The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-05-27

one steep side of the deep Metlac Bar
ranca. On the other side Of yawn-
ing rayine in the depths Of which 8
tropical river churns it's way, is an
other line of railway on a terrace cut
from the side of the precipice and at
an angle similar to that of tcgobban
slide. Five tunnels interrupt this
line before it reaches the higher
level and turns the flank Of the hill.
The train glides slowly across the
Metlac Bridge, skilful piece q engi-
neering work, $50 feet long, built on
curve of 325 feet radius on a 3 per
cent. grade, 90 feet above the river.
Eight cast and wrought iron pillars
uphold it. Trainmen dread the pass
and consider it the most dangerous
on the line.
After leaving Metlac bridge, the
train passes through tunnels so num-
erous that often the locomotive will
be in one and the last car Of the
train in another. From the last CT
these tunnels the train energes on
an extensive table land. Orizba,
quaint provincial city of $4,000 pop
ulation, 4,028 feet above sea level,
and 1874 kilometers from Vera Cruz,
is the next big town.
After leaving Orizaba, the railroad
enters a gloomy barranca called e.
Infiernillo (the Little HelD, and
crosses dizzy activities, passing
through tunnels and over streams
that have worn deep chasms into the
traprock. Black crosses hard by mark
the last resting places OF unfortu-
mates who have fallen there, and
warn wanderers Of similar fate II
they Slip from the winding track
above.
On rainy days the train often
passes through low-lying clouds. A
little further on it approaches Win
ner's bridge, ninety feet long, one OF
the most dangerous on the line, span
ming a. yawning chasm that gives
view of surprising grandeur of a val
ley many colored and rich with vege-
tation, 5000 feet below.
At Boca del Monte the railroad has
attained an altitude Of one and one
half miles above Vera Cruz and the
fortress of San Juan dc Ulua. The
next station is Esperanza. Then
comes San Andres, 203 kilometers
! from Vera Cruz, from which point
the run to the Mexican capital Is
across the central plateau, which Is
practically level thereabouts. Forty
kilometers further on the road
touches San Marcos. There follow
the stations OF Apizaco where there
is a junction of the branch railroad
to Puebla and the station Of Guada-
lupe, 800 kilometers from Vera Cruz,
and the highest point Of the line,
1888 feet, e36 feet higher than Mex
leo City.
At Irolo, 347 kilometers from the
starting point, the road meets
branch of the Hidalgo & Nordese
railroad. Twenty-Five kilometers fur
ther it reaches Otumba, ON the plain
near which was fought one OF the
fercest battles between the Indians
and the Spanish invaders after Cor
tez- and his men had been ignomini-
ously expelled from the Aztec city
and were retreating to Vera, Cruz to
recuperate.
At San Juan Teotihuacan, ten kilo-
meters further on, the. great ancient
pyramids can be seen on the right OF
the road Guadelupe, 420 kilometers
from Vera Cruz and the sea, by its
squat and dreary-looking houses and
neglected churches used as store
rooms, advertises the suburbs Of the
Mexican capital, and soon after
reaching it the train draws up in
Mexico City at the Buena Vista sta
ton.