Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-10-19
California Waterfalls.

California Waterfalls.
J. M. Hutchings writes to the Mariposa Gazette q
description of the Yo-Semity Valley and its water
tails. Mr.. Hutchings, Mr. Ayras and Mr.. Millard,
OF st. Francisco, and MIR. Stair of CouIterve formed
a party to visit the place named. They appear to
have started from an Indian village on the Fresno
where they procured two Indian guides. Mr. Hutch
ing says:
From Mr.. Hunts store, we kept an east of north
course, up the divide between the Fresno and Chow
ahilah valleys; thence descending towards the south
Fork OF the Merced river, and winding around very
rocky point We climbed nearly to the ridge of the
middle or main fork of the Merced and descending
towards the Yo-SemitY valley, we came upon high
point clear of trees, from whence we had our first
view of this singular and romantic valley; and as
the scene opened in full view before u.s. we were al
most speechless with wondering admiration at it's
wild and sublime grandeur "What! !" exclaimed
one at length, "have we come 10 the end of all
things" "Can this be the opening of the Seventh
Seal z" cries another. "Ths far very far, exceeds
Niagara" says third.
We had been out from Mariposi about four days,
and the fatigue of the journey had made weary
and little peevish; but when our eyes looked upon
the almost terrific grandeur of this scene ALL ALL was
forgotten. 81 never expected to behold beautiful
a sightE ''This scene alone amply repays me for
my travel !" 81 should have lost the most magnif-
cent sight that ever saw had not witnessed this!'
were exclamations of pleasurable surprise that fell
from the lips of all, sat down tC drink in the
varied beauties of this Intoxicating and enchanting
scene.
On the north side stands one bold, perpendicular
mountain of granite, shaped like an immense tower.
Its lofty top is covered with great pines, that by
distance become mere shrubs. Our Indian guides
called this the Captain" 1t measures, from the
valley to its summit, about two thousand eight hun
dred feet
Just opposite to this, on the south side of the val
ley our attention first attracted by magnificent
waterfall about seven hundred feet in height 1t
looked like long, broad feather of silver, that hung
q
tail OF eaping spray thus hung, slight breeze NOV
ed ii from side 10 side, and as the last rays of the
setting sun were gliding 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 svery sheen of its whitened foam, as
it danced IN scale. x
On rushed the water over it's rocky bed, and as it
reached the valley, it threw up cloud of MIST that
made green and fourishing the grass and flowers,
and shrubs that slumberod at the mountains base
while towering three thousand feet above the valley
stood the rugged and pine covered cliffs that in bro
ken and spiral peaks girdle in the whole
Passing further up the valley, one is struck with
the awful grandeur of tie immense mountains on
either slde-some perpendicular, some little slop-
ing One looks like lighthouse, another like giant
capital of immense dmensions-all are singular, and
by pines.
Now we crossed the river, and still advancing up
the valley, turned point, and before was an in
descrbable sight-a wael fall two thousand two hun
dred 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 second of five
hundred feet MORE then third of over five hundred
feet more-the three leaps making two thousand two
hundred feet.
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 comprehended.
About ten miles from the lower end of the valley.
there another fall of not less than fifteen hundred
feet. This, with lesser falls and lake, make the
head of the Yo Semity Valley that this valley is
oho L., le1r
in width and although there is good land enough
for several FARMS it cannot be considered upon the
whole as good farming valley. Speckled trout,
grouse and pigeons are quite numerous.