New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-21
WONDERS OF THE FAR WEST.
THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.


BLACKS HOTEL. YOSEMITE VALLEY, Cal,
Auc 2s-some general term needed to designate the
wonderful region lying head waters of the Mercede
River and which covers space OF near MY miles I'D
length. with varying width. The name Yosemite Is now
made duty for the general locality. FOR the central
section Of the valley. Cor the little stream which emptes
Itself the walls of the main gorge, anu Tor the ap
relation OF the cataract itself The valley proper is
some ten miles length embraces the most striking
and romantic scenery, though not by any means the
whole az II. The gorge cleft through when inc
Me- cede tumhcs and foams for thirty miles below the
Yosemite would be accounted picturesque ana attractive
by Itself ii itycrc ovcrshacowedh by the elimination
of effects farther up also the upper canon or as IT
so.aetirres called the Little Yosemite Valley an in
tercsng spot visited only by few persons on account
Of Is uacccsshiy, belongs o. The general system OF
moi air scenery, and viii day. when railroad com
uaulca;ion is established he adjunct to the cen
t,al valley attractions. conceive that the
",asvns OF the McIccde" would he moro
suitable name for the wider locality, and that nc
term Yosemite should be confined 20 the smaller val ky,
not the little tributary 10 which it is also al lice
1t perhaps late 10 interfere with the nomeno Azure
Of locality SO widely known and generally creed;
hu there are ether reasons besides the above Or re
vision O: IT, am assured that Yosemite" is Doi the
Indian name that word having been corTup@ in trans
mission from "Yo Heme." 1t is true, indc IL Ea' inc
name means i'll language Hinge GrizztY Bear oi
"GiCat Grizzly Bear. and the origin ol aiHheauo"
60 fms locality IS found in tradition of the Indians that
al q far distant time, of their young men nd des
perae and bloody encounter with monster erZA' Ill
the upper Part the valley, in which, after long anu
doubtful struggle, the bear slain The youth was
made q chief OF n portion OF the tribe, Which aerward
IN Token ~ the act Of bravery called 70 HcmteS
Their Dwelling place around the hcadwateiSo the
Fresno Mcrcedc and TNomDe rivers and 10 them were
attracted the secedcrs and discontinued OF the more
pcace.be tribes Of the California and Nevada piains'
Their occupation have been divided between
...riry nf
severe Winters use. and predatory raids on their
more industrious neghbors. Their few descendants may
now he found engaged in troufshing hunting ana an
occasional may he found acting as GUIDE cf heruer
They give sign Of the traditional nobility OF origin
and are afflicted with The love fifth and treachey which
attaches 20 most wild tribes.
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY.
The discovery the Canon o the Mercede was brought
about by the msdeeds OF the Indians. Soon after The
discovery of cold in California the gold hunters had
begun 10 work the guchcs and Tavincs in M&riposa
County Lumber needed for building uses and
water bitches End the pursuit Of these led 10 lumber
Ing camps and higher up the mountains 1t was
IN November. 1850. that the Yo Hemos made descent
upon the camps on the Chcncha Mountain and ran on
good many horses into the Sierras Bad feeling was
,nccndercd between the whites and Indians and the lat
ter being nsgaed by their chiefs made an attempt 10
drive the whites An attack was maze on inc store
OF Nj Savage, AZ thc hcadNatcrs of the Fresno Two
men were killed and third escaped wounded Al an
and one of them was cfterward found skinned. THIS
aroused the miners action. Volunteers were called
for and enrolled under the militia law, and Ill
few weels they started in pursuit OF the ln'uans'
