East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-01-13
Original aaistelIaay.
San Francisco and Surroundings.


The harbor of San Francisco is one
of the largest and safest in the world
All the ships of all the navies in the
world might lie within its headlands
without crowding or jostling. Sur
rounded on every side by high, bluff
shores, it is at all times sure protec-
ton from storms, and being supplied
by all the waters Of the San Joquin,
San Jose and Sacramento rivers has
abundant soundings for the largest
vessel afoat. It's entrance, called
the Golden Gate, is formed by two
immense rocky headlands that rise al
most perpendicular to great height.
Upon the southern point is now being
built a fort of such strength as is be-
lieved will render the harbor defensi-
bic against any naval force that can
bo arrayed against it. Soon after
rounding this point of land the eye
discovers the city of San Francisco
standing upon the side.of the noun
tains and spreading over space that
it would seem must take many years
TO build up and which has boen dcnse
ly covered III few short years with
dwellings and business places that III
val those of the older cities of the At
lantic shores. Well do we romembcr
the landscape as it greeted our eyes
when ourgood friend brought us upon
deck and swung our hammock where
we could catch the whole view. All
along the southern shore were beauti-
full gardens arrayed after the most ap-
proved style and abounding with all
the vegetables of the season. Bcau-
tifully terraced yards clustering with
shru6bery through the tops of which
the neatly painted cottage Of the oc-
cupant was just visible, and further
on the young but giant city standing
upon the rocks almost to tho clouds,
and stepping down to the waters of
the Bay. The southern shore in the
far distance, showing here and there
signs of cultivation, but presenting
such evidence under the disadvantage
of a background that absorbed the at
tention of the observer by its regular
waving lines of beauty that melted
into blue distance and mellow sky
No one can paint the landscape as it
then appeared TO us under hope of
reprievc from the imprisonment that
sea sickness for l0i dayshad imposed
upon us.
When the anchor was let 90 and
our ship had swung round to the flood
tide, we wcro dropped over her side
into small boat beside Tom Leather
man, and started for shore. Once
upon terra firna wo sat down to re-
alize our situation among this world
of strangers, sick, friendless and
strapped" But Tom, ever alert for
something to eat or drink, began en-
curing about the capabilities of the
Bay for supplying oysters, and was
told to his perfect terror and amaze
ment that the supply was destroyed
by the founder, but that herrings,
sprats, shrimps, Holsters and sardincs
were abundant. "Then come on"
said Tom "and if you can't walk I'll
carry you to q place where all these
fish are TO be had, and let's eat them
ALL" and without further ado he took
us under his arm and very soon we
were in "Alden's Epicurcan Retreat"
waiting for the whole bill of fare to be
be cooked. On every side Of us there
were tables crowded with guests, and
the walters were everywhere hurTying
to supply the demand of the hungry.
as the odor of something savory
greeted our nostrils once moro, all the
visions of our distenpered brain came
back to us and we could not refrain
from rccountimg them. How often
when sick and hungry, and upon short
rations or no rations at oil, had we
shut our eyes only TO behold in fancy,
lakes Of champagne, rivers of nectar,
mountains Of cream pies, mincc pies,
pumpkin pics and oyster pics, and