The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1895-06-21
4 IgElSsAS PRESS ASSOCIATION.
Annual Meeting, Hospital
~ =. entertainment at Mann
moth Spring, and Elk
cursion to the
Rockies.
CONCLUSION.

rs,xeral weekSwe have endeavorPd
Nv word paintings OF the interest
p"s'shts and pleasant saunterings of
lgare,t Western excursion. Fearing
en our readers with what at best
pH,,t Int an insignificant index to the
hss,,r,s Incident to such trip. we
e '1i with this letter, bring this serial
quo" -i,se. We fully realize, from ex-
pr;ance. that the magnificent scenery,
r%a ,we.iuspiring surprises, and the
W. a;ovments of this outing must be ex-
rsay,;s,ced to be fully appreciated. Books
nrose and verse have been written
m'aapra;n attempt to encompass the ma
;"sly OF this delightful country, hence
~ ran but feel now, that we have
Inf poorly described the many places
visited. . NJ,
b peak which We failed to mention last
Z usek. and which is worthy of notice. Is
me birds eve view of Colorado Springs
."d the Childs- Drexel Home, from the
snmnt AS the bird flies, some Is miles.
Thr city, of some Is 900 people, has the
annearance of an Is X "a checker board
Win the Home AS a stack of Jumped
men,"
On our return from Pixies Peak,
We ate luncheon, secured accommoda-
lion in a first-class livery turnout. with
Misses Floye lobe and Marie Perry,
and Mr.. Ed. McCorkle and Judge Rod
GERS. and started for the Grand Cav
sns via Ute Pass, which is one of the
great attractions of Manitou.
it's the most extensive and wonder
tal cave to be found anywhere i'm the
West. The visitors enter comforta-
BILE reception room, where they are fur
nshed with lights for the subterranean
Journey. The air in the passages and
chambers is pure and dry. and no incon-
yenience is experienced In their explora-
ton. Remarkably rich displays of stalac-
ti,es and stalagmites are to be seen
here fantastic forms ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Of aabaster, beds Of coral, graceful
flowers, arched bridges, flocks of sheep.
Devies of birds, dropping lilies-in
word, mimetic forms innumerable. The
Opera House" is a vast apartment
five hundred feet long, with ceiling
ifty feet high. The resemblance to
an opera house is striking. There are
regular galleries the floors are carpet
ed with ala arabesque of flowers; the
walls are hung with gracefully draped
Curtains, and the ceiling handsomely
irescoed. But the Grand Organ" is the
crowniDg wonder of the cave. The
keys of this strange instrument are
formed of stalactites, which, being
struck by the player, give out distinct
and perfect musical sounds. At pres
ent it has compass of two octaves,
with all the intervals plainly marked.
An accomplished musician is employed,
who Performs upon this unique instru-
meut. The visitor is always charmed
by the music, which rivals in purity of
tone the notes of silver bell. The
Bridal Chamber" is the gem of the
cavern. 1t is a perfect museum of
wonders There are tiny flowers of crys-
tai lnterlaced into garlands and wreaths
which rival the most graceful produc-
items of the flor al Kingdom.
From the Grand Caverns we sent
our coupe" via Manltou up Williams
Canon, while we trod the lofty heights
atcot to the Gave of the Winds" The
entrance To the cavern is an imposing
alchway IN the rock. OBce within, the
explorer finds marvels which are be-
You'd the power of adequate descrip-
tlen. Halls, corridors, tunnels abound.
Chambers are superlmposed upon each
otler IN bewlderlng confusion. The
great amphtheater is OF gigantic pro-
PORTIONS, being 300 feet long, 40 feet
ulgh and 80 feet wide. Some of the
Jules given to the chamber in this won
deffnl cavern will convey to the reader
III the brietest possible manner the
quaint characteristics of the place.
Here can be found Prairie Dog Town"
"Alabaster Hall, "''Dante's Inferno"
The Hall of Beauty" and The
Great Cathedral" Many of the
curious formations have received
their names from forms in life
and nature which they resemble ;
Tor example: The Bed If Cauhflow-
els' The Bunch of Grapes The
Ghickens," The ley Curtains" The
Coral Boquetn and The Whales
uead." The place is Of great interest.
Is always dry, and no extra clothing is
required in making "A visit.
After hours of bewildering sights in
these caves we drive to the other side
ot Manltou, and here see the amazing
ana amusing figures of natural earth,
winch gives the place its name-the
harden of the Gods.
ihe entrance to the Garden is past
balanced Rock, an immense bowlder
which stands to the left of the road,
poised on such slender base that 1t
suggest an irregular pyramid standing
oh Its apex. TO the right. as one
passes this curious formation. is steep
wal wall OF stratihed stone. draped with
ehhging vines and overgrown with
eeyefgreeDs. Pausing moment on the
prov of the elevation which is reached
iiiefe, one can look down into the valley
ueiow III which the garden lies. To
~. .le west the mountains to the east,
the plains. The road which winds
through the valley is a pleasant way.