a pail of shoes and a change of under. clothing, and as it was rumored about the camp that all delinquen- cies would be made up with "rocks,
 the men had their packs" properly packed. and at 6 a. ID. this extraor dinary march began. The road was in good condition, though a little rocky, the command making rapid progress, and soon reached Mud Tanks, six miles away. If this
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