Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-03-28
4fiscellamy.
IFor the Bellows Falls Times.1
Fly Visit to Yosemite.

IFor the Bellows Falls Times.l
Fly Visit to Yosemite.
We left San Francisco at P. M, ON
the Sd of June, by the Oakland ferry.
The day was beautiful, the blue waters
OF the Bay danced and sparkled in the
sunlight, The steamer, Ell CAPTAIN"
was crowded, most of the passengers re-
sembling travellers in dress and general
appearance. AT Oakland we took the
Central Pacific Railroad, and our route
lay through charming country of green
meadows, fields of waving grain, coun-
try seats surrounded by blooming gar
dens and orchards, with the Coast Range
on one hand and our familiar friend, the
Bay, on the other. Then we dashed
through Livermore Pass, narrow green
valley enclosed between two ridges of
hills, with brawling brock ripping
through its centre. We reached the lev
ell plains of the San Joaquin, which are
rather uninteresting. The river was
very muddy from the.mining above, and
had overfown its banks in many places,
from the abundant rains of last winter
Took supper at a station called LA
throp," where, following the true Cali
fornia principle of doing everything in a
hurry, we were allowed only fifteen min
utes for supper, of which five were con-
sumed in getting to and from the cars
and taking places at table, and most
edifying pushing and grabbing ensued,
A stranger generously gave me half his
piece of beefsteak, and / was in the mid
die of some very nice pie when there was
spiteful ring of the bell, and the pie
was dropped, half eaten, and we all
rushed into the train. At half.past eight
we reached Stockton, where we passed
the night at an excellent hotel, the Yo-
semitic House. At noon of the next
day we took the train eastward, and in
two hours came to Oakdale. There was
awaiting US what Agnes calls "a relic of
the past" an old-fashioned Concord
coach, such as was used in the Eastern
States before the days of railroads. De-
sirous of seeing everything, Agnes and
| seated ourselves on top, and found the
position elevated enough. The driver
cracked his long whip, and the six horses
started. Up to this time | had hardly
realized that | was actually en- route for
Yosemite, which l had so long looked
forward to visiting, and right glad was
| when, at Oakdale, we left the fiat
plains, and the horses turned towards the
mountains dimly visible, faint blue line
in the eastern horizon. At FIST our road
lay through rolling country, generally
cultivated and dotted with clumps OF
trees, while traces of mining were every
where seen though the diggings had been
long deserted The road wound several
miles along the bank of the winding
Stanislaus river. At FIVE we changed
horses at pretty little village, named
Knights Ferry. Every care is bestowed
on the horses, which are very fine ones,
as no others can be used with safety. We
then crossed the river, bade it farewell,
and found ourselves in the foot hills of
the Sierra Nevada. The scenery was be.
coming finer each mile ridge after ridge
was looming up in the distance, while
beyond them was the outline of the
higher ranges.
At half-past seven we arrived at a
mining village called Chinese Camp
not peopled entirely by Cinnamon, as its
name would denote. There we found
good accommodation at small country
hotel, and were assigned the only car
peted bedroom, and, after good brush
ing and washing, much needed after our
dusty ride, went to bed tired out. Up
in the morning at FIVE, and took break
fast in a cherries back basement, but
where the food was nothing of which we
could complain. Our Concord coach
had disappeared, and there arrived In its
place peculiar vehicle known as mud
wagon, used for its lightness, and which
seems to be destitute of springs.
At six we we're off again, and were
/, soon in the mountains. The sky wa:
cloudless, the atmosphere delightful anG
exhilaratiDg in the extreme. The see
merry was grand and sublime; the noun
7 tains were covered with forests of ever
green, interspersed with the lighter foil
age of the oak and other trees. Otter
some higher summit showed itself, crown
ed with snow. There was no dust, thanks
to the late rains, and we walked long
distances to better enjoy the prospect and
to tighten the stage on the up grade
Down we descended to the bank of the
Tuolumne, wide, rapid mountain stream
rushing from the SHOWS of the Serras
We paused moment at a nest of farm
houses, each enclosed in its patch of cul
L