Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-09-10

which will be appreciated by our
readers. AS the nom de plume adopt
ed by the correspondent may not con-
tain any particular Specification for
the average reader, we will say that
the word "Colorado'' means in Span
ish "red," and this was adopted as the
distinguishing feature of the writer.
Colorado" is not exactly red but has
very much of a pink tint. The letter
is as follows:
EDITOR La CRoNIcA: Having
promised in my last to give
you a description ofa trip to the quick
silver mines located in this county, 1
hasten to make good my word, though,
verify, tits not "as easy as rolling off
log." You know how it is yourself:
four or five young men, bent upon
having q good time, start away from
a Local Option town well provided
with the good things of the world;
we'll, they are bound to reach
such o state of Observation-Disclosures
that they neglect to take notes on
the way, and that proved to be my
case, Mr.. Editor; but my memory is
good and will do the best can under
the circumstances, to recount the in
cidents of our trip.
Twas one Summers evening in the
merry month of July that we started
on
OUR JOURNEY.
The hour, midnight, with a full
moon shining. Had you met us on
the outskirts of the city as we made
our way to the foot of the mountains,
you would have thought Vasquez had
broken loose. 1 think that is a very
eloquent description of our appear
ance. We passed the old Mission and
began the ascent Of the mountain at
San Rague just at day-break-one be-
hind the other along narrow path, at
an angle of forty-tive degrees, with
yawning precipices at our feet, we
would have made nice picture for
the Illustrated Press-Subject, Italian
Brigands.
AT abont seven o'clock we reached
THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN,
Stopped, dismounted, and loosened
our saddles preparatory to enjoying a
little rest, and turned around to gaze
upon what we had left behind. Good
Heavens! One need be poet, ro-
nance writer, to do justice to the scene
before us; it was simply awful in its
magnitude. Can't be possible that the
learned professor of photography TAX
ing views for the Press has not thought
of climbing these mountains? Perhaps
he is afraid of breaking his neck in the
attempt; but it is
WORTH A BROKEN NECK
To gaze upon the lovely valley of
Santa Barbara; the city with its
square blocks and streets clearly delin-
eated; the beautiful vine-covered hills
to the right, to the left the green
| orange groves; then the eye wanders
to the boundless ocean, the shipping,
the islands in the channel, while at
our feet, as it were, the ancient Mis-
sion keeps guard over this paradise on
earth, not unlike some Baron's castle
in the middle ages.
l have given you one side of the pic
ture; we will now turn to the north,
AMI
WHAT A CONTRAST!
The view brings to my mind the
Gulf of California in gale of wind
blowing from the southeast-whent the
sea rises mountains high "-nothing
but gulches, the tops of hills and
mountains, and the bed of the river
we have to follow in order to reach the
mines.
We tighten the saddles on our
horses backs and prepare to descend;
we take a good "horn" and start, our
horses most of the way travelling in a
sitting posture, and, as the side we as
cended was rocky, this is composed of
loose dirt, thereby compelling us to
actually slide down to Los Prietos,
where we stop for hearty breakfast.
After resting awhile we continued on
our way up the bed of the Najalaye-
qua river, which we followed for tif
teen miles.
On our arrival at camp, my atten-
tion was Immediately called to q high
bluff about mile distant from the
river. Here is where
THE QUICKSILVER VEIN
Was first struck. Your correspondent
was one of the original five who
climbed like wild cats over these
mountains two years ago, when we
discovered what we then paid but
little attention to. To tell you the
| truth, know very little about mining
and care much less about it. There
| fore, you need not expect graphic
and elaborate account of things don't
understand. But, having o good rifle,
| my chief desire was gratified, and l
| had the pleasure of shooting and run
ming after some deer; but don't be-
lieve their number decreased any dur
ing my sojourn there; at least through
| my efforts. And yet l did eat some
| yenison and bear meat, thanks to the
| good craftsmanship of my fellow ad-
venturers, the Breck boys.
THE MINERAL WATER.
We only remained three days,
suffering the consequences of
drinking the peculiar quality of
the only water to be had.
Its medicinal effect upon our constitu-
tion leave to the eimagination of your
readers. 1 tried to boil some beans
with it, and for two days and nights l
kept the fire going and the water
boiling; but at the end of that time
| the confounded beans were as hard as