The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-01-14

Sinic VIII NIlte you uoTe lullN On OUT |
amusements, horse racing: Cliff House. the
Willows, Hayes Park, &C., &c., ad insni- |
tens. but for the present, farewell, and may |
Allah preserve you.
Yours, DEsDIcHADo.
SAN FRAScIsco, Dec. 10. 1864.
DEAR PosT In my last spoke of our
theatrical amusements in Frisco. and the |
" vim" with whieh our people 60 into eve
nv thing ef the kind but to see real SIN
Francisco excitement, vouw would be obliged
10 go to one of our horse races. The fash.
ionable track at present, is at Bay View
Park, place about five miles from the
Plaza, redeemed from salt marsh on the
confines of the bay, and by the outlay OF
some Sl5O,0O0, made one Of the pre,liest
places in the world. The track is laid out
over the perfectly level bed Of the bay, and
is but just above high water. The
buildings and stand are so arranged
as to give fine view Of the sport 70 all.
and the buildings contain every comfort
that male b;peds could ask for, with the ex-
ccption that no female of the human sse-
cies can be found in or about the premises.
\ female of the horse genus, however, has
of late been the cynosure Of all eyes. The
little and wonderful mare - Unknown " has
been taking the shine off from ali the best
horses in California. She is SOFT Of
pocket edition of a ahorse--wcighs less th IN
seven hundred poauds. PAGES to wagon.
and leaves behind the biggest and best
horses. in heats Of two and three miles,
When she goes. it would be hard to tell that
hard times exist in Ca'i'o MIA. Montgom-
cry street in the early part of the day, is
filed with carriages Of all kinds, with huge
placards to attract passengers to the race,
and from two to five is nearly deserted.-
Mining stocks and even the price Of green
backs are secondary considerations, and
grave and stately bankers talk horse for
the time being with all the feryor of Il
horscman Or jockey. Bets OF all kinds are
made, and-tlessed relaxation even Goald
Curry is FOR the time forgotten. AT one
run, over sixty thousand dollars was piled
up on the judges stand to abide the event,
and the ground SO crowded, that the it was
more ike New YORK mob than any thing
in any other part Of the world. The whole
sporting community has been at work to
beat the little one, but in two or three mile
heats she stands invincible. Her owner,
Allie Gamble, Esq, understand. is willing
to sell her for the snug sum Of 52J,Oln. and
If not. as heard heard him remark, ,':sae has
brought more than that in, aud deserves to
eat out part of it,"
Well, three days have passed. and have
not been able to put pen to paper for an ac-
cursed rheumatism in the arm. If you are
able to read this, YOU will deserve credit
for a new inyention-and on .' the rain.
it rsineth every day" down here, and no
! hope of a let up for my tribula:ion while it
lasts. Whether the roads are not all wash
ell out 40 that tho mail will never reach you
is mixed matter. All Sacramento valley
and great fears are entertained that Sac: a.
mento city will be under water again, dcs-
pite the vast amount that has been cxn2nd
in building leyecs on all sides of it. Should
that happen, it is thought that it would
have to be abandoned entirely, as all has
| been done that can ever be done to secure
the CITY from innundation. Thus far in the
season. the rain has exceeded the amount
| that fell in 'Gl, and if II holds on in this
way. we may begin to think of the days of
Noah, and shall certainly be able to defend
any attack on Shasta City with the guns Of
! the Comanche.
This fighting arrangement, (for it can't
be called ship is now nearly completed,
and most ferocious little thing she is
bound to be. The description given by the
rebels Of the original Monitor, applies e
her exactly :: A Yankee cheese box on a
raft" The deck is but twelve inches above
water when in fighting trim, and the tur-
ret looks like it was floating around loose;
but to go on board Of her, one becomes
al StyI1, ,gyny, t1yn
displayed, and IL thrill of almost horro,
runs through one when he reflects upon bel
capacity for mischief. "Long NAV shC
wave," and may God grant that OF
this coast, we may never have need ot
her death dealing power. Pacific in name
may peace forever rest with Us, and we b,
delivered from the horrors of war, howevel
just and necessary they frequently are.
But the Comanche is not the only dcfencc
that this harbor has. 1t is said now to b.
4 the best fortified port in America, not ez
cepting New York. On our side OF tn;
Golden Gate lies Fort Point, Perfect gi
ant, bristling with arms all ovcr-four tier
of guns of the heaviest calibre below, AMI
a perfect crown of bull dogs mounted el
bafbetts. 1t perfectly commands the en-
trance of the port, and can concentrate
, fire of nearly one hundred pieces upon tn
whole sweep of ths channel. The hi
above the Fort is also heavily fortified
Half mile or more above, lies the Presi
dio, where one or two thousand men are il
barracks, above the large garrisons in al
! the forts. Above that, is Black Pom,
mounting some twenty or thirty guns, an
, in the centre Of the channel is Alcatra
|, JsIand lilo n fierpe i;ttla fnau with a coek "a
hat. This is said to be second Gibr,ilte