The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-04-14
MoRRIsToWN TENN WEDNESDAY, April, A. 1875.

WOOuOO nights meet Tie eye on eV
cry side.
- The snow was now piled mp deep.
er. and for miles and miles we pass
ed through one continuous snow
shed. Occasionally we caught q
glimpse through a window or d
chance opening in our sooodeas taa
mel, of and ice bound lake or a rapid
mountain stream. a.-
On, on we spead, now with accel
Grated pace, for we were beginning
to descend the western slope. BY
this time the snow was all gone, SO
were the snow-sheds, and we had an
uninterrupted view of the noun.
tains. The evergreens appeared
fresher the grass began to show it
self along the roadside, and the un.
dergrowth Of the forest TO don its
suit of green. The scenery was con-
tinuously grand, but shall not at,
tempt to describe it as I have Meth,
er the space, nor the ability to do
the subject justice. 800 5-i3
One place only. will I mention.
The cars wound along through deep
cuts and over high embankments,
when suddenly turning a short curve,
they passed out on the face of 9
precipice near eighteen hundred feet
high. In order to give passengers
an opportunity to. see the monster,
the cars came to full stop. With
two steps from the bank, we were
able to look over-it is one thousand
two hundred feet almost perpenGlicu-
lar, to the valley below. About
three quarters of mile from the
base OF the cliff, is the American
River, rushing along. twenty-five
hundred feet below our standpoint.
.'Timid ladies will draw back, as one
look into the awful chasm is gener-
ally enough to unsettle their nerves. -
This spot. which travellers over the
Central Pacific road will recognize
by the name Of Cape Horne . is the
grandest scene on the whole line of
the trans continental railroad. With
in four hours after leaving Cape
Horn" all sign of winter has disap-
peared, spring has come and gone,
and summer reigns in all her glory.
1t might not be summer to a Califor-
nian, but it was to me. Think what
a wondrous change in so short a
time. From the depth Of winter to
the warmth and beauty of summer
in six hours! l did not expect
otherwise than to find snow and ice,
especially at this season of the year,
among the Rocky and Sierra Nevada
Mountains-the highest ranges in
North America. That of course,
was according to the usual order of
things. But although | had, time
and again, heard of and read of the
wonderful climate of California,
was not prepared to experience so
complete a change from that to
which had been accustomed. In
eight days. in February at that,
had passed from bare limbs, a win
try sky, and a naked soil in East
Tennessee. to green leaves. summer
bfeezes. and brightly blooming flow-
ers in California.
Thousands of cattle feeding on the
green slopes ofthe neighboring hills.
sweet voiced songsters warbling
forth their glad notes along the way
side, vine emhowered cottages with
an evident appearance of comfort
and plenty.-all conspired to form a
scene such as | never before saw in
the mouth of February. | could not
realize that / had been travelling for
one week through almost continuous
snow, and that when [ left the East
winter held sovereign sway. OF
course, it is impossible for me to
convey to your mind an accurate
idea of that which I could not N.Y.
self realize.
But | have already strung this let
ter out to an unreasonable length,
and as your patience must be pretty
threadbare, / will intrude no longer
upon yonr time, but bring my CON-
munication to a close. / thought to
give you some account of my exper-
ience in the Eureka" State, but /
will have to defer that TO some other
time, If this letter has not com
pIetsly cooked you already. | may,
after | have had an opportunity to
see the country more in detail and
from a more correct opinion about
it, thrust myself upon your attention
again. Until then. | will close. /
remain, as ever.
Yours ETC., w. T. r. II.