The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-08
to one he will go at once to the best placera In the


The whole business rises before US like dream;
and this reminds US Of the gorgeous vision which
we had the other night we closed our reading Of
the latest news from the country OF the gold span
Ries; and as It has the complexion OF prophecy,
we should give the vision as 1t was disclosed, par
ncu'arly az 1t agrees with the maps and descrlp-
lions Of Fremont -
We stood upon one of the Hottest SUBMITS OF the
Sierra Nevada. There was a company of forty
men around us, toll-worn, SCARED, long bearded,
and ragged, from their wasting journey noun
tains and deserts, and through hostile tribes of
pIowling savages, tor eighteen hundred miles.
The change OF as many years had been effected
from their hardships and privaicns OF four months
locke of youth were frosted BY unremitted tot,
and radiant faces of health were shriv-lled by "a.
mine 10 premature age. Their caravan was pitched
below them on the margin OF lake, high up in
the mountains, and their bony animals were tea at
ing upon the rich grass along the river of the clear
water The encampment was thrown into the
shade by the surrounding peaks, Tor the sun was
setting The tar oil Pacific, and with Its blaze OF
glory sutfused one hall the firmanent. Our COM
pany stood enraptured with the scene. Far
glowing, till intermingling with the sky,
was the broad ocean; and sails, like Aocks
of sea-gulls were visible upon Its surface
for hundreds OF miles away. great bay, in.
dented by wooded hills, was filled with ships at
anchor; A line of mist, close down upon the sea,
hung like a, veil OF purple gauze along the low
mountains Of the coast. To the eastward rose a
black and b0undless labyrinth of mountains
around us frequent snowy peaks were visible,
glowing like white clouds In the sunlight. Ex-
tending downward for seventy miles, were slopes
OF the range which we commanded, clothed IN
their towering woods of FIVE hundred years perfec-
ton. Ten thousand feet below, and stretching
upon either hand TWO hundred miles, and full fifty
Leagues across to the mountains OF the coast, lay
the valley of Ell Dorado. Two long and winding
rivers from opposite extremes, united their waters
in The great bay which opened between two
rocky walls into the sea- A thousand sparkling
BARRIERS and joined the two long SHINING rivers
of the PLAIN. The plains were green In the
uxurance of early summer; patches of the darker
green OF the live oaks were sprlnkled along the
meadows, and lighter green marked out the
fringe OF willows on the streams Numberless
white srots, the tents OF the gold diggers, were
clustered under the mountain sides aud along the
water courses, while beyond, upon the swelling
troop of wild horses with the wild rancheros no.
verlng upon their TANKS. Wreaths of smoke as
cended from the ravines below, and the faint echo
Of cannon shot muttering through the mountains,
and dark smoky line near the bay, indicated the
arrival ct a steamer. The signal had been gwen,
and from point to point the valley heard the news
and men, like ants, were seen swarmlng from out
the hills.
Such was the scene yet so soft was the brilllan-
cy OF that setting sun, that mountains, rivers,
plains, and valleys, and the great bays and the low
range OF hills along the coast, and the wide glowing
ocean, extending tar away TILL mingled with the
sky, the whole picture sweeping the horizon a
thousand miles, did seem to undulate with the
soft evening wind, rising and falling In the uctua
tions OF the wind, as If II were st picture drawn
upon the air and colored by the sun, and floating
on the halo reflected from the sua, distinct as
reality, yet soft, transparent, and ethereal as a
dream.
A company at Washington are organising for
an overland trip, and unless arrested bv some gold
mine on the way, IN the Rocky Mountains, or IN
the mountains Of the Great Basin, they will have
an opportunity OF realising the general truth of
this description.
The discovery of this gold region must have
the effect of speeding the work of railroad to
the Pacific, and It'll only necessary for the govern
ment to establish mint at San Francisco, and the
per centage tor working up the dust into gold coin
will pay for the iron track which Is to bind the
valley OF the Msslsslppl with the shores OF the
Pacific. w