The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-11-08
valley of the YO.senitY and its SGus
pendOus Waterfalls.

pendOus Waterfalls.
The Mariposa (Cal.) Gazette has pub d.
IjShed communication from a Mr.. ]. NJ.
llulchings, who visited this valley in
company with MeSsrs. Ayres and Mil
lard, two gentlemen belonging 10 San
Francisco, and Mr.. Steif OF CouleryiIe.
Assuming thatlhese gentlemen are known
to the editors Of the Maraposa Gazette,
and that the account is therefore reliable,
we cannot but regard with wonder and
admiration the scenery described. 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 an
east-ol-north course up the divide be.
tween the Fresno and Chowchillah val
leys; thence, descending toward the south
fork Of the Mercid river and winding
around very rocky point. we climbed
nearly 10 the ridge ot the middle or main
fork OF the Merced, and, descending to-
ward the Yo.semity valley, came upon a
high point clear Of trees, whence we had
our first view of this singular and ro-
mantle valley; and as the scene opened
in full view before US, we were almost
speechless with admiration al its wild and
sublime grandeur.
"On the north side stands bold per.
pendicular mountain OF granite, shaped
like an immense tower. Its lofty top is
covered with great pines that, in the dis
lance, seem but shrubs. Our Indian
guides called this the Captain 1t
measures from the valley 10 its summit
Two thousand eight hundred feet.
"Just opposite this, on the south side
Of the valley, our 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 its feathery tail
of leaping spray 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, and the purple with the
yellow, and the yellow with the green,
and the green with the silvery sheet Of its
whitened foam as it danced in space.
Passing further up the valley, we
were struck with the awful grandeur of
the immense mountains on either side,
some perpendicular and some a little
soping. One looks like lighthouse,
another like giant capital of immense
dimensions; all are singular and sur.
mounted by pines.
We crossed the river, and, still ad
vancing up The valley, turhed point, and
before US was an indescribable sight--a
waterfall Two thousand two hundred feet
in height, the highest in the world. 1t
rushes over the cliffs, and, with one bold
leap, falls one thousand two hundred feet,
then a second of five hundred feet, then
third oil over five hundred feet; the three
leaps making two thousand two hundred
feet. ...
Standing upon the opposite side Of
the valley and looking at the fall pines
below, the great height oil these falls can
at glance be comprehended.
About ten miles from the lower end
OF the valley there is another fall of not
less than fifteen hundred feet. This,
with smaller falls and lake, mark the
head OF she Yo-semity valley, which is,
therefore, about ten miles in length and
from half to one mile in width, AL
though there is good land enough for
several farms, it cannot be considered
upon the whole as a good farming valley;
but speckled trout, grouse, and pigeons
are plentiful" ....l