The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-08-24
TO The SUMMIT
OF PIXIES PEAK
Continued from page 81

Continued from page 81
/ took my kodak along on this
trip also and got some very good
pictures Of the mountain scenery
On this "short line" as it is
called, running only between
Colorado Springs and Cripple
Creek, we passed through six tun-
nels one Of which is five hundred
ieet in length. The big "lIorse
Shoe Bend" is on this line and as
some people jokingly put it, you
can shake hands with the engineer
Of your train as the engine comes
down the other track. St. Peters
Dome is massive crag on the
route by which your train seems
TO pass several times as you
emerge from one tunnel into an
other but in fact you are going
around it.. Some patriotic per.
son has placed big 12xlS
United States flag on the top Of
this mountain. With the big
cedar trees around the sides :;
massive colored rocks on the sum
nit, surmounted 10y "Old Glory, "
the sight is indeed a beauClfuI
one. From the foot of the dome,
the flag looks like one of the tiny
flags worn in hat bands on
national holidays.
On the "short line" many
mountain inns are passed most of
which are patronized by health
seekers only. 1t is certainly
Giving high" in some instances,
as houses are to be seen away up
on the mountain sides. The train
stops ten minutes ut u little
station called the summit house
and every one has to make a dive
for q place to get something to
eat before the short time allowed
IS up. Prices are charged which
correspond very well with the
altitude, but considering the cost
and trouble to get eatables to
that height, the meals are well
worth the prices asked.
As we came off of the noun
tains just before reaching Cripple
Creek we could get u fine birds
eye view of the place. 1t is sur
rounded by mountains and the
town itself seems to be in n kind
of valley, although at very high
altitude. Many big shaft houses
over mines were pointed out as
we passed by accommodating rail-
road men on the train. The
mountain sides around the noted
city seemed to have white spots
all over them and on getting
closer, were seen to be open holes
about the size OF grave. Upon
questioning q fellow who had
"been there" | found out that
they were prospect holes dug by
miners who would go out alone
and test the soil. Owners of land
are perfectly willing to lease por-
tions of their property to pros
pectors for n short time and
thereby find out what is in it,
These little holes are innumsr.
able and give n spotted look to
the nearby mountains.
There is not a level street in all
Cripple Creek. When you are
going up street, you are GER
tainly going up" and down, the
same way. l took a high line
street car from Cripple Greek and
visited the town of Visitor, which
is said now to have richer mines
than Cripple Creek. Going
through the mountain on this
line we passed several lone min
ers digging little holes and exam
lining the dirt. 1t is with them,
ever digging, digging, digging,
with the constant hope that they
might "strike it rich" some day.
A heavy hail storm accompa-
MED by terrific electrical dis
play struck us while in the
mountains and the altitude and
lightning together disabled our
"high line" street car by inter
fering with the power, We
finally made it to a little town
called Gold Fields where there are
a number of mines, and where
also, a mud slide from the noun
tains caused by the hail and rain,
assisted in obstructing the pro-
gress of our car the more. We
waited there In q little station