Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09

1 Glendive, at which point we came up-
on the course of the Missouri river,
which stream we followed during the
entire night.
| With the dawn of day we reached
Livingston, Montana, where we were
again confronted with scenes of beau
| ty. God, in His infinite wisdom, has
certainly prepared all things for man,
for among these valleys with their rip
ping streams and snow-capped noun
tains one can only gaze with admira-
ton and wonderment at the plan of
Him "who doeth all things we'll"
Yours as ever, G. r. Schilling.
Dear Courier-In my letter to Cour-
Ter readers yesterday, left you ut Liv-
ingston, Mont, but before taking you
further wish to record an incident in
connection with our trip.
On reaching Billings, in the night,
young lady who came from Chicago,
and who had joined the crowd in our
sleeper at ST. Paul, left us. She was
met at the train, picked up in the arms
of her lover and carried into the depot,
where minister, who afterwards
boarded our train, hastily pronounced
them husband and wife, and the bride
who had been especially observed as
being unusually happy enroute, went
with her husband to his ranch where
life for each might be made equal to
the happiness of the angels of heavens
or as miserable as the demons of hell.
After leaving Livingston we had one
continual ascent OF the mountains
amid weird scenes with crags rising
at our very car window interspersed
with assures and with ripping streams
which We're rapidly making their way
to the valley where their water might
be used for irrigation. Surely God in
preparing this earth for the abode of
man, was solicitous of our welfare, as
these rivers, on account OF the melt
ing SHOWS of summer are at flood tide
during the season OF the year when
their water is most needed for irriga-
ton. Amid this beauty and grandeur
on every hand we reached the summit
and passed through Boseman pass and
tunnel at an elevation of 5.565 feet
above sea level and then began our
descent, following Rocky Canyon and
Gallatin river.
Here one must be pardoned if he al
lows the ecstasy of his soul to carry
him away, surrounded as he is by the
enthusiastic, soul-stirring conditions
that present themselves to the tourists
view as he travels over the Northern
Pacific railway through this scenic
country. Here the shrubby pine on
the mountain side, trees covered with
snow, yonder the black-appearing
mountains with crags and assures and
cliffs rising as though they would
reach the armament above.
Passing through this vista of ma
lures beauty we reach Helena, the
home OF one of the rising young men
lof Qttumwa. Every Ottumwan knows
wh6 I mean. I refer to Ed Jones.
After leaving Helena we passed the
first Indian tepees. How different from
what il was when the Northern Pacific
was first surveyed. AT that time it re-
quired national guard to protect Che
surveyors while now the Indians farm
and dress and trade like white people.
AT this iuncture we began passing
| mining camps and this reminds me
that in our party are Mr.. and Mrs.
], Haihes, who have been for the past
three years in. the .Klondike, but since
June 25 have been constantly travel
i'm. in this country Sightseeing. How
ever, they are now on their way to
Seattle. Mr.. Haines is prospector
and like all others in his craft, is re-
turning to his first love. They have
never lived in civilization and do not
like it.
Here we are again rapidly climbing
the mountain, the most picturesque
scenery unfolding itself before us as
our train winds itself back and forth
around the mountains making short
curves and crossing high trestles over
lfrightful gorges until we finally pass
through Mullen tunnel at an elevation
of 5,54s feet.
Emerging from this tunnel the train
works its way out by winding curves
amid rugged cliffs, defending rapidly
through Hellgate canyon, where the
traveller again has presented to his
view one magnificent ever-changing
panorama OF grandeur, finally emerg-
ing from these scenes into the city of
4 Aissoula, which is one of Montana's
most prosperous towns.
Taking our departure from Missoula
we began for the third time to climb
the Rockies, crossing ravines and dales
and passing through Woodlands, which
to an lowan seems like large timber.
At times we pass high upon the noun
tains and beneath us in the valley is
natures green carpet. Again in the val
Hey we look away to the north of
Ins and see the bare mountains forming
one. continuous succession of bluffs
while to the south Of us the mountains
are covered with trees.
| AT Arlee we again come upon In
dams, this being the home OF the Flat
head reservation and for miles and
miles we pass through the valley OF
the Clark fork OF the Columbia pass
ing one Indian village after another,
finally reaching the station OF Paradise,
1 which was certainly properly named.
for here amidst the head waters of the
| Columbia thousand beautiful, charm
ing, enhancing scenes present them
selves to the traveller on the Northern
Pacific as he glides along the course of
the river.
Morning dawned shortly after we
had left Pasco, WASH, and, we look
ed out Of the windows upon the vast
fields OF sage brush as we made our
way to the northwest through beau
tiful river valley until we finally came
upon Green river, where we followed u