Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-19
The Mineral Springs Of California

We have been favored by Il gentleman OF
this place with the following letter from friend
in California:
SAN FRANC SEQ, Cal, May 5th, 1879.
DEAR II Il have just returned from trip
to the Geyscrs. Il natural curiosity III oononla
county in this State. | was charmed with inc
scenery and delighted with the pleasant com
panons vino helped to make up the parry
We lett here on the Afternoon OF Ihursaay'
the 23d of April and Went aboard that me
and elegantly fitted up steamer the Antelope,
which sailed at g. 80 p. M, arriving at Douo-
hue at $50, ESQ named 10 honor OF the encr-
eetic and enterprisiug builder and owner OF the
steamer and railroad to CIoverdale.) Here we
changed and got aboard the cars, when away
we rolled at the rate Of twenty miles an hour,
arriving at Hcaldsburg AT 5 p N. we were
at once driven ia the hotel coach to the Soto
yome House, where the polite, urbaue and gen.
tlemanly proprietor, Mr.. b. e. Wright, re-
c.iyed US Alter showing me to the room AZ
signed, arranged my toilet so as 10 be pre-
scntable. Supper was ANNOUNCED IN the dining
room. where smiling Frenchman in the ca
pacity of water, had served 4 iuc dinner. You
can rest assured your humble servant, who was
quito hungry, did justice to the meal This
honse il neat, clean aud we'll kept. Next morn
ing at 30 we got 10 the stage aud Oft we we're Tor
the Geyscrs. The scenery, lis aforesaid. Is per-
f.ctIy sublime and grand. My attempts at IL
description of the ride would prove failure,
nevertheless | will say this much to passengers
inexperienced 10 transportation by horse flesh:
The trip thither is q marvellous one. In many
piaces passing along the mountain sides at fear
full attitudes to gain the summit, the road Is
barely vide enough for single conveyance,
and ottentimes SO scaut is the room allowed tor
massage that while the hubs of one wheel are
nearly chafng the mountain walls which tower
hundreds of feet above, those outside are reVoIv
lug within few inches Of the edge of almost
perpendicular preclpces which, 10 some 10
stances, terminate several thousands OF feet be-
low. Having gained the summit the scenery
is sublime, aud the passenger awe bound, eau
not express his emotions or drink 10 enough OF
the surrounding grandeur. One OF the proml-
neut places is called the Hogs Back, the brush
on tor being like bristles. While on each side
being thousands of feet below, mountains near
in the hazy distance loom thousands OF feet
heavenward, preci pices descend to depths un-
fathomable, and mighty canyons wind Oft grand
" between their majestic sentlneIs. At quar-
ter of twelve we arrived at the "Geyser Hotel
where the host greeted us. ln few minutes
q room is shown me where the necessary artl-
cles are for the rghting Of my wearing apparel:
At II 30 lunch is announced and u sorry meal
it was | will not deprcciate the eating, but |
must say this that it is perfect abomuable.
The meals were all alike, and | wished for
Hcaldsburg At four clock an old man with
his dog acted as guide to show us the curiosi
ties. We saw springs of all kinds and OF all cpl-
ors-aIum springs and iron springs; soda, sui
phur epson salts and boraX springs; hot, cold,
tepid, or at any required temperature. The
"indian Sweat Bath" Lovers Leap, Devils
Lunch Table, Laboratory and Register: These
are all in the Geyser canyon. Everything pre-
sents a remarkable appearance; suphurous
gases pcrvadc the atmosphere, roaring steam
exudes from hundreds of vents 10 the rocks.
The earth is heated and unsteady, and an ire
sistible doubt arises in the mind as to the safety
of intruding on such apparently unstable prcnll-
ses. The interesting features are the Steam
boat Geyser' issuing from an aperture IN the
rocks about two feet in diameter, and exldiug
q column of steam several hundred feet high,
and so hot that it is invisible for seven or eight
feet after leaving the opening. The heat is in
tense and the roar caused BY the escaping
steam may be heard for considerable dis
lance. The Devils Inkstand' is spring,
the waters of which are so dark that many
visitors use it as substitute Tor ink. The
Devils Grist Mill" another boiling spring,
causes sound like mill in operation. The
Witches CauIdron' is large hole in the rock
about seven feet in diameter, around which
the ground is unsteady. 1t is filed with black
fluid which boils and cffervcsccS, sending forth
a horrible seething sound and presenting dis
mai appearance The guide | christcncd Maj.
Bagstatf, US he was fond OF talking, and had
tongue which never ceased waging while he
had listener. The dog also was nickuamed
Kaiser. At $50 Saturday afternoon we LETT
for Healdsburg, and had the good fortune to
yet into the stage with the driver, Duff Haw
kins. lie is roicking jolly, good fellow.
and amused us with his jokes and yarns until
we reached town. Next morning we went to
Cloverdale some fifteen miles above this place.
We remained short time and then took re-
turn train for San Francisco, arriving there at
Id m. Yours, d. w. L.
A TRAGEDY.-A dispatch from Waldboro
Me-, says: The following are the particulars
of the tragedy at Warren Friday night: DIR.