The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1875-12-04
California Correspondence.
IAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 90, 1875.

IAN L IL ANtiNNfO' -N''' 80 iN'O'
EDITOR INDEPENDENT believe |
prop,icd to write You a line Or two upon
our arrival at this Western metropolis. l
now d SO with pleasure.
Ne arrived here, after a tempestuous
vovae, of eight days, on the 18th. For
III, nvelty we came down the coast in
sailing vessel the bark Rrol, and we got
the pvelv to our hearts content-enoush
of th kind 70 last a lifetime.
Violent mead winds, with rain, prevailed
he fist six days we We're QUIZ but the
las. iwo days, with clear heather and
wind "abaft the beam," were days of
rea! elioymeut. The one beautiful "sun-
set nj sea- that we bvheld, which dyed
the sky and waters with scarlet, and the
clouds With a crimson and purple glory,
was beauty aud sublimity enough of itself
to offset the six days horrors Of sea.sick-
ness.
The R;rM is fine craft, and fine
sailer too. She made over ten knots an
hour the last two days of our trip. Though
loaded With lumber and somewhat top
heavy she could be brought as " close up
to the wind a. any vessel [ ever saw,
and yet obey the helm as an intelligent
steed the rein. Her commander, Captain
William Clements, is skillful navi-
gator and gentleman. If we are ever
tated to make another trl p DER the bound
ing pillows, we hope it may be with Cap
tain Clements in the bark Rical.
Before casting anchor in the Bay, we
received Frisco paper that gave us the
first news of the terrible disaster off Cape
Flattcry. The loss of the Pacidc has
been the one sad topic of the week among
he pa pcrs of the city, and the sorrowful
event that has cast gloom over many a
broken family circle. Accidents there
may be, and sometimes are, at sca as else
where, but far more often are disasters the
result OF carclessness or inefliciency of
liz officers, OF unfitness of vessels, than
from other causes.
We made our first visit yesterday to
one of the Stock and Exchange Boards.
it W. novel experience indeed to>%it-
nee that assembly of brokers and stock
operators, jumping to their feet, running
forward, and with arms cutting the air
with emphatic gestures, and each one
ycllin. out inarticulatc sounds that seemed
to DO well understood by their fellow
lunaics. 1t was as good-wcll as good
as an oldfashioncd Methodist camp meet
ing.
The latest and biggest thing in the city
for some time past was the Grand Carni.
val Ball that came off at Mechanics In
sttute Hall last night. The evening was
favorable, the attendance large, and the
whole affair great success. The scenic
effect produced by the brilliant and gro
tcsoue costumes Of the thousand masquer-
adcrs was beyond anything of the kind
produced in tie city before. 1t was wit
messed by ten thous and people.
The city seems to have more than its
number of visitors, and business
is increasing. The genial and copious
showers of the past ten days have washed
the Summer dust from the houses and
streets and have already robed the neigh
boring hills in beautiful garb of green
The sun now shines bright and warm
drying off the sidewalks and causing 6
new crop Of buds to burst forth into bloom.
causing person from "the States " tt
feel as though Spring had just returned
in al! her youthful loneliness and beauty
But ! mat stop-having written &
much longer letter than | intended.
With kindest remembrances OF thu
pleasant and valued friendships formed
while in your beautifully located village
and with wish for the prosperity of you
excellent paper, remain sincerely ant
fratcrnally yours, W. r. Ross.