Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-23
IcoRREsroSDENcE OF THE DAILY SPY

CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DAILY spy
YOSEMITE VALLEY, CAL, July II, 1872.
My last letter gave the location of and trip TO
the valley. In this will endeavor to draw a
pen picture delineating background and fore
ground with some minuteness; though, of
| course, TO sketch, however we'll drawn, can
convey an adequate impression of the exquisite
workmanship which nature has performed here.
Like rainbow, it must be seen to be understood
and appreciated.
Various dimensions of length and breadth
have been given, differing somewhat from the
fact that the valley winds and curves, so that in
including in the length the narrow, tapering
ends, the distance may be extended beyond the
valley proper. The width varies from a half
mile to a mile, and the length may be either six
or eleven miles, depending on whether the tail
of the valley or only the body is measured. In
measuring a fox, the "tip to tip" style would
eXaggerate, so in giving the length of the Yose-
mite, the extremes should not be included. The
general contour, or confguration of the walls or
banks is very similar TO that of Lake Quinsiga-
mond, swelling and receding somewhat as do its
shores. The walls are perpendicular in many
places, and for the entire length besides have
| angles as sharp as the steepest roofs. Some soil
and fallen rock lie along the bases, the
slow deposits Of centuries. The last earth
| quake, in March ~, shook down many tons in
some spots from near the SUBMITS. Here and
there along the verges rise the lofty peaks of
to1Ia
The base is level and smooth as river meadow
along the beautiful MERGED, which is made up of
the waters that plunge in the various cataracts
that ccmc leaping rOcket-like from the cliffs
around the brink. 1t is as large at present as
Mill Brook at its full; the water is clear as crys-
tal, of seemingly greenish tint, owing un-
doubtedly to the reflection from the grasses
along the sides. In tumber it is as ordinary
well-water. 1t abounds in the sweetest OF
mountain trout, which the Indians catch in
abundance for the three hotels in the valley.
They are as def at this as in arrowing
game-fortunately for the epicurean paates that
come to Yosemite. None can be finer than the
strings Of funny unfOrtunates that the Redskins
bring in for visitors. Some vegetables, apples
they grow over four thousand feet above the
valley of the Sacramento. The high walls shut
out the cool noun tain airs, and reflect the SUMS
rays SO that the temperature is modified for
garden vegetation. Here are sugar pine trees
shading the current-one and two feet in diane
ter-shooting up their trunks from seventy-five
to one hundred and fifty feet poplars, live oaks
and willows added m a 10 mn mi
in some locations completing the details of this
the most beauteous and charming of natures
pictures. The temperature never goes above
ninety degrees in summer, nor bel ow seven de-
grees in winter. The SHOWS last usually but a
short time.
Bierstadt the artist, who passed last winter
here, says that in many respects, the scenery is
finer in winter than at any other season, and his
statements are confirmed by others who have
stad several seasons. When the railway, men
toned in my last writing is completed, the win
ter travel hither will be large, as many come 10
California to tarry here in the valleys for pur-
poses Of health and pleasure December,
January and February are pleasanter than the
summer months; they are like June and July in
New England. The climate of San Francisco
especially is warmer then than now, the atmos-
phere is clearer, the winds blander and more
agreeable. Beginning my sketch at the soulher-
ly end of the valley, at Illilloutte
Falls, the smallest, we will pass up
the eastern side to Nevada Falls, the
largest in volume, though not in
height. The waters of all of them come from
the SHOWS melting in the neighboring SUBMITS
that tower in the rear on the very crests of the
high Sierra. Before the stream comes to the
plunge it foams along over rocky cascades, so
that when it takes its ventures, one leap down
the seven hundred feet to the first touching
place below, it is one mass of pearly, frothy
foam-a mass of glittering, liquid silver, daz-
cling in the sunlight, as fresh snow under a
March sun. The eyes twinge looking at it.
Just at the verge Of the fall the solid, fat form
of rock comes out alongside the current, so near
that one can dip cane into it, and we can look
down from this dizzy height upon the waters,
chasing each other like rockets falling from
the skies-running a sort of hurdle race for the
goal of the placid MERGED among the willows
and the pines. At the feet of the Nevada the
rainbows are playing with the rushing waters,
moving TO and fro over them with the changing
currents OF wind The roar Of the plunging
cataract laundering and crashing upon the
rocky bed is as the dull, heavy boom of distant
cannon firing in quick succession. The gusts
eddy around in the chasms sweeping the spray
in showers a fourth Of a mile away. In close
proximity the cap of liberty towers into the
clouds about i've thousand feet, huge mass of
bare rocks, nearly as smooth as if hewD, on the
three sides overlooking the valley. The shape
is perfect imitation of the cap, or head-dress
worn by the Goddess of Liberty suggesting the
fitting name
Further on is Mount Broderck, similar to
the neighboring peak. Just at their bases, and
in full view Of the falls, upon foundation of
slopng stone, MIR. Snow, Vermonter by birth.
but Californian Of '49, has built a summer
hotel. have examined with care all the inter
estlng points around Yosemite, and have found
none where could pass a few days so pleasant.
ly as in the wild and weird locality this pioneer
has chosen as his summer home.
The sun sends his fierce July rays down into
the canyon, but the majestic cataract and eddy
ing winds cool them TO degree that makes the
air just right for woolens and comfort
A months stay here is said to be sure cure
Tor fever and ague, and very eflicacious in lung
diseases. The current Of Nevada goes on half
mile over small cascades, and then takes an
other jump Of 400 feet over Vernal falls, and
from there on to the MERGED, over boulders va
rylng IN size from log cabins - two-story
cottages. The distance from Hutchins' 10 Shows
IS I'VE miles by the trail, and the conveyance is
Dy horses or mules, according TO the choice of
riders. About half the way is ascent and de-
scent, over the steepest OF ridges, adding adyen.
ture and exhilaration to the unequaled scenery.
All the excursions around the valley from the
hotels are male in the same way, filling three
days stay with new views and exciting experi.
enees. Beyond Mt. Broderick looms up in sol.
emn and magnificent grandeur the smooth.