The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-08-17
From the Sterling Gazette
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SONORA, Tuolumue Co., Cal,

SONORA, Tuolumue Co., Cal,
June Is, ls1lS
Last week Monday, the 9th, in COM
pany with James wilkins of San Rufucl
aud Bob Tallant and Fred Holt of San
Francisco, three boys who were anxious
to visit the Yosemite Valley, | left Sonora
at 9 a. m, The boys went on to Spraguc's
Ranch, thirty miles on the way, while
staid at Jamestown, close by here, to at
tend funeral at p. III. AT 4p. m.
started on, and ut 9 l-2 O'Clock reached
Garotte, twenty-one miles, where put
UP and tried to sleep, but could not,
there were SO many odd noises At 4
O'Clock Tuesday morning | was in the
saddle, and after nine miles ride woke
up the boys and got breakfast
At - o'clock we were oil fast and
fierce, to get over the forty-siX miles that
separated US from the Yosemite, We
had beautiful shaded mountain road,
with now and then extensive and noble
scenery. We enjoyed the huge and
lofty old trees, and the Towering shrubs
Of the forest There were many pines
and hemlocks that would surprise you
with their gigantic forms. Lilies and
other flowers grow in profusion aud
beauty. There were few houses in this
wilderness. In one of the widest and
stcepcst places we came upon a grove OF
California big trees. | counted eleven.
Some Of them was twenty-five feet, and
rose from the ground in uniform size for
150 feet, | should judge q could not
guess lis entire highD. We reached the
end OF the carriage road about noon. aud
stopped to lunch and rest our horses be-
fore descending the narrow, crooked and
steep trail which leads down those walls
that so cllcctualIy shut out the world
We found several snow banks aud many
cold streams along the trail. We at
/ length found ourselves ON the brink Of q
precipice 1000 feet high, and the Morccd
roaring madly through the gorge at il.
foot, and the opposite sides walled up
almost as high. From this point we be-
/ gan to catch glimpses Of the great wonder
which we were approaching. These
I first glimpses are the best TO prepare one
to take in the grand whole. We did uo
stop to measure them and become fami
/ lar with distances and attitudes, whicl
+ fact impaired our view and Impressions
Of the valley very much.
/ At O'Clock we reached tic foot Of tht
descent, and stood on the banks Of tb,
Merced, clear, switt stream Of melted
snow, and iull Of trout, noisy aud l0u
times as large as the Bauenkill, or Z5t
feet The BOYS began 10 c8elaim. q IL
ms camp here Tonight, | said, You mal
catch some Of those trout. knew thel
could not, and that they would DO read
to 90 up into the valley that evening
I Aftcran hours iruilless fishing, mean
while our horses feeding aud ! lying o.
the ground and looking up 10 tie rlek
across The stream, which bere rose z 20
feet almost perpendicular from ihc valley
We pressed on again 10 finish the remain
ing six miles. We soon found oursclge
ia the midst Of wonders, aud there Wa
no more cayrfnc 20 feb.
The Bri1ai Veil poured iis white ton
rent $40 feet rs from the Cl1uds iutO lh
valley. Sentinel Rock, ihe Cathclfa
Rock aud Spires, aud the Three Brothers
with other points stood 0ut as tAc Fagge,
. lliuges 0f tlIc giant walls. Soon wc .a'
, through thc trees SO our lcit The broa
summit ani perpendicular side of 4
CaVtt0H, "Ibe Dcmi-f39d." ii waa 81
5 object " suclg massive granite and impa'
iAe grandeur ~ tD attract and bold th
ga1r aud oyerawc ilie spirit AZ hrst Yie'
p II brought su exclamation Of wonder bu
} 81 We rode along lis base, apparently a
mail pace, and looked over its bry4
sides aud towering height, We were ave
, t9 silence, aHd fairly overwhelmed Nlt
"a our insect litteuess by The great w0ri, Z
God. was delighted eHehsuied, H.5e
I Wi,b wonder sud admiration - Al8gar
b bot here / wac oyeraAed eDufguHAct
. u not strange tlnt tle Indian aud Oh
-paHiarI rbfisteacd this wonder as
y Captain for thCg igli Ifs authority an
. dignity Nith 81 iae1 pfe.bie force Col
eeiFe y0ursef brought suddenly 10 n
foot u iDsuntain u solid gf4aHe 80.
& feet high, aad 3 30 feet long, with D.