The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-05-21
Correspondence.
FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN Francisco, CAL, May 7, u


esteem it great thing ii l can make one writing
do foc many. hope, therefore, that each one
of my friends will consider this addressed to
himself or herself individually.
We left Chicago on the 29,h of March. and
reached Omaha the next morning, by the North
western Road You cannot imagine railroad
ride TO be more easy and agreeable than we found
that DAYS Journey. The comforts resulting from
the most admirable management In every de-
partment we enjoyed, and we were gratticd that
the invalid portion of our party stood IT so we'll.
We remained ut Omaha till noon the next
day, when we started for the long transit across
the plains and the mountains When we awoke
on the following morning we were away above
the Platte, vending our way up Lodge Pole
Greek at rapid rate, with prairie dogs and their
little companions, the owls, jackass rabbits and
anteopes, to divert me attention and relieve the
monotony of the journey On the morning fol-
lowing we found we had passed the high crest
of the Black Hills, the Laramie Plains, and
even the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and
were falling down towards the great interior
basin OF the continent, where saints and sinners
in truth nearly on the summit of the Rocky
Mountains not a mountain was in sight. All
about us was an undulating prairie, only no
green grass or brilliant flowers greeted the trav.
eler but only the everlasting sage brush and
grease bush relieved the plain from the appear.
ance of absolute sterility. In the course of the
morning we reached Graham Station, solitary
a. ~ 81 LAT
form stood SIR. and Mrs. HIT Wallace and their
two sweet and rosy children, who had been ad.
vised by the telegraph ready to greet and to
welcomo rs. know you will all be glad to hear
of Belle Dickey and her family, and to learn that
there, in that elevated region and plain, her hus
bands health is manifestly improving which
would reconcile so de"oted wife as Belle is to
ever SO lonely q residence. She got onto the
train, with one of her children, and accom-
panied US to Wasatch, where we me. the eastern
bound train, on which she returned
we were now fairly in Echo Canon, which
presents the finest scenery on the Union Pacific
Division of the road. Blu. it was down grade
atl tseett tree .4t-A-eo we could STE only its
most prominent features. The little river, which
was always leaning down its rocky channel, GOV.
cred with white foam, and with the music Of
rapidly running waters, was most grateful and
inspiring, after the two days we had spent in the
arid and dcsolate plains, SO dry and parched that
ones Imagination prompts to constant thirst,
and one is tempted to feel if there is any moist.
ure on his tongue We, however. had time to
see the Devils Slide and the Devils Gate, Il
think his majesty has no right to possessions in
so beautiful ANA romantic a vale a. that is,) the
Pulpit Rock, where it is said Brigham Young
preaehei his fyas sermon in Utah, aud the Eor-
titled Rocks, where the Mormon leader defed
the Union forces under Gen. johnson. after
wards o: rebel fame J and finally We burst
out of the mountains in such way to induce
the fear that the Devils Side had been extended
to the mouth Of the Canon, and that the old fel.
low himself was enjoying his afternoon sport
At four o'clock on Saturday afternoon sc
reached O ,don, where we left tho Pullman train
and all its comforts and some pleasant acquaint'
ances we had made ON the way, and took the
train for the city of the saints, where arrived
some time after daI., and soon found ourselves
in the Townsend House, which has but one
landlord, but four landlades which was an in
teresting feature OF the entertainment, especial
ly to those who had never been there before.
President Young was on new bridal tour
and, to unite business with pleasure, paid hi,
annual visit to his southern provinces, and The
flock was in great commoton during the absence
of the shepherd, expecting every moment to get
the worthy Cullom come rushing down from
the mountain and literally devour them. Shaifer
the rev governor, had just come, and a majority
feared that he waa but the forerunner OF th'
great destroyer.
But must stop this gossip, OK I shall ncve
got through. On Sunday . part Of our part!
attended service vt tho Tsbernsols, but hst
been there once and did not care to 20 again
Those who went returned in franc OF mind /,
which it WAS difficult TO determine wheths
wrath or disgust predominated. Evidently
third rate man had held forth from the tex,
multiply and .pleni.h he earth, from whie
lie made a towering sps III in defence of polygc
my, and vehemently n, il tanned that none coul
ever .et to heaven who did not believe the do,
ma, EN- if they did not practice it. At I'll
eloe ullom and his bill were sent to he'll i,
contner ", and so all Others who did n,
join in ~ ling them.
Monday was delightful day, and we did Il
town and cuvirons. Here We first saw peac
trees IN bloom on the fourth day Of April, viii
the mountains all around and not far up we