III March. lsJ1. battalion Of volunteers under the
guluuce Of the friendly Fresnos pursued the enemy 10
and into the valley. Major savage. Capt Toing Capt
Dill and Dr. Buunol being the chief c!fccrs Of the ex-
petition. Ii the Of the latter we owe the ac-
count Of first visit 10y white men, After capturing
several hostages among them the old Chief Tcn-eya
and dispensing the tribe il was learned that Inc St'h
horses had been eaten. In the Spring Of 1N52 some
mining prospectes entered the valley, and two OF their
number killed. company OF regulars aided 10y
volunteers again entered the valley, and again dispersed
the Indians. in a subsequent battle between Inc 70
Ue,aes ard the MonOS. the fighting men OF me former
were arly all ain and tribe they ceased TO have
existence De dangerous to the whites Iii 1907 MI >
NJ EutchnCs. who was then engaged III puIhsLhS
sketches for his California; Magazine. hearing OF the
famous valley. that said u contain waterfall lOOo
feet high visited MaTpO-a County with an artist named
Stair il the hone OF seeing IT, After being referred 10
one and another, he finally procured two Fresno
Indian guides and first entered the valley Tor arts
tic literary purposes On his return ne
wrote for TIE Mlrposa newspaper an account OF
hs TIP, and tie wonders of the valley, which,
heinz u1accOmpanied by any details OF fighting,
was read pictorial power and formed the real IN
troluc on Of Yosemite scenery literature Within 10
DAY uhat Is August 1850 another party was organ
lied among whom were Nj. Gaen Clark Gts present
Cavton ana Reuolds. It's fame soon after spread In
1850 camping part cs started i'll from Tie mining towns
Nv 1850 the attention It received sufficient 70 cause
trails TO ho improved from DotE Ai-!llG,Hr ana
COu.rcrviic. The 1iIS building was erected III TO ny
JuLSc WalwOrtA. and ~ tie same year tle Niahn BIOL
ers ,nade another clGim 20 land ADJOINING ~ 1908
Mr. Iamon. recently deceased, entered the vaicy 10 re-
eidc dur.r the summer Visitors were entertained at
.inciC gp q 1894. and among me VI or7 III
". Huchnes IT wa NOT unil $50 INA, su,n
iua ~ a hote tourists, with horses, was opened
I'm 1864 NJ. iutchues moved into Tie Wuidng WI III,
fa,y reside here The idea Of remaining secluded
Als valley IN he WINTER Nl II -, va ~.
INC one idc world. 4 hold and novoI one IAere are
nOy, two three families who remain ne nails Drh-
iT.,,-it In ono. Il month by indians. who wear snow
sho or tsc trips. Ms IUtcilI gs with hcr S'aail
Cnc. alone. W.;'e ier hVsDdNi VIZ III III. q 20 -
The TIDE Tic valley several wears ago tfitIrd
liz control FIFTY th0usoud dO.lars were aipopr"tcoi
with which l4uii .,c The claims OF me settlers "l
tir aesicIl,. board of mm.ssoners we appointed
wn2 =, h'S, as; s Sr !hE 1 d9a1 1y IL Is
h. icaias IT, ITO, is r5fGoJ aud to Mr. Bac4 the
he > Il idcI hetev. Lannon's heirs an "Ot"G recent
set+r IL, hliing., farms. privileges, tl"lls &C, ~
III Grant are now leased b The stat - flVac laite'
ten year bong the longest term lhs Is hot lolH c.o.
toclcou.o.c persons 10 make Iernanent mployen,nts
ot i..c ter cas-, ana unesf som NOR @ 4ar rS
~ loey down iipsvem mtg in Tie yallcy, instead
-oian sholld exp M noHl on NV - a. az"
N valley or n9d hoo Ga 9oiI ,yd inSr ,y
H. pt,Is t. do 50. The present pOe! 10 "oESo ioi
tAe tourist than the one II rn'p'anls'
TIE BIG TREES.
There are a present three Independent ROADS 10 Inc
galley. known re- pecvey the hariposa ihe Coulter
VILE and the Chinese Camp routes. Until year ago
there less horseback riding before the WIS.,
ito could the valley. The wheels OF carriages now
carry one from the rail the hotel doors All arc
x L. practicable mountain stage roads, and my own
psccrace would BE- given the Mariposs route, be
cusr II voud enable one the deserted Ere