Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-10-25
THE VALLEY OF THE Yo-sEMITY,
CALIFORNIA, AND IT'S STUPENDOUS
WATERF ILLS.

The Mariposa Gazette has published con.
munics,ion FROM Mr.. ]. NJ. HuTourHes, who
yi'ited this valley in company with Messrs'
AYRAs and MILtARp, two gentlemen belong
ing to San Francisco, and Mr.. STA R, Of Coul-
,erville. Assuming that these gentlemen are
known TO the editors OF the Msriposs Gazette,
and that the account is therefore reliable, we
cannot but regard with wonder and admiration
the scenery decsrioed. The party appears to
have started from an Indian village on the
Fresno with Two indian guides, and the writer
says; .''
From Mr.. Hunts store we kept sn esst.of.
north course up the divide between the Fresno
and Chowchillsh valleys; descend towards
the south fork of the Merced river and wind
ing around very rocky point, we climbed
nearly TO the ridge OF tie middle or main
fork OF the Merced, and, descending towards
the Yo-Semi,y valley, came upon high point
clear Of trees, whence we had our first view
OF tfis singular and romantic valley; and, as
the scene opened in full view before Us. we
were almost speechless with admiration at its
wild and sublime grandeur.
/ "On the north stands bold perpendicular
mountain Of granite, shaped like an immense
tower. Its lofty top is covered with grea,
pines that, in the distance, seem hut shrubs
Our 1ndisn guide. callea this the Captain
II measures from the valley to its SUNNI,
about two tA, usand eight hundred feet.
| Just opposite this, on the south side Of
the vslley, cur attention was attracted by a
magnificent waterfall about seven hundred
feet in height. 1t looked like long broad
feather Of silver depending over a precipice
and, as this feathery tail OF eapng spray
thus hung, slight breeze moved it from side
to side, and, as the last rays Of the setting
sun were tinging it with rainbow hues, the
red would mix with the purple ard the pur.
pie with the yellow, and the yellow with the
green, and the green with tho sllvery sheer
Of It's ~hiteneJ foam as it danced in space!
passing further up the valley, we were
struck with the awful grandeur of the i'm
me, Sc mountains on either side, some per
pendicular and some little slipping. One
looked like q Il ,hthouse, another like gan
capital of immense dimensions, all are singu
lar and surmounted by pines.
, ave cross ed the river, and, still advancing
up the valley, turned a point, anc before vi
was an indescribsble sight--a waterfall two
thousand two hundred feet in height, the high
est in he world, 1t rushes over the cliffs
and, with one bold leap, falls one thousan,
two hui dred feet, then second Of FIVE hund
red feet, then a third Of over FIVE hunoret
feet; the three leaps making two thoussne
two hundred fee,.
"Standing upon the opposite side of the
valley and looking at the tall pines below
the great height of these falls can at glance
be compre hended.
"Abuut ten miles from the lower end o.
the valley there is another fail of not less thar
fifteen hundred feet. This, with smaller fal:,
and a lake, mark the head Of the Yo-Semty
valley, which is, therefore, about ten miles in
length and from half to one mile in width
Although there :s good land enough for severa
farms. i cannot be considered upon the hole
as a good farming valley, but speckled trout
grouse, and pigeons are plentiful