The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-02-14
A STORM IN THE ROCKIES.

started from the town OF ManltOu
Springs to walk up Hiawatha Mount
ain to Crystal Park, perched on its
top, more than 1000 teet above them.
The natives had told them that it was
three miles; but they had scrambled
steep ascents and climbed along the
new trail for three hours under the
impression that they had travelled in
that one afternoon fifteen n lies They
had exulted in every step they had
taken. From twenty different points
they had the most magnificent views
Winding about the highest point Of
Hiawatha, they had got glimpse Of
Pixies Peak IN the forenoon sunlight
that was worth in itself a thousand
miles journey. They had seen Man
itou and all the country about it, the
picturesque canyons, the Garden of
the Gods, the near and distant ranges
from points of vantage, and with these
picturesque views constantly before
them. with the new experience of look
ing down dizzy heights, of plucalug
brilliantly colored mountain flowers, f
taking III the OdOrOuS, sN eet and buoy
ant air, they had climbed and climbed
over and around rocks, following the
unexpected twists and turns of the
mountain trail, until at last they ross
ed the summit, left the region Of pines
into group OF mountain aspens. came
first on the ideal mountain spring,
throwing crystal flood across a
mountain meadow, and then upon a
huge log house with tents built about
it, and with hammocks swung to the
trees. This they were told was Crys-
tai Park.
After such an old fashioned dinner
as they had not found elsewhere III
/ Colorado, they had started down the
Old trail on the return trip to Manltou
the mountain ranchman of eastern
antecedents assuring them that 1t
would not rain during the afternoon.
But before they had emerged from the
aspen grove, the gentleman from Kan
sas suddenly stopped short.
That's a twister coming he eX-
claimed. You mountain cOnnoissenrs
may not grasp at once the full mean
ing of the vernacular Of the plains, but
I | wish to say. as emphatlcally that
there is twister with the corkscrew
end down, and if there is dugout in
this vicinity | think we had better
creep in"
Thus remarking, he pointed with a
! cyclOnIc twisting motion of his extend
ed arm toward an ugly looking black
cloud 1arlng out above and on either
side of Cameron's Cone; pointed to
the for ed chain lightning, every bolt
of which seemed to strike on the face
Of the mountain cone like a fifty ton
sledge hammer, with sound every
time as though the thunderbolt had
sent the rocks crashing down a steeE
incline of 1000 or 5000 feet; to dark
ening mist, shadowy uncertainty
that seemed to fall between the cloud
and where the party stood; and with
memory of cyclones in his mind the
Kansas man insisted that if the fellows
did not seek shelter at once they ought
to be IN an insane asylum.
There was a minutes debate. wher
an ex member of the Nebraska legisIa
ture moved the previous question. and
the whole crowd went at a rapid wall
toward the ranchman's house.
Just as they stepped Inside there
came aloaring in the air, and. without
further warning, from every direction
a storm Of hail and snow Hail stones
large and round came IN drifts down
the mountain side, rolling like circle:
OF snow; came in Whirls from above
and from the side; came down in sucl
abundance that IN five minutes the
ground. the mountains. the houses
were covered with two or three incbe.
of solid, shining crystals, for after this
tremendous peltlng Of hailstOnes thu
cloud broke, or was torn away from tn,
mountain top. and the sun shone GU
IN splendor, and the twister had come
and gone.
The mountain cone that had fly,
minutes before been shrouded in
whlrlng storm cloud now stood brigh
and clear against the bluest sky tina
one can see anywhere in America. Or
the other side the fury of the storm
made darker by the brightness of tn,
sun, moved away to the east. In fly,
minutes the mountain trail was DIR,
enough for good walking, although tt,
drift OF hailstones remained in place
for half an hour longer BIT the storm
had come and gone, and the party fol
: loved it down the old trail toward Man
lton. Coming to the point where tn
road turns to give an unObstructet
view Of the plains below, the leade
stopped with the exclamation: "LooI
at that
Below him We're the plains, Will
Colorado City and Colorado Spring
IN the distance and ManitOu in til,
foreground, but not as any one hat
ever seen them before. Sweeping owe
4 the wide extent of country visible from
this elevated point was the storm tina
r had left the mountains clad in crystals
Below 1t. or beyond it. the extent o
, PLAIN was one great rainbow. Tn,
colors, vivid, sharp and brilliant. wer
, lad IN magnificent belts across tn,
) PLAIN, so that what would have been
monotonous picture fading in the dis
lance was dressed in rainbow hues
The effect was like that of mirag,
IN which Colorado Springs, with it
symmetrical squares. seemed to benz
| up upward as if built on cone Fo
an hour as the men strobe down tn
mountain trail toward Manitou thu
, picture in rainbow colors was among
them, while behind them were tn
mountains clad in mixture of crysta
and green.