Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-07-29

thousand feet high, and the peak of Ia
garma, which is twenty-seven thousand
feet; we know that it sends off to the
west the Oxus and the Amou-Radia, and
to the east the Tarim; we know that 1t
chiefly consists of primary rocks, III
which are patches of schlst and quartz
red sands of secondary age, and the
clayey, sandy loess of the quaternary
period which is so abundant in Central
Asia.
The difficulties the Grand Transasiatic
had in crossing this plateau were ex-
traordinary. 1t was a challenge from
the genius of man to nature, and the
victory remained with genius Through
the gently sloping passes which the Kirk
hizes call "bels," viaducts, bridges, EN-
bankments, cuttings, tunnels had to be
made to carry the line. Here are sharp
curves, gradients, which require the most
powerful locomotives, here and there sta
tionary engines to haul up the train with
ables in n word. a herculean labor, SUI
perior to the works of the American en-
gineers in the defiles of the Sierra Ne
vada and the Rocky mountains.
The desolate aspect of these terri
tories makes a deep impression on the
imagination. AS the train gains the nigh
er attitudes this impression is all the
more vivid. There are no towns, no
villages-nothing but a few scattered
huts, in which the Pamirian lives n soil
tary existence with his family, his herds
of yaks, or "koutars," which are cattle
with horses tails, his diminutive sheep,
his thick-haired goats. The melting OF
these animals, if we may so phrase 1t, is
a natural consequence of the climate, and
they change the dressing gown of winter
for the white fur coat of summer. 1t Is
the same with the dog, whose coat be-
comes whittier in the hot season.
AS the passes are assembled, wide
breaks in the ranges yield frequent
glimpses of the more distant portions of
the plateau. In many places are clumps
of birches and jumpers, which are the
principal trees of the Pamir, and on the
undulating plains grow tamarisks and
sedges and mugwort, and sort OF reed
very abundant by the sides of the saline
pools, and dwarf labiate called ters-
kenne' by the kirghizes.
The major mentioned certain animals
which constitute a somewhat varied
fauna oil the heights of the Pamir. 1t
is even necessary to keep an eye on the
| platforms of the cars in case a stray pan
| Their or bear might seek a ride without
| any right to travel either first or second
| class. During the day our companions
| were on the lookout from both ends of
| the cars. What shouts arose when plan
| tigrades or felines capered along the line
| with intentions that certainly seemed
suspiciousl \ few revolver shots were
discharged, without much necessity per-
haps, but they amused as well as reas-
sured the travellers. In the afternoon we
were witnesses of a magnificent shot,
which killed instantly an enormous pam
Their just as he was landing on the side
step of the third carriage.
1t was our superb Mongol to whom
we were indebted for this marksman' s
masterpiece.
what hand and what an eyer said
to the major, who continued to look on
Faruskiar with suspicion.
Among the other animals of the Pa
miriam fauna appeared wolves and foxes,
and f1ocks of those large wild sheep with
gnarled and gracefully curved horns,
which are known to the natives as ar
kars. High i'll the sky flew the vuItures
bearded and unbearded, and amid the
clouds of white vapor we left behind us
were many crows and pigeons and turtle
doves and wagtails.
The day passed without adventure. Al
frontier. after run of nearly two thou
sand three hundred Kilometres, accom-
plished in four days since leaving Uzur
Ada. Two hundred and fifty kilometer:
beyond we shall be at Kachgar AL
: though we are now in Chinese Turkes
, tan, it will not be till we reach that towI
that we shall have our first experience
OF Chinese administration.
J Dinner over about nine o'clock, W.
stretched ourselves on our beds in tn
: hope, or rather the conviction, that tn
night will be as calm as the preceding
one.
1t was not to be so. At first the trail
4 was running down the slopes of the Pa
] mir at great speed. Then it resumed it
I normal rate along the level.
l 1t was about one in the morning whe
' / was suddenly awakened. At the sam
, time Major Noltitz and most of ou
g companions jumped up. There were lou
$ shouts in the rear of the train. VIVA
e had happened?
n Anxiety seized upon the travelers-tha
L confused, unreasonable anxiety cause
It by the slightest incident on a railroad.
a "What is the matter? What is tn
matterY
These words were uttered in alarI
from all sides, and in different languages
l. My first thought was that we were a
- ia cked. l thought of the famous X
e Tsang, the Mongol pirate. In momer
e the train began to slow, evidently pr
lie pairing to stop. PopOf came into the val
H. and l asked him what had happene
n "An accident" he replied. ga couplin
4 has broken, and the two last vans al
s. left behind
4