Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-03-28

we slept IN an out Duiiuibg reseuioiins
barn, with walls, floors and ceiling OF
unpublished boards, and the partitions
reaching only halfway to the ceiling.
The furniture consisted Of a long box
called bed, very small, thin-legged,
rough table, which also performed the
duty of a wash stand. The food was in
keeping with the lodging, and, to crown
all, the bill was the same as that of the
Grand Hotel in San Francisco.
We rose at 3 A. M 1t was cold and
dreary, and the sound of All aboard"
was indeed joyful. The mud wagon
was moving paradise after Hodgdon's,
or Hogs den, as one of the party varied
the term. Up, up, once more passing
through forest of evergreens, of which
l give the diameters of the three largest,
%, % and 27 feet. Their size was truly
wonderful, the height being great in pro-
portion. At last we reached the sum-
nit, 5000 feet above the sea. There we
found great patches of snow, boulders of
granite, and many streams running down
on every side. was all impatience to
arrive at the wonderful Valley, and re-
joiced when our vehicle, after toiliDg up
to the summit, tore swiftly down the few
miles of descent, aud stopped at a long,
low building called "Gentry's," on its
very brink. We waited an hour, enjoy
ing the glorious prospect. Magnificent
mountains clothed in green forests, lift
ing themselves on every side, made pic
ture never to be FORGOTTEN. Peak push
ing peak they stood"
The Valley is only approachable by a
narrow bride. path. as the walls on Ell
ther side are too steep to be descended
on wheels. Soon horse was heard, and
company of riders came into view.
They took our stage, and we mounted
their horses. The baggage was placed
on pack mule, and off we started. The
party consisted of ten. We travelled In.
dian file. guide in front and another at
the rear. When we had gone about a
quarter of mile we came to deep
pool of black mud, over which some
wood had been placed. Several passed
over safely but when my horse stepped up
ON them they instantly gave way and the
horse sank into the mud, carrying me
with him. The whole line was thrown
into confusion, guides and gentlemen
rushing to my assistance, but l had
scrambled out before any one could reach
me, and, fortunately, was not hurt in the
least. My clothes were the only suffer
ers, as they were covered with the black
est mud imaginable. My steed, Snort
ing Bill, was extricated with some diff
Guilty, his body wiped with my shawl,
and again mounted. Scarcely had we
started the second time when Mr. H,
our friend from New York, was taken
with fainting fit, and again we paused.
A promising beginning, certainly, |
thought. Shall we ever get there safely
We continued the journey down the
mountain side, over trail just wide
enough for the horse, very steep and full
of turns, filled with loose stones, or wind.
ing between large rocks few inches
apart, with wall of rock on one side
and deep precipice on the other. Rath-
er trying to the nerves, don't you think
The only horses which can be used are
the Spanish, sure-footed as mules.
On coming to level ground at last we
we're amply repaid for our trouble.
What we saw is entirely beyond my
powers of description, and, indeed, nc
mere words can do the scene justice.
Imagine deep gorge, seven miles long,
and from half to two miles in width,
bounded by walls whose average height
is from three to four thousand feet. ]
have seen one solid rock Gel Captain, }
lifting itself vertically 5000 feet, more
than half mile. The surface of the
Valley was green as emerald, full Of
trees of shrubbery, dotted over with
transparent little lakes, and with the
clear, cold Merced flowing through It's
centre, while over all was the deep
cloudless sky of Italy. Against its soft
intense blue the dark grey hue of the
giant rocks contrasted beautifully, as
they outlined themselves in every varie.
ty of dome and pinnacle. We rode
slowly along, nearly every step disclos
ing some new object of interest, the guide
naming them as we passed. We went
by several hotels, plain, wooden houses
which added not 10 the landscape, until
we came to Hutching's, whose proprietor
was the pioneer of Yosemite. There We
found quite settlement. Our quarters
we're assigned us at little cottage few
steps from the main building. Around
it were other primitive dwellings, all
with our own, being sadly in want of 6
few coats of paint, and containing tele
IoronboHoa laundry photaoranhars