Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-03-21
TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP
GOES BIGELOw INA TROLLEY CAR
He Describes the Wonderful Scenery
and His Perilous Ride!-Sees the
Battleship Iowa.-Attends
Minnesota Picnic.

Lorg Beach, Cal, March ID, 1900
Special to PUBLIC OPINION.
since my last have taken ride on
the most wo, derful railroad in the
world. had before ridden on the At
lantic and Pacific Ocean, two of the
great lakes, the Mississippi river, and
had been i'm two or three railroad
wrecks; but never did my HAIR stand
on end like porcupine quilts until rode
on the Mount Lone Railroad. But /
am happy to state that my hair still
retain its naturally dark and glossy
color. All distinguished people who
visit Southern California are expected
tn take trip on that railroad, and be-
ing legally authorized correspondent
of PUBLIC OPINION, why have not a
right to go anywhere and in the best
society? From the base Of Echo Noun
tain to its top, should judge to be
about one-half mile. The ascent is
sleeper than any hill L ever climbed,
and the cars are run by cable from a
power house on top of the mountain.
The track Is somewhat of an inclined
plane, although II is much more oval
aud you can't see car from either end
when II is half way up the track. Only
two ears are allowed to go up and down
at The same time; what mean is that
the same cable draws two ears up and
lets two down at the same time'and
they pass each other half way from
bottom to top on side track. On top
Of the mountain there are two or three
acres perfectly level with deep canyons
and gulchss on all sides. There has
been large hotel here for several years
patronized by the upper crust, with
prices to correspond with the richness
of the crust. The hotel burned about
six weeks ago, but will be rebuilt on .
much grander scale. This Is called
Echo siAnnta;n, bsrausf v hen 4 ~ nuan
Is fired on one side of IL, the sound is
repeated in quick succession from all
sides and from all the canyons SUR
rounding it. From the top of Echo
Mountain to the top of Mount Lone it
is four miles. Passengers are carried
in ears run by electricity, but this is
where / would prefer to ride in Jo.
Overacker's express or on Owen Roo
ney's dray. 1t is about mile in a
straight line from the top of Mt. Echo
to the top of Mt. Lone, but the ears
(Only two at time) run zig-zag, back
ana forth, across bridges, all the time
working a little higher up. Nearly all
the way on one side and within six
feet are mountains hundreds of feet
high with almost perpendicular sides
that look as though they might topple
over any moment; and on the other
side, much nearer, are canyons that
seem to be almost bottomless. We rode
i'm open cars with board about foot
wide running along each side for step
for passengers. The conductor in taking
our tickets would skip along the step,
his back to that awful abyss without a
bottom, when single misstep would
send him to eternity in an instant.
Bat he was a. unconcerned as though
he was riding bicycle. Arriving at
our destination, we found the celebrated
Alpine tavern. which is built and
finished in the style of hundreds OF
years ago. 1t is surrounded by giant
oaks aid pine trees. The air is grand
and the water most excellent; tables
and seats under the trees are provided
for picnic parties and are constantly In
use. Our party consisted often persons
five former Iowans and MIR. Z. X
Williams, wife and daughter, Mrs. III
A. Bigelowa and your humble servant
of Decorah. The fare for this four ant
one-half mile ride is $3.50 each for tn,
round trip.
| The battleship Iowa has been an
chored OFF San Pedro harbor fol tw,
days. All visitors have been welcome
and over 5000 people have visited tn
ship. Yesterday joined the crowd
but when got close to it and saw then
darn big guns pointed right at me TIN
cold chilis began to rush up my bacl
and thought ! would run away, bu
some fellow told me the biggest gun
would shoot accurately twelve miles
SO concluded to throw myself upol
the mercy of the Admiral aud when..h
found couldn't speak word of Span
ish, he said could come aboard. Tn,
Admiral seemed to be first rite fellow
and so were all the officers aud crew
One OF the sailors took pains to SHOW
rne where some of the Spanish shot
had struck the Iowa; they left u bi,
dent but did no serious damage. Tn
ship Is manned by 10 officers and Az
men. She is on her way to San Fran
cisco. Kodaks were very numerous OF
the ship and am afraid ! got took