Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-03-02
\ LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
( CASPAR. MESDOCENO Co.

readers along as far as San Francisco,
portrayiDg to them as we'll as We were
able the sights and sounds seen, and
heard too, and in that city of golden
fame, We now propose to say something
Of scenes that very few professional jour
nalists have ever taken the trouble 10
see.
While in the Golden City We very Of
ten heard Of the grand and picturesque
scenery Of the Mendocino coast the
masses talked about it, poets wrote about
it, and orators grew eloquent over the
matter aud to add still nore to the
wlldness and grandeur of the scene, the
dangers Of navigation we're most wildly
pictured even while We were turning
the subject over in our minds, news
came Of the loss Of two schooners with
all on board One, the Elida, had six
teen passengers on board at the time Of
her loss none Of which, either passen-
gers or crew, have been heard from. All
this was too much for US to hear about
and be happy, without seeing such
wonderful coast. So, after thinking the
matter over very seriously, We decided
to come, and come by sea. Now there
Is stage line running up the coast ali
the way, but We made up our minds that
we did not like to travel by stage, it was
so much easier and pleasanter travelling
by water, we like staging it now. At
ter making many inquiries, We ascer-
tanned that the schooner, Annie Stoffer.
Capt Jergenson, would sail for this
place on Thursday, at precisely y O.
clock, noon having gained this infor-
nation We felt happy; once more We
could sleep, land in that sleep" We
dreamed Of sailing along in floating
palace with the grandest scenery always
in sight. The eventful Thursday at last
arrived, and after several hours Of anx-
ious waiting, about 10 o'clock taking
our valises' in hand, We wendell our way
down Third Street to Pope and Talbots'
/ wharf, where we were informed the great
ship that was to convey Us on our way
was to be found. After some time spent
IN looking around We at last inquired Of
man standing on the wharf if the Annie
Stoffer was to come to this wharf before
leaving for her voyage on the coast
That's the Stofer. right thar" was his
reply, as he pointed to, what in any other
part Of the world, l think, would be called
a lumber scow. To say that our feelings
underwent change, Is but a mild way
/ & --FpAa=irs hut We had honkAd
ourselves for a schooner passage and by
schooner We were determined 10 90. Sc
climbing down to the deck Of the craft
We made our trade with the captain,
paying eight dollars each, as fare. and
quietly sat down 10 our situation. ana
await the departure. At last, after sol
emn thoughts and weary waiting till
o'clock, P. NJ, the sails were spread and
the voyage begun. The wind was blow
ing quite hard and heavy swell run
ming at the mouth Of the bay, or VIVA
is known as the bar" just outside tn,
Golden Gate.
By dark We were fairly among til,
swells, and, as the schooner was small
Of course the motion was very much 0
pitching nature, contributing largel,
to the relief Of ones stomach. (relievin!
1t Of its contents l mean Not having
eaten anything since o'clock in tn
morning, we thought We might as vel
finish the day by not eating any supper
50 descending TO the cabin We sough
our berths. l should like to describ
that cabin to your readers, but there ar
not words enough in the English Ian
guage to convey q good idea Of il; l ca
give Its size in feet, that IS all l ca
do; 1t was by actual measure Just seve
feet wide, six high, and eight long, il
Guiding stairs. and in 1t was a tabl
} around which eight Of Us took our meals
1t reminded me Of Dickens descriptio
IN his American Notes" of the statt
room in which he came to America
= Having crept into our berths and med
= tated on subjects Of no common impoI
r for some time, We at last fell asleep
: nor did We know anything more Of swell
= or scho0ners until long after dayligf
I the next morning.
: After rising and making our toile
We started to 20 On deck. In going
7 the deck the stairs changed ends tire
I times, and VIC corresponding numbe
For the next ten or fifteen minutes 70,
humble servant was TO be seen leanin
. over the rail and looking very intent
into the water; just at this time a ca
was made for breakfast; We were indi,
, nant, and decided that as we had gor
! without eating the day before we woul
i this day also.
After meditating on the beauties
= the sea for some tine turned to sec Il
L beauty and grandeur Of the coast.
looked TO the right and left. ahead an
L astearn, all around, nothing was to
I seen but the densest fog. l turned
the captain and said do you have raar
ET1ch fors % .L:. -;