Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-08-14
TRIP OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
STRAWBERRY VALLEY HOTEL,
Summit Of the Sierras,) Z
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STRAWBERRY VALLEY HOTEL, }
Summit Of the Sierras,) :
August Is, lS65-6A,M.S
My DEAR News = II my recollection
serves me correctly, we THAT is, John J. Val.
entine and myself left Virginia yesterday
on the one o'clock Pioneer stage, with u fair
wind and everything slowed snug, with a
heavy ballast in the " chock heads" We
s,eered S. s. W. for Carson, occasionally en-
countering a white squall on the hurricane
deck, and innumerable minor squalls from
the cabin, in which were slowed several evil
dences Of future usefulness. Badly Green
acted as pilot, and in one hour and forty
minutes we reached the ancient city Of Car
son, passing the Warm Springs (of which we
will deliver an opinion hereafter), and max
ing a raid upon George Lewis cold lunch
and other fluids, were for a time considera-
bly, happy ; but that time was short, for the
crack team Of six noble horses was at once
in traces, and II sturdy "all aboard" from
the good looking Crandall's healthy lungs,
warned us to leave Jim Grey's Inequalities,
and in a twinkling we were whirling through
the dusty streets Of the capital, past pleasant
cottages, where oval faces with glitterlng
eyes above, peered through octave panes as
nuns looking through convent walls they
were looking at Valentine). Away we sped
up Kings Canon, past pleasant homes, and
on either side the vernal ground teens With
| rich vegetation !; here n field of cereals, with
silver heads bowling to the breeze, proclaim,
that the harvest is nearly finished andthere
luxuriant vegetation mods to the caressing
sun, and woos the embraces Of the, warm
hearted God Of Day. In clusters the cease
less waving willows flutter Yin the pregnant
air, and for a distance Of two miles Kings
Canonis one Of the most beautiful spots in
Nevada. We dom wonder that Harry Mi
ghels and McElwain, Of the Appeal, grow po-
etical. Two rambles through those groves
with a good.lookiug woman, would make an
anchorite sigh like a loye-sick girl.
We always had a weakness for a good team,
| and that of our stage was certainly one OF
the best we have ever rode behind and our
| driver-do you know Hank Grey? Have
YOU ever ridden BY his side through the mar
| row passes Of the Sierras? Can you remem-
Der his tone Of voice as he softly murmured
" whisky straight" Did he enjoy your
good Jokes as heartily US he appeared to en-
ioy our bad ones: II YOU don't know Hank,
you ought to, for he is our beau ideal OF a
good "whip." Careful Of his stock, yet al
ways in time, courteous to his passengers,
obliging to all the inhabitants, and with a
skill in driving that we never saw. surpassed
and but rarely equaled.
The grade from Kings Canon to the sum-
nit is quite steep, and the progress neces.
sarily slow. To the south stretches away
valleys Of green, and near the top, far below
the grade, numerous saw mills are seen dot
ting the landscape, the steam and smoke OF
their engines mingling with the fcecy. clouds
that nestle BY the mountain sides. Clear
Creek has long furnished a large quantity OF
dressed lumber for the Virginia and Gold
Hill markets, and gives no signs OF weaken
ing. A few miles and we reach Swift's sta.
ton, owned and run by A. H. Hauley, where
we find an excellent supper, the only fault
with which was a multidinous number Of
tempting viands, which our limited time did
not admit Of making n thorough assay.
On we go. to the summit, over the smooth
grade at a rafting pace, while on either side
the eternal mountains with crowned pines Of
giant size stand sentinel over Times mauso-
leum, or the yawning chasm gapes wide be.
low with rushing mountain torrent that
dashes with headlong haste on the ALBANIAN.
tine granite. The scenery is beautiful, and
as we approach the shores Of Lake Bigler
that sparkles in the sunshine, one can hardly
avoid exclaiming how wonderfully beautiful
are Thy works, o God Of hosts! At the
Glenbrook house we see several fair faces
that call Virginia home, and the roses that
had paled through cosmopolitan pleasure are
blooming with the. rude careSses Of the
mountain air. A short stop, a hearty good
bye, and away we 60 at a rafting gait along
the shores Of the Lake, BY the famous Cave
Rock to Zephyr Cove, and on TO Fridays.
Here le. us apologize. At Glcnbrook we
took aboard the regulator Of Jupiter's artil.
lery, 4 tip-top fellow, who bears the romantic
name Of Claude and his company to Yank's
station was most genial and hearty. Claude
suits US, except his inability 10 luNuriate on
stimulating beverages. After leaving Zephyr
Cove the shadows on the road began to grow
darker, and the waving pines to reach longer
towards Heaven. The Lake beat with a
softened cadance on the shores, and as night
approached all nature was absorbed In a
matin Of thanksgiving; still our coach rolled
on through deep glades and around precipi-
,ous chasms, but with Hanks steady nerve
to guide and quick eye to discern, we reach.
ed our pleasant location at a few minutes
before ten o'clock, where a fine lunch, a
clean, comfortable room, and n hearty well
come greeted US.
To-day we go fishing for mountain trout.
Tomorrow we will visit Placerville, from
whence we will say more Of the route, coun-
try and our impressions. Yours, +.