Year: 1878

GhAND CANON Of The ARKANSAS.


This celebrated canon is twelve miles
from the city of Canon which is the pres
ent terminus of the Denver & Rio Grande
Narrow-G Gauge Railroad. One pleasant
morning merry party of six. in light
spring wagon, started en- route for this
celebrated resort for tourists. The mile
and half ride to town was reached with
out any more serious accident than the
breaking of the demijohn, which con
tanned the supply Of water for the day
for as there is no water to be obtained at
the cannon visitors have to take a supply
with them. Arrived in town we found
another party preparing to start for the
same rendezvous. On we went through
town past the state penitentiury The
striped clothed inmates, who were work
ing on the high stone wall being placed
around the buildings, or who were drill
ing rock on the perpendicular side of the
mountain back Of the penitentiary. pre-
sented a strange appearance. with the
grim looking armed guards pacing back
ward and forward Those who were
drilling rock were perched on ladders
fastened by ropes up the sides of the
mot u tain. How dreadful to have to
wear the stripes and be guarded day after
day with the penalty of silence over all
No wonder one of the inmates day or
two before had attempted an escape by
running. How he must have felt with
the bullets whIzzing about his ears, and
all he gained after all was a sound duck
ing in the Arkansas by some OF the
guards Just west of the penitentiary
we passed the much frequented soda
springs. The rustic arbor and the queer
seats and arm chairs, N ade by twisting
Cation JUNnH ljrnh ~ m ina ri bla
shape, are quite picturesque. We turn
the point at the soda springs abruptly
and at right angles to the river! The
city is left behind No habitations are
to be seen, but the white tents of the
broad gauge railroad men, who are slowly
and surely working their way up the
river. The grass seems scant and dry,
but we are assured it is excellent pas
turage Bright blossomed cactus, and a
large white flower resembling the poppy,
are on every side. The only sign of ami
NAL life is an occasional gopher darting
across the sandy road in among the rocks
of the cliff on the right. The up grade
is almost imperceptable for quite dis
tance; but as the road becomes sleeper
the poppy gives place to a much stranger
looking plant with white blossom, call
ed soap-weed. With the Mexicans the
root takes the place of soap. About four
miles from town we pass through The
DEVILS Gate" which consists of harm
less ridge of rock on one side and the
perpendicular base of a mountain on the
other Now the up hill grade commences
in earnest. The bright mountain flowers
become more numerous Occasionally
we pass a ranch and the low, fat, dirt
rooted hut, it cannot be called house,
presents strange appearance to eastern
eyes. At eightmile park We have our
first view of the distant Sangre de Cristo
mountains. The sharp and serried peaks,
deeply scanned and ridged, with the sun
shining on the snow in the deep ravines,
is sight grand indeed. The ravines. or
canons, seem to run perpendicular to the
base of the mountains, and the white and


brown ridges present sterling contrast


From eight mile-park to twelve mile
park is the steepest grade we have. Here
we have fine view of Pixies Peak, thirty
miles to the east. We have now arrived
at our destination and stopping at a little
grove we leave our horses and hasten


forward for our first view. There is
stiff breeze blowing from the edge of the
canon and stepping out on an overhang


ing rock we gaze with great awe down


two thousand feet OF perpendicular wall,
with here aud there piDon tree grow


ing out of crevices Of solid rock. Truly


have l never seen a sight so awful in


grandeur. The river below seems only a


little tumbling brook and STOPPING to
pick up little piece OF quartz you slip it
across the chasm to the opposite wall
Oh, no! though thrown with all the
force you can command il does not even


reach the river bank below. Surprised
that You have been SO deceived in dis.