The Nevada Democrat., 1860-10-27
4 vle,x rro,n Mount shasta.


The November number Of the Hesperian
contains an article from the pen Of Calvin
B. Mcdonald, giving an account Of trip
which the writer, with one companion, made
to the top OF Mount Shasta. Having reach
ed the summit, the writer says:
Fortunately the day was uDcommenly
clear, enabling sto see far to the Eas1'
over the desert, where numerous lakes nash-
ed midway, like minute pieces of burnlsheo
silver. There seemed to he no boundary
to vision; bat the eye absolutely ached ana
closed with very WEAKNESS. Afeng 'he
crest of the Sierra Nevada, and far below
the specsator, Mount Lassen, Pilot Peak,
Spanish Peak, and other noted landmarks
were distinctly visible, but they bad lost all
ofthat sublimity with which they impress
the wondering worshipper who looks from
the lowlands. They seemed no more than
watcbdowers on a castle wall which IS
overlooked from an adjacent hill. west
ward and beyond the coast range, there was
a mirage-like something, which we imag-
ined 70 be the ocean; and to the South, lhe
Sacramento River drew its long, silver
thread out of sight on the plain, whlle
Southerly peaks stood in uncertain Shapes
along the horizon. But. to the North, look
ing from the sun, over the vast territory OF
Oregon. the most distinct view OF land
marks was obtained. Mount Hood stood
forth 10 majestic distinction, and other
rjeaks which we were unable to recognize
by name were clearly discerned, IN addition
to numerous lakes, streams, valleys and
mountain chains which we had not sufficient
geographical knowledge to identify. Until
then. we had no adequate conception OF
the vast region stretching Northward, and
which has recently become a State OF vast
resources, and rapidly developing wealth.
Lingering above the prodigious landscape,
we looked and worshiped; not with that
alteration inspired in the little temples
which men build, but with the speechess
reverence which silence commanded on the
awful heights. The man who could STAND
there, an atom in unbounding space, be.
wildered by the innumerable splendors OF
the gorgeous picture; without acknowledg-
ing the absolute empire of Great God AL
mighty, Is on atheist too blind, too sto.id,
too idlotic to be damned for bis unbelicf.
For myself, standing on heighths nearly
three times the altitude OF Olympus, felt
chilled and speechless In the awful presence
OF Omnipotent Deity, whose tremendous
power was silently declared by that glgan.
tic landmark of the clouds. Here we found
two fagstafIs planted in the crevices OF the
rocks, but the flags had been threshed to
pieces and apportioned to the winds that
float In swift currents Northward; there
were a few remnants ciinging to the sticks,
the remainder having been swept down TO
Shasta Valley or carried on towards Ore
gon. Under shelving rock we discovered
several newspapers, and scraps OF manu-.
script. one Of the latter making known that
one flag had been placed there by Capt.
Prince, in 1852; the other, temperance
banner, had been planted in 1856, by Rev.
Israel S. Delhi, who, it was recorded had
assembled alone. Another scrap contained
these opposite words, in pencil: "If ascend
unto Heaven, Thou art there. II l take
the wings of the morning and fly to the ut
termost parts Of the earth, behold Thou art
there" Desiring to add something to this
aerial store of letters, | discovered that pa
per and pencil were missing. Like Ban
yan's Pilgrim to rest on the Hill Of Diff
Guilty and falling into sinful sleep lost his
roll, my stock of writing materials had
been dropped at some resting place be.
low.