The St. Johns herald., 1899-03-25
Springerville, Arizona

1 Packing and loading done, goodDyes said, Prime T. Jr., witl his ''tour in 1 hand" John Brown Jr. of St. Johns with load of plunder for Dr. Platt, John Coleman with load, Prime T. Sr. and Father Platt with carriage, George riding one horse and leading another while cold Kit" the buggy and bring up the rear "All agoing to dash through l thick and thin" The wind is extreme ly thin, and the mud, later on is exceed ingly thick.
 A fter incoming on the ridge Kit and I rushed ahead, called at the school house at Nutrioso to say goodbye to the little folks and to the teacher, also call on other friends before leaving town, then on through mud and ice to Alpine, where we put up for the night. Not wishing to bestow too much honor on one family we scatter out among the neighbors. We don't want our friends to be too glad when We leave.
 Saturday 25tf. This morning the wind sighs and moans and whistles among the pines, and shrieks down the ravines while the air is filled with whirl- ing, biinding snow.
 The hospitality of our Alpine friends. genial warmth of the blazing pine logs inside. and the cold storm outside in- duces us to remain till the blizzard has passed.
 Sunday 26. We know that it is wrong to travel on Sunday, but felt that cir cumstances warrant us in so doing on this occasion, we jog on.
 Passing the "Silent city," We pause to bid our dear ones there, loving goodbye. Who can tell how soon we shall meet on "The Beautiful Shore ?"
 Reaching Luna Kit and call on rela- tives and friends. Times flies while wo- men talk and we find ourselves behind the company. never mind Kit, you are a good traveller, the mountain road is good, the ofternoon is pleasant and the scenery grand. Here we are with the crowd inst as they reach the jump of.
 The road from Luna to Clifton. down the Blue is great improvement on the old road, yet none but men or woman's rights women dare drive over it. Prime leads Kit down two pitches, but in view of the suffrage think We will manage the rest of the way.
 Evening: Our camp is among cotton wood trees, between low foot hills with the waters of the Blue winding its way to the Frisco. A great change in the weather since morning. Here the camp is organized. Father Plattis appointed Chaplain, the two Johns, horse rustlers, George the roustabout, Prime cook, his father general overseer, that is, to rise before day, make fires and wake the camp; and l, well, dodge between jobs as much as possible.
 Monday 27. The Chaplain finds it difficult to get ready to perform his duty so early.
 Our road now lies between high snow capped mountains, on whose sides stand stately pines reminding one of the Army of Napoleon crossing the Alps. We meet loggers from the log camp who tell us of the small pox scare, that Clifton is quarantined and that We may not be allowed to pass. As we wind our way down the canon We pass many ranches, occasionally store, men and women horse back: all making travel interest ing. And the beautiful scenery! The mountains are less high, and of sand stone formation, whose pinnacles. cary ed into grotesque and fanciful shapes by the action of the elements, stands like sentinels on duty.
 Tuesday 2S. To-day the senery is sublime. The road winds along between red cliffs whose perpendicular walls rise abruptly from smooth sandy floor, or from carpet of soft green grass By looking upward We can see strip of blue sky. Here is Red Cliff Castle and there is Doubling Castle with its pima cles pointing heavenward, and Giant Dispair standing as if waiting to allure some unware traveller into his den.
 Continues in our next.)
 E. B. COLEMAN.