Jewels from Jane, April 24

Sunday, April 24, 1870 Entering Rocky Mountains

"We breakfasted at Sydney, 414 miles from Omaha. From this place onward the scenery became very interesting, and the conversation of our fellow travelers, amusing. In one car were four Protestant ministers and their ladies, who were on their way to China, to convert those benighted idolators. There were almost as many religious denominations represented, as there were persons in the car. Whether owing to our presence, or not, we do not know; but, however, religion was the principal topic of conversation throughout the entire journey. Everyone maintained his own opinion and proved it from the Bible, agreeing only in one point. An elderly respectable-looking gentleman came over to us, and handing one of the Sisters a five dollar bill, proffered his services to us as far as San Francisco, stating that he was not a Catholic; but nevertheless had great respect for Sisters, as he knew them to be 'Angels of Mercy,' and that he regarded it a great privilege to serve them when it was in his power. One of the Sisters gave him a small medal of the Blessed Virgin; he hung it on his watch chain, and said he would keep it as long as he lived. This afternoon we entered the Rocky Range, passed through Sherman, at an elevation of 8,242 feet, and the highest point crossed by the railroad. It is a frightful and desolate region; nothing to be seen but snow-clad mountains of rock, whose summits appear to touch the clouds. The cars pass over frightful chasms; the rails are laid on logs resting on pillars, whose only support are the craggy rocks beneath. Some of these chasms seem to be laid about the length of three city blocks; going over these places every person appeared to hold his breath; and it was only when safe on firm ground that conversation was resumed and commentations made on the terrors and perils of the place. I chanced to be sleeping when crossing one of these places. Sister Martha [Peters-the lay sister in the group] awoke me, telling me to 'wake up and take note of this beautiful scenery.' When I saw where we were, sleep forsook me immediately. I was terrified. The Sisters enjoyed the scenery very much. That night, like the preceding one, we passed with little sleep."

From "Trek of the Seven Sisters", Sister Monica Corrigan's diary