Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-05-26
Letter from San Francisco.
Saw Francisco, May Is, 1855


SAN FRANCISCO, May Is, 1885.
FRIEND LYNCH: When dismounted
from the tripod, and, laying aside the pen,
took up the carpet-bag, I supposed that
theneeforth should dispense with the edi-
torial zoe" and 60 it alone on the first per-
son singular. IuAsmuch, however, As I did
not travel alone, but was fortunante enough
to have several most social eompoSnons du
voyage, my account Of my tranS-montans
trip must be written with . /" We." -.o,1s
THE ROUTE.
Within short time, the route Of the Pr
oneer Line has been changed from the road
TIA Genoa and Van Sickles', and takes, in
stead, the road up Kings Canon to the Glen
brook House. This is sleeper grade than
the other route, but makes sufficient Of cut
off to enable the Pioneer to keep far within
the limit Of its rapid timetable. Ithas also
an advantage which is fully appreciated BY
the admirer Of magnificent scenery; in that
il gives for miles an uninterrupted view Of
Lake Tahoe, along the shore Of which it runs
from the Glenbrook to Mazeppa Cove, ride
Of an hour and quarter. This view Of the
largest and most beautiful mountain lake IN
the world, is of itself worthy Of apilgrimage
from the BAY; and when the traveller across
the Sierras has choice Of routes, this giorl..
GUS scenery must turn the scale in favor Of
the Pioneer over all competing routes.
must not, however, proceed further with my
account Of the journey without paying =
proper tribute Of appreciation and praise 70
he excellent hotel Of Mr.. Hauley, at Hauleyi
Station. At this station we stop at $40 for
supper. The very name Of wayside tavern -
a word of horror to travellers, and visions OF
cold grub, badly cooked, muddy coffee and
deyilish hurry are evoked at the very men;
ton. When, therefore, we found large and
handsomely furnished hotel, spacious, well
lighted and cheerful dining.hall, and table
loaded with hot aud smoking supper, which
for abundance, variety and excellent cookery
can not be excelled in the best hotel IN Ne
vada, we experienced a surprise as gratifying
as it was astonishing. That hotel IL the
grand exception among roadside tayerns, and
in according it its just need Of praise, my
mind is relieved by sense Of having given
honor to whom honor is due. The new time
table Of the Pioneer, which allows but fifteen
uOuIa NuQ q hOh W
gives one an idea Of horses upon the dead
run, a swaying, bounding coach, and fright
ened il not imperilled passengers; but the
reality furnishes nothing of the sort. The
improved grades, and the excellent condi'
ton Of tho road, coupled with the systematic
arrangement Of all the details Of the line,
renders the transit within the cpeci6ed time
u matter OF easy accomplishment; so much
40, that ut brisk but steady and easy trot,
our coach rolled into Plaeerville at half past
o'clock in the morning, exactly one hour
ahead Of schedule time; both coaches being
heavily laden. At s o'clock we left Placer
vile, reaching Latrobe half an hour before
the departure OF the downward train, and
arrived at Sacramento an hour before the
steamboats, time for departure; and here we
met our fellow Neyadans, who started i've
hours ahead OF US BY the Dutch Flat route:
The latter route is much the "shortest" and
the "levellest," and all that sort OF thing $50
the Sacramento Union and other partizans
persist in declaring), but il so, it reminds one
Of the chap who had very small foot, but a
big boot fitted him best. The Dutch Flat
route has all the advantages in theoretical,
mathematical point of view, on popsT-but
when il comes down to the more practical
test Of speed and comfort commend us to
the Pioneer route TIA Placeryille.
From Sacramento to the Bay we were con-
veyed smoothly and pleasantly by the fine
steamer Yosemite. That belligerent boat
has the whole river to herself nowadays,
and we missed the excitement Of those steam
boat duels with which the monotony Of trips
upon the Sacramento used TO be diversified
in the days Of opposition. On board the
Yosemite, I met Gilbert Douglas, Esq., for
merly Of Gold Hill. He is about to visit the
States with his family, and shall enjoy the
pleasure Of his company as far as Panama.
The boat was crowded with passengers from
Nevada and northern California, all Of whom
were calculating to attend the great race
which was to take place next day. Not
single individual whom met had come down
ptuposely to witness the Iace-of course NOT.
Every one had other business" and should
only visit the race-track incidentally.
THE RACE.
On Tuesday, the great and long-talked-of
race between the renowned horses Norfolk
and Lodi, which has for months past set the
sporting world Of America sgog with excite.
ment, came of according to programme, and
a. = matter Of course "went out for to see."
DESPITE the drawback Of = bowling gale OF
wind that nearly blew ones hair of his head,
his teeth down his throat, and loaded him to
the muzxle with dust and sand, there were
few persons in San Francisco not absolutely
compelled to remain in the city, but were at
the track. The road between the city and
the Ocean House reminded me most striking
II Of sketches Of the Derby Day in England.
Every species OF vehicle, from the sumptuous
private family coach, down to donkey-cart.,
were in requiNtion; and every quadruped
that could claim the remotest kin with the
equine family, was conscripted into the ser
vice. Some idea Of the immense concour:e
of people present may be formed, when 1t is
stated that over one thousand vehicles PAID
toll at single gate, and there are several
roads leading to the race track. / had no pre-
yious idea OF the immense number Of buggies
and carriages which an occasion like this
could call into service in San Francisco.
The scene on and about the course was the
eayest have witnessed in score OF years !;
and had il not have been for the wind and
dust it would have been glorious. Punctually
Al the hour Of three the horses made their
appearance, and there was none OF that ve1a-
tious DELAY 80 often occurring on similar
occasions. The horses made fair start at
the first dash. The result Of the race you
will have already learned, as well as the time
made which, considering the condition
of the track, was excellent. The
first heat was declared Z" dead heat"
and the next two zere won BY Norfolk with
apparently the most perfect ease. am
neither q :" hoss.man" nor the con Of boss
man but it looked to me from the ease with
which Norfolk led Lodi, albeit held back
with the full strength Of his rider, as though
he would have come in a hundred yards
ahead as well as the length BY which he eros;
sed the score in advance. He appeared all
the time as Il in an easy slope" while Lodi
seemed to be doing his best, Neither rider
used the whip; but Fitzpatrick Spurred Lodi
pretty sharply ON the last heat, as the horses
sides very plainly demonstrated, Ny indi-
vidual opinion upon horse matters Is not
worth row Of pins, but am satisfied, from