10 WESTERN INCIDENTS.

with Gen. Hughes, the attorney of the Stage Company,
who, with his daughter, accompanied us from Omaha to
Denver.

FIRST VIEW OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

Our first view of the Rocky Mountains was from a
point on the Plains about one hundred miles distant,
and about an hour before sunset on Friday evening, the
14th inst. A heavy cloud had been lying along the west-
ern horizon during the whole afternoon, and it was feared
that we should not obtain the long coveted view before
the following morning ; but, fortunately, the sun broke
through and dispelled the lower belt of clouds just in time
to give'us a magnificent view of the entire range, and en-
able us to see the setting of the sun behind Luong’ s Peak,
the highest in the range. .

DENVER CITY.

The appearance of Denver, as you approach it from
the east, is not very imposing. The town is situated in
the valley of the South Platte, at the mouth of Cherry
Creek, about twelve miles in a direct line from the base
of the mountains. And the swell, or elevation of the
plain to the eastward, hides it from view until you ap-
proach within about three miles of the town. It then
bursts upon the view as if by magic; and presents a
most comfortable and inviting appearance to the weary
traveller from the Plains, who has seen nothing but log
and adobe ranches, at intervals of ten and twenty miles,
for many long and weary days and nights.

Denver boasts of four or five thousand inhabitants.
The streets are regularly laid out; and there are many
fine brick blocks, either constructed or in course of con-