The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-07-12

4 Marvellous Scene That Wa witnesses
In Alaskan Wilds.

Marvellous SCf nc tuNs " - '"
In Alaskan Wtlds.
After we had seen the unwilling
81 the majestic peaks and glaciers
that evening and their baptism In
the downrouring sunbeams u was
inconoeivable that nature could have
finer to show us Never
compared with what was
coming the next morning. all that
was as nothing. As far AS we could
see the lovely dawn gave no promise
NJ ANYTHING uncommon. Its most
features were the frosty
clearness of the sky and a deep,
brooding calm, made all the more
striking by the intermittent thunder
of the bergs. The sunrise we did not
see at all, for we were beneath tho
shadows Of the ford cliffs, but In
the midst of our studies we were
startled by the sudden appearance
of red light burning with strange
unearthly splendor on the topmost
peak of the Fairweather mountains.
Instead of vanishing AS suddenly as
it had appeared it spread and spread
until the whole range down to the
level of tho glaciers was filled with
the celestial fire. In color it was at
irst a vivid crimson, with thick,
furred appearance as fine AS the al.
penglow, yet indescribably rich and
dcep-not in the least like a garment
or mere external flush or bloom
through which one might expect 10
see the rocks or snow, but every
mountain apparently glowing from
the heart like molten metal fresh
from furnace.
Beneath the frosty shadows OF the
ford we stood hushed and awe strick-
en-. gazing at the holy vision, and had
we seen the heavens opened and
God made manifest our attention
could not have been more tremen
dously strained. When the highest
peak began to burn, it did not seem
to be STEPPED in sunshine, however
glorious. but rather as if it had beer
thrust into the body of the sun it
self Then the supernal fire slowly
descending, with sharp line OF de
narration separating 1t from the
cold, shaded region beneath, peal
after peak, with their spires anC
ridges and cascading glaciers, caugn
the heavenly glow until all tn
mighty host stood TRANSPORTED
hushed and thoughtful. rs If await
ing the coming Of the Lord. Th'
white, rayless light of the morning
seen when was alone amid the 81
lent peaks Of the Sierra, had alway'
seemed to me the most telling OF thu
terrestrial manifestations of God
But here the mountains themselvc
were made divine and declared hi
glory in terms still more impressive
How long we gazed never knew
The glorious vision passed away in
gradual, fading change through
thousand tones of color to pale vel
low and White. and then the work
the ice world went on again in every
day bcaut---. The green waters O
the ford were filed with sun span
giles, with the upspringing breez
the feet of icebergs set forth on thei
voyages, and on the innumerab.
mirrors and prisms OF these berg
and on those of the shattered crysts
. walls of the glaciers common whit
light and rainbow light began
: glow, while the mountains, changin
to stone, put on their frosty jewelr
and loomed again in the thin azui
. in serene terrestrial majesty. "
turned and sailed away, joining IL
outgoing bergs, while Gloria
Excelsis" still seemed to be soundiu
over all the white landscape, al
our burning hearts we're ready f
any fate, feeling that whatever Il
future might have in store the trea
ures we had gained would enrit
our lives forever. THE Discover
Of Glacier Bay" John Muir, in &c
tury.