Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-11-08
The Valley OF the Yo-Semity, California and
it's stupendous Waterfalls.

The Mariposa Gazette has published u coInmu-
ncation from Mr.. j. NJ. IuTCHINGs, who visi.
ted this valley i'll company with Messrs. AYRAS
and WILLARD, two gentlemen belonging to San
Francisco, and Mr.. STAIR, of Coulterville. AS
suming that these gentlemen are known to the ed
itors Of the Mariposa Gazette, and that the ac-
count is therefore reliable we cannot but regard
with wonder and admiration the scenery desert
bed. The party appears 20 have started from an
Indian village the Fresno with two Indian
guides and tho writer says:
"From Mr., Hunts store we kept an east-of-
north course mp the divide between the Fresno
and Chowchillah valleys; thence descending to-
wards the south fork of the MERGED river and
winding around very rocky point, climbed
nearly to the ridge and of the middle main
fork Of the MERGED. and, descending towards the
lo.Semty valley came upon high point clear
Offices, whence we had our first view of this SIN
gular aud romantic valley; and, as the scene o.
pened in full view before us, we were almost
speeches. with admrotion al its wild and sub
lime granducr.
son the north side stands n bold perpendicu-
lar mountain of granite shaped like an immense
tower. lis lofty top is covered with great pines
that in the distance but shrubs. Our In
dian guides called this the Captain" 1t meas
ures from the valley to its summit about two thou
sand eight hundred feet.
Just opposite this, on the south side of the
valley, our attention was attracted by a magnif-
cent waterfall about seven hundred feet in height
1t looked like long broad feather of silver de-
pending over precipice and, this featherv
tail of leaping spray thus hung, slight breeze.
moved it from side to side, and, the last rays
cf the setting sun were tnting it with rainbow
hues, the red would mix with the purple. and the
purple with the yellow, the yellow with the green
and the green with the svery sheen of its viii
tened foam as it danced in space
.Passng further up the valley, we were struck
! with the awful granduer of the immense noun
| tains on either side, some perpendicular and sore
! Il little soaping. One looks like IL lighthouse.
another like giant capital of immense dmen-
sions MI are singular and surmounted by pines
| I'VE crossed the river and, stll advancing up
| tie valley, turned u point and before us was an
! indescribable sght-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 of
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 tall pines below the great
height of these falls can at glance he compre-
hended,
About ten miles from the lower end of the
valley there is another fall of not less than if-
teen hundred feet. This, with smaller falls and a
lake, the head of the Yo Semity valley, which is
about ten miles in length and from half to one
mile in width. Although there is good land G.
nough for several farms, it cannot be considered
upon the whole good farming valley; and
speckled trout grouse. and pigeons are plentiful.
| TIE "AMERICAN LEGIoN."-A new American
order has been originated, and seems to be pre-
vang extensively in some portions of the coun-
! try. Lodges or associations have been organiz-
ed in Washington, and in some parts of Virginia.
and we see that one was formed in the Thirteenth
Ward, Brooklyn, \. Y, few weeks since,
which already numbers six hundred members
We understand that all American-torn citizens,
whether Protestant or Roman Catholic, eligi-
bic to membership Office, but that all anti
slavery men are strictly proscrhed.-Phila San.
| 1t appears that the alleged discovery of guano
on the Galapagos Islands has proved illusory,
and that by .f this illusion. the treaty nego-
tiated between the authorities of Ecuador and the
! United States minister for the regulation of the
commerce in that article, as also contract be-
tween the authorities of Ecuador and the repu-
ted discoveries, has been declared null and void
by the Executive of that republic