Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-09-03
Rankings Among the Rockies.
CoLoRADo SPRINGS, Colo,
Aupust Is. 1896

August 10, 1896.
EDITOR REGIsTER-It may be of inter
est to some of your readers TO know
something of the sights and scenes OF
Colorado, as seen bya Shepherdstowner.
The Rocky mountains requite different
from anything have ever seen in the
east. They are very much broken, and
as one comes TO them, it seems that each
peak is higher than the first. One OF
the first places of interest after leaving
Denver is Colorado Springs, a village OF
about Ii, 900 1t is very clean well kept
town. Why it is named Colorado Springs
| do not know, as there are no springs
here. The famous Iron and Soda Springs
are at Manitou, IA town some SIX miles
from Colorado Springs, and is connected
by street cars. Manitou is just at the
foot of Pixies Peak, which is reached by
a cog railroad. 1t is impossible to de-
scribe to anyone what trip to Pixies
Peak really is. You just go up until you
reach An altitude of over IL 900 feet. AT
the top of the peak is stone house, used
as a telegraph Office and restaurant. Al
most everyone who goes TO the top mas
to have cup of coffee or something
warm to drink, as it is very cold. There
is nothing on the peak except stone, not
one tree or blade of grass. 1t almost
seemed to me as tho one was tempting
Providence to go up or down that noun
tain, but one trip is quite enough. GU
hear many people saying isn't it finer
and isn't it pretty" but to me II seemed
awful. One can see away off 10 the south
as far as New Mexico, and the towns be.
low ONLY look like little spots few feet
square, but one is so far uphe really does
not enjoy the scenery so much as in some
of the canons | have visited quite
number of these and was especially i'm
pressed with the South Cheyenne Can
on" This canon is the most picturesque
of ANYTHING | have ever seen. There are
massive walls of solid granite that seem
perpendicular to the skies. In this can
on are the famous Seven Falls, :" which
DEFY Imagination or description. The
flowers are varied, rare and beautiful.
1t seems that the great cliffs had just
been split apart enough TO let us enter.
As we go up this canon our guide called
our attention to curiously suggestive
rock formations, which are known as
Eagle Cliff" the Vacant Chair,
"Hindoo BABY. " and the "Pillars of Her.
cules." At times the way seems barred
by some cliff standing in the pass, and
completely filling it, and just at such
places one can fully understand the
mighty action of water which has cut a
way through the solid granite rock for
several hundred feet AT the end OF the
canon we come to the Seven Falls.
To reach the cliffs above the falls one
must climb over four hundred steps
which are built just at the side of the
falls, and seem TO stick TO the side OF the
solid rock. Once at the top one can see
many of the rock shafts down in the can
on, which am told are in many cases
over thousand feet high, and each peak
has a name, of course but they are very
hard TO remember. To the right Of the
falls is Far View Point, which affords
a splendid view of the falls and canon,
as we'll as view out onto the plains for
a hundred miles or more. To the left Of
us is Cheyenne mountain, which | am
told is two thousand feet above the falls.
But the place of most interest to me was
Just over the top of this mountain TO
Helen Hunts grave. 1t is hard climb
to reach this point and it ruined good
pair of shoes for me, but ii is well worth
the trip. and everyone who goes there
puts a stone on the grave until now there
is quite large pile.
have always wanted to see a gold
mining camp, so drove over the noun
tain to Cripple Creek and spent sever
al days there, but have quite enough Of
mining camps to last me. | have never
seen or heard of such rough town as
Cripple Greek" is. There are very few
pavements in the town and most OF the
time one has to walk in the street-or
road-and | don't think there is one tree
in the town. The altitude here is some
thing over nine thousand feet, and was
almost unable to do any climbing to the
mines and could scarcely get my breath
if took much exercise, and was really
glad when left the town.
have visited the Grand caverns'
and the Gave of the Winds, but they
are very poor when compared with the
caverns at Luray, Virginia. The form
ations are small, and the caves are hard
for ladies to go through. The Gardens
of the Gods" are more interesting, some
of the rock formations are very fine. and
one can imagine he sees almost any kind
of animal formed in the rocks.
Last week was carnival week here and
as it was something new to me | found
it very interesting. 1t seems that each
year flower carnival is held here
and prizes are awarded to the most hand
somely decorated carriage, some of which
were very beautiful.
Everybody in Colorado seems to be for
BRYAN and free silver or bust.