The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-08-08
HIGH STATION GONE.
Famous Sherman In the Rockies
4 Wiped OF the Map.
Desolate site OF the Once Highest
Railway stopping Place Marked
Only by Unique Monumeat
Erected TO Ames Brothers.

Since the great railroad tunnel
through Mount Sherman, Wyo, has
been completed and trains now run
under instead of over the giant
steep, there has passed forever what
has been for IS years one of the
most peculiar railroad stations in
the world, reports the Chicago
American.
Mount Sherman station stood ON
the very top of a mountain 5000
feet high, in possibly as desolate a
spot as human eye has ever gazed
upon.
Nowhere is there ever visible any
vegetation beyond a few scraggy
tufts Of alkali wire grass.
Even this can hardly exist in that
region, where one may encounter al
most any day in the summer rain,
sleet. snow and hail, with temper
ature that often varies from rs de-
grees to 40 and back again within
few moments; where the wind
never ceases to blow from Is to 70
miles an hour, and where the nerves
OF many tenderfoot have received
terrible shocks during the passing
OF storms, with the clouds touching
the ground and here and there hurl-
ing angry lightning bolts into the
mineral rock.
Now the map no longer has n
Mount Sherman station. Nothing in
the way of habitation remains to de.
note the past existence of man on
that dizzy height. and it is very
probable that the wierd, rock-clad
spot will never again be visited.
II, however. in some future age
science or quest of adventure shall
lead some curious person over the
summit he will find standing silhou-
cited against the sky massive pyra.
mid-shaped pile of chiseled granite
% feet high, erected three years ago
IN honor of the Ames brothers, who
made it possible to complete the
Union Pacific railroad.
A feeling of sentimentalism will
doubtless now and then Green into
the minds OF those who have often
passed this monument, as the
thought that it now stands so fnr
out of the path of commerce. so far
from the haunts of men, deserted.
to remain there almost as long as
time shall endure.
Several years ago two tramp tele-
graph operators devised scheme
for making few dollars without
much effort.
They erected a small shanty at
Sherman, gathered pieces Of rock Of
different formations, colored some
OF them with dyes, and over Others
poured melted lead in spots and pound
ed small bits of copper into the cracks.
These. when finished, were specimens
OF gold and silver ores" and found a
ready market.
All trains stopped just in front OF the
shanty where the two genuises held
forth to have the air brakes tested and
the wheels examined prior to the de-
scent Of the mountain.
During these stops passengers were
wont to run over to the shanty to make
purchases Of curios.
IL there was ever time when the
wind did not blow gale at Sherman
1T was period previous to the advent
of man up there, and il was to his ever
lasting wind that oddly blew good to
the tramp shopkeepers.
One morning, when the overland
flyer drew up at the old red depot, an
aproned man stood at the door of the
shanty on the opposite side of the
track beating gong with a vigor
which soon attracted the attention of
the passengers.
Heads popped out of the windows,
and in moment people came tumbling
out Of the cars and made grand rush
for the supposed luncheon counter.
The wind was whistling merry
tune over the summit. and in a very few
seconds hats were rolling among the
rocks and down into the gloom of the
canyon. OF course. the recovery of the
headgear was impossible.
Nhen lot OF passengers mad been
''uprooted" il was the signal for the
man with the gong TO disappear. and in
his stead came another with string
of cheap hats and caps, which were
easily disposed OF to the unfortunates
at fabulous prices.
Maid of .Orieans ma Ancestor.
loan of Art. has suffered many thinps