The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-26
The Geysers OF calirornia.


Early In the morning we are ready for the
warld-ren0wned stage ride to the geysers.
Punctually at seven, Foss, the proprietor Of
the stage line. and his assistant, Albertson,
are at the hotel 6oor. AS promptly as a
conductor on leading railway, Foss shouts
ont his "All ahoard!" and Is impatient Of,
delay. AS the hand passes seven, the hour
for starting. away we go, in two large, open
wagons, each drawn by four strong and spi-
rited horses, who are familiar with every
rod Of the twenty-eight miles between us
and the Geyser Hotel. =
The first ten miles pass along narrow
valley dotted occasionally with farm-houses.l
Thus far the road is nearly level, but now
the valley ceases abruptly, and the ascent
of the mountains begins. The horses are
changed, and after few minutes rest we
take fresh start. The country is wild and
broken, no habitations in siSht-nothtng
but nature rs 1t came from the hand Of its
Creator. We look ahead in the direction
in which the road we are on seems to lead,
and endeavor to descry its course, but it is
like trying to see through the perspective
of labyrinth. So we content ourselves
with snatching occasional rlimpses as some
ascent. descent, or sharp turn, brings
portion into view.
The track is Just wide enough for single
carriage. In many places. where it has been
blasted out OF the solid rock, there are not
six inches Of leeway. The hubs Of the
right. hand wheels revolve close to the per-
pendicular banks, and the others almost
1ut out over the edge of the prccipices, some
of which go down nearly straight from one
thousand to three thousand feet. After
ten-mile drive the summit Is reached. 1t
offers one Of the grandeSt views Of noun
tain scenery which the globe affords. AS
lar as the eve can see land the vision sweeps
many times farther in this clear atmosphere
OF the Pacific shore than anywhere east Of
the Mississippi mountains succeed noun
tains, peaks are piled on peaks, gorges, ra-
vines, cauons divide them, serving to throw
into shadow the sleeps as the tleecy clouds
90 scudding athwart the bluest of heavens.
Gazing away tor scores Of miles, the
earth's surface seems nothing but noun
tains. We wonder where the plains are,
the fields waving with grain, the vineclad
hills, the orchards, the villages. and towns.
Apparently we are in an endless region Of
mountain waste, and doubt if it will be
possible to find our way back again to civ
ilization, even with compass, unless it be
by the skill OF this daring champion reins.
man Of the world, Foss. He was born amid
the granite hills Of New hampshire, and
there doubtless imbibed some of the spirit
which led him, nine years ago, to open I'D
this wild yet charming route to the Boiling
Springs. How delicious to linger on this
summit! The breezes, tempering to an
agreeable point the fierce rays of the sun,
sweep not too roughly, clear and bracing
over these topmost heights. 1t is noun
tain paradise. How we long to tarry here
for days, and get new strength and fresher
inspiration from this well nigh aerial spot
AS the stages wound their way up the
steep we met a carriage coming in the OPP
positc direction. At first it seemed that
one or the other must back to some spot
where the way broadened, that we might
pass each other. But, by unusual good
luck, we CHANGED to be in portion Of the
road where we could see ahead several
rods, and between the approaching vehicles
the track widened out little, pieces Of
blasted rock and earth having lodged on q
portion Of the bank. By all of one party
alighting, and the carriage being drawn out
to the very verge of the precipice and kept
in place by several strong arms, Skillful
driving managed to get US by safely. AS
there is only one line Of stages running over
this route, and private carriages very rarely
travel it, little difficulty is experienced in
meeting and passing. -
After lingering awhile on the top of the
mountain ridge, the eight-mile descent
down the other side begins. The horses
snuff the air and prick up their ears, pre-
pairing for the downward course. Evidently
they are glad they IRE up, and relish the
prospect OF going down, as easier and more
exciting. The driver cracks his long whip
forward over the leaders, and, familiar with
the signal, away they prance, and are soon
in ten-mile gait. In the whole eight miles
there is not single quarter which Is
straight. The road winds constantly, turn
ing and meandering the entire distance.
Sometimes there are short, sharp, elbow
like turns, almost in oX-boW form. En-
cept at places widely separated, the track
is Of uniform width, leaving only about six
inches between the line where the outer
| wheels roll along and the edge of the de-
clivities, which shoot down one thousand,
two thousand, even three thousand, feet to
the bottom, where the boiling, tumbling
brooks course along over their rocky, shrub
bordered beds. The sides are rough, with
projecting rocks and scrubby trees, mostly
| oaks and madrones. q tripping horse,
sudden lurch Of the vehicles to the outer
side, OF a broken axle, would, in all hui
the abysses. And yet, during nine
years driving, no harm has ever come
to any one. The utmost care is
used in keeping wagons and harness in
excellent order. If one can control his
nerves, keep cool, and enjoy the majestic
scenery, the sure and nimble movements of
the trained horses, the perilous points, and
the skill and daring of the driver, there is
not pleasanter ride on the continent. AS
the leaders pass the oXbow turns, they
seem to be plunging head-ioremost against
the thither bank, but as their noses almost
touch it they spring quickly and with GER
tain bound to the centre; round come the
whee-horses in fine style, and the carriage
follows as smoothly and easily as on the
best race-track. The drivers face occa-
sionally wears a conquering smile, and he
says, with a slight impatience at our tim
idity, and in an assuring tone and manner,
"Perfectly safe-driven here nine years,
and no occident has happened. guess you
will get there all right"
In less than IN hour the Geyser Hotel
appears. About mile off we could dis
! CInctly hear the whistle from one of the
eeysers. 1t sounded in tone very much
like an engine-whistle, but softer and more
melodlous. So clear and mellow were the
first faint sounds that they resembled long
drawn strains from bugle. The effect was
pleasing as this weird music OF nature came
floating up through the deep canons and
over the steep, craggy mountain Sides
From the Geysers of California, in the De-
Gender number Of Ltppincott's Magazine.
A SINGULAR CAsE.-It is mentioned as q
singular case of the energy of an old lady
that in England a spinster, aged seventy
wears, who had become bankrupt, and VINO
was possessed of u life interest in roperty,
which. on her marriage, would 90 to her
prandc hildran in order to prevent the lie