New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-04

name Hbig tree Of Calaverss
EirUBAL BRIDGHs-TRAINED MUSTANGS
We are put through the routine exercises Of this
Ocality-rde horseback for feet through the heart
of one fallen monarch; assemble hundred strong the
| stump OF another; and do other mighty deeds for
! posterity to record We return 10 Murphys and
thence strike of the hills for Yosemite. Six miles
from Murphys permitted to dyerge on foot some
two miles to the Natural Bridges of Caayeras The
tramp is difficult one, but is accomplished with pluck
and perspiratOn and Is voted "a wise Investment The
bridges, Of which Ia an eighth Of a mile in width
| span a narrow gorge through which runs a small but
rapid stream Our party including several ladies' passes
under the larger bridge going in at end and
the other crossing the stream at three different places
The structure is unique and wonderful, and forciby
reminds one Of the description OF the Groto OF Antparos
which made such a charming reading lesson in the old
| English Reader.
The Journey from the Calaveras Grove 10 Cranes Flat
where take TO the saddle for the 16mile trail to
Hutching consumes nearly three days in our deliberate
way Of travelling. We mount mustangs at o'clock y. m,
and arrive at Hutchngs. five miles up the valley at 10
in the evening tired and hungry, but exalted to the
enh heaven OF delight by the wonderful sights eyes
have beheld Mr. Brace, IN his book The New West"
thus eulogizes the California mustang "No horses
have ever compare with the California mus
tangs They trained early to a long, easy canter,
and on good road they will 'lope along GO miles
day, with motion like rocking in cradle" Mr. Braces
mustang differed from many points that TO re-
verse the terms of his euogy would be the shortest and
aptest method of describing the animals that took US
into the valley. And now sure you have seen no
such evidence OF insanity in to presume that
will attempt sober description of Yosemite.
THE GRANDEUR OF VALLEY.
All the descriptions have read-and they are amongthe
best that have been writtena the pictures have SEEM
from Bersadts to the mdest stereoscope, give no pos
sible conception Of this mighty gorge and its endless
a. no i'm
one has OH descending the steep perious tran which
leads TO the valley is more like dream than ike any
possible reality. The mind is 20 lifted out OF ITSELF by
the awful grandeur of the that no thought OF dan
ger can find place. TimorOus women ana childreh
entirely unused to horsebackridng will pass along the
narrow shelves Of perpendicular mountain Sides where
misstep or stumble the surefooted horse would pre-
cptate animal and rider thousand feet below ana yet
with calm delight look upon the opposite mountain wall
or down to the valley at its feet absorbed in the won
drous beauty and grandeur OF the scene as to lose all
sense OF personal danger
Not many months ago English ladywas ascending
this mountain trail and in Of the most dangerous
passes saddle girth gave way. The guide who was
lust ahead saw the pTedicament, and leaving his own
horse at fell back and took the adys horse by the
bit to cOnduct it safely to spOtwhere the grth might
be adjusted Never You mind me, young man." said
the ind gnant tourist, the angels will watch over me-"
Well" said the guide if the angels have taken this
Job they ought TO be hand. They won't have many
such chances exhibit their power" The adys feeling
in this case is fair representation Of the utter abandon
with which these perilOus mountain ascents are made
10 miraculous that few casualties have oc
CURED these PERCEPTIONS trails and it can only be ac
counted for by the sagaciy and fidelity of the horses
whose sureootedness and of endurance are as
marvellous the mountains they traverse.
MOONLIGHT AMONG THE MOUNTAINS
We passed up the valley by moonlight, and If should
live thousand years. could not hope ever to witness
gTander sight. The successive views Of Bridal Vail
Waterfall E Captain, Cathedral Rocks and Spires SEN
tnel Rock and Dome, Yosemite Falls, North and South
Domes, and Glacier Rocks, with the broad moonlight |
lifting them, 1t were, from the of night while
our hearts were addened and soemnized seemed such
positive manifestation of Gods power that tribute Of
words possible. We could only ride in silence and
wonder forgetfu Of WEAKNESS and hunger forgetfu Of
nfirmities of whatever kind and mindful only OF ON
impotence This was introduction into the valley.
We arrived at Huchngs at 10 in the evening and by the
time we had finished the light task OF eating what was
set before us we ready to be sung asleep by the
lullaby Of Yosemite Falls. Our stay of five days among
the wonders OF Yosemite is something TO remember but
not something TO be recorded As look the field,
and try to imagine how the story might be told, can
understand the utter despair which came over Olive
Logan driving her TO her sweet revenge Of kening the
entire show "freman's hose playing over Stewards
store" This graceful concession is worthy of Olive If
not worthy OF imitation.
hotels
vdng with eating and sleeping 1874 guests. There are
often nearly twice this number TO cared for and those
who arrive at inOppOrtune times must accommodate
themselves to circumstances II Is well TO bear in mind
that Yosemite tourists TO feed Nature and not
pork and beans They get great deal of Nature and
very little pork and beans. The common excuse for |
Door living and high prices in the Valley the fact that
everything has TO be packed mules backs by the
difficult mountain trails. This is potent argument to
the newlyaived guest who only too thankful to keep
soul body together until he has scaled the mountains
and drunk in the mist of the waterfalls -Four days is
the ordinary limit of probation in the valley; owing,
principally believe TO the mistaken policy Of the
hotel keepers, who seem to forget that well-ned
stomach and a comfortable couch the best lenses
through which to view the beauties Of Nature.
ANEW HOTEL ECIIPsEs TIE OLD ONES.
Recently shrewd Yankee by the name Of smith-and
John Smith, at thahas had revelation which promises
TO end in revolution He has erected in the most desra
bic part OF the valley attractive building and has rn-
shed and fitted up the best meuopotan STYLE with
reading rooms, bathrooms, shaving and hardressng
emporium, blliardrooms, with two OF Phelans best
tables and room for "samplng" California wines and
other mysterious juices He expects also, within few
weeks TO introduce frstclass piano. There seems to
be nothing lacking in his arrangement for the comfort
OF his guests and everything he has brought in
mules backs He has thus ruled out of court the easy
device by which the hotekeepers of the valley silence
the complaints Of tourists; and will eventually obnge
them to furnish what reasonable people want or quit
the business 1t is really astonishing TO witness the i'm
mene burdens which fastened upon the backs OF the
packmules; and the ease and certainty with which the
loads are carried An ordinary mule will carry comfort
ably from $50 TO pounds up and down steep noun
tain passes where it would next to impossible to
gain a footing unincumbered. The day on which we
arrived in the valley italian tourist slipped from the
ladder below Nevada Fan and was killed. His body
was put in metac-ned coffin and sent up the noun
tain trail on mules back distance Of 16 miles, to
nh I'd ott1o aof