Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-24

hons of hard driving with team OF
mules 10 get there The altitude tnets
&C. 7 500 feet. Winter was everywhere III
evidence. and 1t was the first taste any
one of the party had had or an oiu-
fashioned winter season IN some ycdis,
Snov, was so deep and hard that the
,,,v,borroen had been unable TO Work TOT
so,,oroI dovs. Ice covered every water
course I'm the mountains, ana d cV'u'
frosty wind that sent the mercury oe.
low zero descended from the pe"hS ,. -,
reared themselves LOO feet blsnei' -
rtgbt was passed at the company bulld-
ing. and, with a big breakfast, lne ~ 10
Dune travellers were ready lot tno
Journey. 49,, rorty was
n no foated down the chute, was brought
forth n was a crude affair, rect lohs'
V-sbaped to conform to the trough MA
of boards easily nailed together, ana INC
seats were short boards adjusted DetwSon
tbo etdes of the craft. Two lumoermeh
held the boat, while the travellers Duhuieu
I'm heavy overcoats, and with grim resoiu-
ton. stepped cautiously into II.
"Hold on tight, boys Let her 90,
"Cood-bv." "Good-by." were shouted IN
randi succession from the group OF lonn-
bermen as the boat started down tne
fume. A thin coating OF Ice glazed III. sa.
rough surfaces Of the flume tmpers 10,
the first ten miles, 50 that the crait speu
forward with unusual sWiItness'
MOMENTS OF INTENSE FEELING.
The boat gathered momentum every Sc
eond. Pine trees bending with snow
boulders strewu along the'canon, and III,
mense projecting chunks or ice anu
granite approached and darted past IN
twinkllng. There was no time 10 look "
NE right or left. Not a word was SPOKEN.
1t seemed as II not even orealh wa
drawn. All eyes were set dead ahead, anu
ali hands clutched the beard seats with
vise-like grip.
Rut there was ample time for startling
,Aeas What IL a chunk OF the lodges
had torn away the flume just beyond
that sharp bend2 What II plank were
loose away down near that REDWOOD
tree? What a frightful fall, II the boat
would come against a dislodged rock or
strike a loosened spike, or run over a
stray niece OF timber Ia the flume? Each
remembered all the stories he had heard
of mortal accidents in these numes.
For seven miles the party travelled at
the rate Of a mile IN 50 or 70 SECONDS.
The wind howled about their ears anu
heat against their faces ana CHESTS
Heavy oyercoats were none 100 heaVy'
Tbe cold water spatted in their faces
and the frosty air darted Gown tnelS
hacks The picturesque scenery hoa
scant attention
ROAT GOES MORE SLOWLY.
The first twenty minutes OF the trip
were by far the most risky ana exciting.
Bv that time the party was about eight
miles I'm the canon where the grade OF
oct. "a
az the rate Of a mile in four minutes
Tho air came less bleak and penetrating
,rba altitude was about 1900 feet, ana
the last signs OF the snow and ice were
being left behind.
In a half hour more the mouth OF the
canon WAS almost reached. The hume
ran higher. and the canon stream that
had roared as 1t gurgled and bounded
over rocks and among boulders could
scarcely be heard.
CROSSING DEEP GORGEs.
Suddenly the fume turned to the left
and several gorges hundreds OF teet Yep
s,ere crossed. The timbers that support
ne fume looked slender and insecure, ana
the Giant walls of granite that stood
STRAIGHT I'D added 20 the grandeur OF the
scene. u,.,-.t,,.,
snur OF foothills, the party glided out OF
The canon. A vista Of some thirty mites
Stretched before their eyes. This Is part
Of the san Joaquin Valley from when
~ trestle may be seen, like huge sill
very serpent lying among the foothils.
| uera the trough runs az some 100 feet
above the ground. and tho feeling AZ the
! Greater elevation from the earth Is reach
| ed is similar 10 that Of the aeronaut.
The sound Of the plunging, turbulent
fountain stream below came TO our ears
and the fresh clear air Of morning was
deIightfui. Undulating foothills, immense
sweeps OF grazing and ranch land. here
and there hundreds Of cattle could be
seen.
GOING OVER VILLAGES.
The heavy overcoats were laid aside as
the craft moved on. Several little vn-
lagos were passed then the orchards oil
| the valley appeared ahead. and In few
minutes more the party was noa'ea