The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-23
CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS.
More of the Story of the Trip by E.
w. Ellis.
CF'rom the State Journals Special Cor
respondent

TF'rom the State Journals Special Cor
respondent
On the Nevada Line, Thursday, May
19-All of Wednesday, from Laramie to
Green river, was thrilling flight
through mountain scenery, and all on
board the Twentieth regiments train
thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is a country of magnificent dis
tances and the principal features along
the roadway are tin cans, baled wire
and sage brush.
At one point the Golden Gate" spec
fal rushed by US at a so mile clip. Alone
in his grandeur in the rear Pullman, sat
a Chinaman. No answering smile to
our spirited cheer fitted over his win
try face.
At the lonely little station of Black
star in the sand. It proved a key ring
plate and the engraving read: AUDI
forum Hotel, sos. Chicago" It was a
long ways from home. AT 10 o'clock
Wednesday night, Ogden was passed.
The troops We're sleeping, but were evil
IDENTIFY expected. An arch of electric
lights shone forth in front of the depot
and even at that unseernly hour the en-
tire populace, it seemed, were at the de-
pot. They hammered on the windows
and barred doors of the train to arouse
the soldiers, with cries of Get up; you
can sleep when you get to the Philip
pines" few responded and were
awarded with souvenirs in pin and rib
bon, from a bevy of girls with their
names printed or written on the rib
bOnS.
At Rawlins, one of Company E. in a
playful mood, gave a passing China
mans queue a tWitch. The worm turned
and in an instant the boy in blue lay
on his back in the sand, to the
amusement of the crowd, while John,
stolid and sulIen, entered his ''washee-
washee" shop. One thing that is no
ticeable, is the attention given the pri-
Yates by the officers. They are untiring
tn Lair 70 erfxr
possible comfort, turning out the first
thing in the morning and the last thing
at night.
But, as a rule. every man is in his
bunk by $50 and out at early dawn.
NOn-commissioned officers school is
held each forenoon, and rules and reg
ulatiOns" read to the privates.
At early dawn the porter yelled salt
Lake! There she isl" and sure enough
the train was sl1irting a prong of the
great Mormon waters. But the view
was obscureC by fog of rain and sleet
and a point of rocks and pinons soon
hid it from view. Early in the morning
we fell in behind the Minnesota troops.
No stores have been ''raided'' in the
mountains. There seems to be a diff
ferent set of men behind the counter
Big 'fOrty-fOurs" and grim Winchesters
are vivid reminders that all deals
are strictly cash. The rules of the
house are observed. This applies also
to the saloons-and if there are three
houses at a station, two are saloons
The porter of car No. 922 was easy
at Rawlins. perhaps on account of his
color. He called for a glass of beer and
threw down dime; 25 cents was de-
manded; the porter protested that he
was not one of the Pullman heirs. hut
simply a shaker-down of pillows and
sheets. The controversy was brief and
one-sided. Remus dug up the other Is
cents. These mountain barkeepers are
men of few words
A telegram came to the trains this