Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-02-26
STEAMER VENTURA, Feb. 5, 1874

about one week ago that | was On the eve
of taking a trip to Southern California.
The trip has been taken, and | am now
on my return, within one day of home.
Perhaps some account of what have seen
will be Of interest to you. At least, as !
never was on the Ocean before, I have
been much interested myself.
We, Rev. W. II. Mason and myself,
left San Francisco on the 9th ult., on the
Steamship Pacific, had anticipated sea,
sickness, especially as ! had heard that
the waves were generally pretty bois-
ferrous at the Golden Gate, which is the
mouth Of The San Francisco bay. But as
a kind Providence would have it, / passed
the ordeal uuscathed. Others around me
suffered no little. 1t would have leen
exceedingly ludicrous, if it had not been
sad, to watch the ladies and soma of the
men beginning to assume a solemn face,
draw long breaths, heave tremendous
signs. and mako a straight line for their
state,rooms.
The fare, on account Of competition,
has been reduced from SIS to IS for
eight meals, and 500 miles Of travel
This, Of course, brought on board a great
crowd, many of whom have yet to learn
tue very first principles of politeness and
deccncy. They crowded upon each other
at the tables, and acted more like hogs
than like men. On our return trip, it
has been very different. We have a very
gentsel set of people.
TIE weather has been perfectly lovely,
much like our Indian Summer. Going
down, there was hardly a cloud in the
sky, or a swell in the sea. We walked
the decks while late at night, taking IN
great draughts Of the fresh %sea~air, talk
ingnow and then Of thai, and stopping ever
and anon to gaze alternately at the great
stars above our heads, and at the foaming
track Of our vesSe, as it glittered like fire.
This last fact is due to the presence of
phosphorus in the water. A sunset on
the ocean is something have long wished
to see: it is even a grander sight than my
imagination had made. As lie approaches
the Western horizon, the crested waves
become all afame with the reflection of
his beams, while he trails his golden
skirts behind him in the sky. After a
little while he appears to rest on the very
basom Of the water itself as if he were
stopping to lave himself after the heated
and wearisome labors Of the day. Then
slowly he dips beneath the surface. Y ~
can barely resist the impression that he
has literally buried himself in the deep.
Yet for full o half hour later, the place
where he sunk and all around and above
is pencillcd with golden streaks of light.
1t is like the death of o good man who
leaves behind him the memory of his
body and triumphant.
Immense numbers Of sea-gulls followed
US the entire voyage through. They are
very beautiful bird about the size of a
town duck. 1t is amazing to see with
what rapidity they will pounce down
from the air upon any piece of bread or
other food thrown to them from aboard.
On such occasions, they make a noise
very similar to that Of a gang of geese.
At other times they are perfectly quiet,
and pursue, the even tenor of their way
with apparently tireless wing.
Great shoals of PROPOSES, very large
fish, come cnce in a while to the surface,
and tossed themselves high into the air,
like so many sportiye boys turning
somcrsaults. A more funny sight, one
never saw.
Arrived at San Pedro, the port Of To:
Angeles. We went ashore and found one
of our brother preachers, Rev. W. A
Spurlock, who gave us q more than cor,
dial welcome. On the afternoon of the
sam day he hitched up his gray mus
tangs and gave us a drive on the beach
! rarely ever enjoyed anything more
The beach was about ten miles long, wide
enough for twenty carriages to abreast
and packed so solidly that tho wheels
hardly make an impression. Besides, il
is lired with shells, some of them very
beautiful. We gathered about half a
peck, and were sorry to leave. 1t fact
We did not leave until the moon was high
in the heavens. Tho next day, Bro
Spurlock took us to what is called the
San Gabriel Mission, distant about 20 o,
80 miles where the Jesuits established
themselves over l2O years ago. It is ia,
NOUS for oranges. You will see there
some trees that have passed fourscors and
yet show 70 sign Of decay. In the same