The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-19
A Californian Escapade-Narrow Escape OF
Gen. Wool. senator Weller aud lady.

prepared.
Californian Escapade-Narrow Escape OF
Gen. Wool, Senator Weller and Lady.
We learn from private letter to gentleman Of
this city that Major General Wool, Senator Weller
and his accomplished lady, with a party Of friends,
met with an accident lately In California, which
had very nearly proved fatal to all. They had been
on pleasure and business tour to the northern
boundary OF the State, +" taking look' ct the
mining regions generally. We quote from the graphic
letter written by one Of the party:-s awe
have travelled along the winding banks Of rivers and
over mountains, sometimes beholding snow far
awsy upon the peaks, while beneath it was warm
summer weather. We saw oak trees many times
larger than any ever beh eldi In the East and tall
ppes from hundred and City TO two hundred feet
high standing in the most beautiful valleys the Gun
ever shcne upon. Two nignts we encamped upon
the ground the ladies sleeping while the gentlemen
kept look ont for wolves and grizzly bears, that
roam over the plains.
Six miles from Major Readings is Fort Reading,
where are stationed some two hundred soldiers.
Major Gen. Wool, who was Of our party, went i'm
medistey to the fort where we were to follow him.
Mr.. Weller had stared on bear hunt, could not
accompany rs, and so los. the salute Of thirteen
guns inter ded for bis reception, but which the gal
liant General gave to Mrs. Weler-ccrtainly higc
compliment to q lady but doubtless tue commander
considered her the better half" of her good lord.
Here We paItoek of cake, wine, grapes, &c. Mean
time two hundred Indians were trimming their head.
with leaves and wild flowers preparatory to amusing
US with their war and fancy dances. These red
gentlemen we're evidently Obligated, SIS no. m IRE
than three or four I'D ever seen white womAu
We put up silver qua rters against trees O the bow
men to sfoot at, and altogether had qnite R ,oin
Hood sort Of sylvan sport before ajjournng to din
ner. AMI waas think you Of this bill. OF fare at .
fort hundreds Of miles sway from civilization, and
away up in the mountains Of California?
&c . > , . , Q . o-7 , .
fine roast pig, Roast duck, o
Roast beef Roast quail,
o Puddings, pies, Jellies, o
Oranges, grapes, nuts, Blanc monge
.
The officers of this fort are nearly all West Point
graduates; most of them had no. seen lady tor
eight months, and you may be sure were gallant
enough We had grand time, and when We de-
parted we were escorted to Major Readings by
BODY guard Of one general, one major, t@o colonies,
and four captains Toe Msjor is bachelor, aud our
party Of ladies' took unceremonious possession Of lis
fre Rouse, and did the honors as pleased them. The
servants OF Bis mansion were all educated Indians.
he has lived here eleven years, and owns an i'm
mense + act OF land highly cultivated. But /
mus. come to our marvellous escape, perhaps fr,m
sudden death. Our party, being large enough to I'LL
stage coIfortably ys engaged en- extra over the
driver, feeling proud of his load, doubtless, as well
If Il banner, drove at furious rate, In order to
reach Nevada by night. 1t was about nine o'clock
in the evening-we had just taken fresh horses-and
we we're descending a mountain over q very dan
gerous road, portion OF which skrtBd the very
brink OF preciptce, but we were hardly mile and
q nslf from Nevada, when the driver, installing
1ov c<,, fo~ had hair
brightly drove heedessly forward, and striking the
obstacle, broke the pole tf our coach. immediately
the horses be1sn running at . terrible rate, the
driver losing all control. We braced ourselves as
Of upset, soon as the vehicle should strike full
against one of the many atumps which lay in our
course. One gentleman jumped from the stage,
and was hurt sever ely; the rest OF US sat as frmy
essly the catastrophe which we felt must ensue.
On we went, burrying toward frightful
precipie. which some Of the party
OF us, when, pr,videntially, the horses
swervsd suddenly from the road, and dashed ioto
the WOODS. The few minu.es running inc"
seemed weeks to ma, bat ut length two immense
stnmps presented the nselves; the first was grazed
sufficiently tile the vehicle upon the other, where
it became wedged whist the horses, disengaged,
dashed tesdloDg forward. There re we're "fxsd;"
ground, and we so firmly braced against each other
that the shock of stoppage bad been scarcely felt.
Gen. Wool scrambled cut Of the window frat, and
We followed speedily ss possible. The poor
driver had been thrown twenty feet and lay spec h.
less, bis collar bone broken. We unprecedented come
Of the "insders must be severely hurt, bat happily
all escaped with few scratches, save only the
gentleman who had jumped out, and who was found
seDseless on the ROAD some distance back. Mr.
Weller shouted "Help! ho!" In Q stensorian voice,
which we heard ans vered immediately, and soon
man on horseback appeared approaching us.
ply stefan and carriage were sent for, and In two
hours more we found ourselves safe at Nevads,
where warm baths and good supper made us mors
comfortable. Next day We were all laughing at tn,
General, those drst exclamation upon getting cut
OF the stage, and finding himself whole, was,
"Where's my hatY' 10 which our senator very
irreveYenty respoL died. "D-n your hat; look to the
ladies!" On expletiv which, under tie circum-
stan, ca perhaps, was pardonable. But the Major.
General Is q gallant gentleman, and we all agreed
ct last that TO the American flag over our vehicle
we owed our protection fiom harm.
Marine Affairs.
THE BRITISH SCREW STEAMSHIP GLASGOW, Capt Cum
ming sailed yesterday for Glasgow with "a cabin and
I03 steerage passengers.
SHIP CuRRnuCK.-The party who acted as second off,
Ger of this ship her voyage from Antwerp last
spring, when she instrumental in saving the
sengers Of the Black Hawk, will please his
the undersigned that it may be inscribed medal
which is being prepared for him by order Of the
chants OF New York
ROYAL PHELPS, Chairman, IA Stone street.
LAuScH-From the ship yard Of Mr.. T. H. Williams at
Green Point, at half-past nine O'Clock, Tuesday