Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1877 — Down the Andes by Hand-Car. [ARTICLE]

Down the Andes by Hand-Car.

At Anchi, 12,000 feet above the Pacific, the hand car is loaded with its freight of six adventurous sight-seers, closely braced together. It is of the ordinary construction and appearance, and does not offer any temptations to a pleasure excursion down the precipitous and tortuous gorge of the Rimae, except that it affords an unobstructed view of the shifting grandeur and terrors of the route. As we descended in our rough vehicle, at the rate of sixty miles an hour; flying across aerial viaducts, or dashing through sepulchral tunnels; threatened, now, to be crushed between converging mountain-walls, or precipitated from pendulous terraces—the foaming Rimae emulating the maddening speed; now glancing back to take a last look at the glistening pinnacles of the receding Andes; or, straining eagerly forward, to catch the first glimpse of the royal city of the plain and the shining ocean —the magnificence of the scenery and the magnitude of Mr. Meiggs’ achievement break upon us with fresh force, and not for any peril of the way would we forego the exhilaration and novelty of the trip. Far otherwise was it with one of the party —a stately Commodore. He, who could face unflinchingly a whole broadside of murderous missiles, sprang from the car after ten miles over the -wildest part of the route, declaring that nothing would tempt him to repeat such a fool-hardy ex'periment. For the rest of us, tire excitement and exhilaration of this mode of travel became so attractive, that we often went up to Anchi for the sole purpose of making the down trip.— Scribner for Auguet. _ Nothing so thoroughly pleases a man who has learned that a collection is to be taken in his church on Supday morning, and who has consequently been unable to be present on account of a severe p«in in his back, as to attend the evening service and hear the clergyman announce that “as many who desired to give were not present at the morning collection’, it will now be repeated.”— Norwich Bulletin.