American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-31
G., SpRAauE. Cor. Ssc,y.
Columbus, Jan. 10, 1856.
valley OF One Yo.sd.nnllr, c%aIifornia.

Valley of the Yo-Seinity, California.
The Mariposa Gassas has published a
sommunication from Mr.. ]. NJ. Huichins,
who visited this valley in company with
Messrs. Ayrss and Willard, two gentlemen
belonging to San Francisco, and Mr.. Stair.
of Coul,urville. Assuming tha. these gen
tlemen are known to the editors of tho
Mariposa Gazette, and tha. the account is
therefore reliable, wa cannot but regard
with wonder and admiration the scenery
described. The party appears to have
started from an Indian village on the Frss-
no with woIndian guides, and the writer
says:
From Mr.. Hunts store we kept an
%eas!-of north course up to the divide be-
tween the Fresno and Chowchillah valleys;
thonce, descending towards the south fork
of the Merced river, and winding around
a very rocky point, we climbed nearly to
the ridge of the middle or main fork of
Mereed river, and. descending toward the
Yo-Semity valley, came upon a high point
clear of trees. whence we had our first
view of this singular and romantic valley;
and, as the scene opened a full view before
US, we were almost speeches. with admit
ration at its wild and sublime grandeur.
"On tho north side stands a perpendicu-
lar mountain Of granite, shaped like an i'm
mense tower. Its lofty top is covered with
great pines, that in the distance seem but
shrubs. Our Indian guides call this the
Captain 1t measures from the valley to
its summit about two thousand eight hun
dred feet.
,'Just opposite, on the south side, of The
valley, our attention was attracted by a
magnificent waterfall about seven humid
red feet in height. It looked like a long
broad feather Of silver, spreading oyer a
precipice; aud, as this feathery tail of leap,
ling spray thus hung. a slight breeze NOV
ed from side to side, and, rs the last rays
of the setting sun were tinging it with
rainbow hues, tho red would mix with the
purple, and the purple with the yellow,
and the green with the silYery sheet Of its
whitened foam. as il danced in space.
passing furtherup the valley, we were
struck with the awful grandeur Of the i'm
mense mountains on either side, some per-
pendicuiar and some a little sloping. One
hooks like a lighthouse. another ike a giant
Of great dimensions; all are singular, and
surmounted by pines.
eve crossed tho river. and still advanc-
ing up the valley. turned a point. and be-
fore us was an iudescribabie sight-a wa
terfall Of two thousand two hundred feet in
height; tine highest in the world, It rush-
es over the cliffs, and, with one bold leap,
falls one thousand two hundred feet, then
a third Of over FIVE hundred feet, the three
Leaps making two thousand two hundred
feet.
Standing upon the opposite side of the
valley, and boxing upon the tall pines be-
low. the great height of those falls can at
q glance be comprehended.
"About ten miles from tho lower end Of.
of the valley there is snother fall Of not less
than fifteen hundred feet This, with
smaller falls, and a like. mark the head of
the Yo,Ssmity valley. whiuh is. therefore,
about ten miles in length. and from a half
TO one mile in width. Although there is
good land enough for several farms, ii
cannot be considered on the whole as a
good farming valley but speekled trout,
grouse and pigeons are plentiful