The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-09
Letter From Thomas Plummer, il
California.

SAN JOSE, al, June 2nd, 1876.
To the Editors OF the Rock Island Argus.
promised our camping party to write
you a'short description Of our trip, the coun-
try &c. Mrs. Plummer, Mrs, Norris and |
left San Jose, Cal, May Sth. and arrived
at Giroy same day Next morning all
drove round to the residence Of Father
John Morey aud started. Our company
was Doctor and Mrs. Morey and Mr.. and
Mrs. Dryden, of Gilroy; Mrs. NJ. b. Clark,
San Jose; Mrs. Messick Penemint, Quick
Silver Mines, and myself and family, all 10
three covered hacks and one buggy. We
passed San Juan pronounced San VI am
and its Catholic Mission, at ! | 80. and soon
reached the base Of the Gavin Mountain.
We we're one hour and ahard tug reaching
the summit. The view was perfectly
grand, taking in grand mountain scenery,
attractive homes, waving grain ready Tor
the sickle and valleys stretching far in the
distance Our stay was too short to fully
take in the grandeur of our surroundings.
Now we 60 pell neil and with bound
reach the level again and take up and 60
into camp near the Gavin House and in
full view Of Fremont's Peak.
Next day our drive was over the best un-
worked road | ever drove over, for 40
miles, when we reached Solidad, a very
small town at the terminus OF the Southern
Pacific r. r., and from there to Solidad
Springs. miles, the road is quite sandy
and quite heavy grade crossing Salinas
river aud the dry bed of Auroidsaco. -
These springs are at an elevation OF 100
feet and one can look off at the east for
miles taking in a most beautiful pano-
rama of mountain, plain and gulch, but
very wild and unimproved by art. These
springs are the property OF the Reeves
Bros. having but recently came into their
possession. They are spending a large
amount of money in grading, planting
trees and shrubbery aud buildings. My
opinion is that these springs are un-
surpassed for their curative qualities. l
saw many persons there rejlicing that they
were free from rheumatic pains, and
all the aches and pains that sin has
brought upon poor humans. There are
many kinds of waters and all used for
plunge and tub baths. The sulphur
spring is 10 degrees at the bottom; the
iron, soda, &C., 100 degrees.
After four days stay we left with
many regrets anu there never was a camp
ing party better treated than we, The
evening previous to leaving We we're all
awakened from our first nap by serenad-
ing PAL ty with guitars. thought at the
time 1t was the sweetest music | ever
heard. Thanks, many thanks to the party.
The refining influences OF such sweet
music lasts one through time and 10 com
mence when we begin eternity.
Monday morning at 6 clock, we bid
adieu to the springs and went down
the gradual grade to the valley below and
for q few days our way was mostly in
valleys, with occasional mountain rolls 10
San Miguel San Louis, Obispo county.
This old place presents uIany attractlv c
features Of the past, and you will please
bear with me If my description is
tedious This Mission and Indian Quarters
were flushed and occupied l02 years ago
they consuming 20 years in their construc
ton, aud all the skilled and other Labor
done by Indians under the supervision Of
an agent of the Catholic church, There
was at the time OF the completion of the
buildings 1000 Indians quartered there
The main building or audience room is p
feet wide, $50 feet deep, with 30 feet I,
the ceiling; walls adobe and 6 feet thick
all covered aud hoored with tile. tn,
church contains many fine pieces Of sta
tuary, paintings, books, etc, of great ag'
and value,
The Indian Quarters have mostI,
crumbled to the ground, but the other build
ings are kept in good repair.
Our caclp is under four pear trees, iou
or five hundred years old, all near on,
size, one Of which measures fee
around, and now are loaded with one
third grown fruit.
Our next camp was at at PassO ID,
Robes, Hot Springs, where we expected
to spend several days, but ontaccOunt o
light shower during the night, and colo
wind, and colder hearts of those connected
with the place. we concluded to move on.
This is beautiful place, quite level
and the ground dotted by old oak trees il
viting one to rest under their far-reaching
massive branches Everything is per
lection here; buildings very neat and wei
furnished; the bathing excellent, will
water ut 10 degrees, and said to be the mos
aristocratic watering place inlthe state; too
much so for we poor campers,
We reached San Louis, Obispo county
May end. This is an old Spanish town
very narrow streets, but real business
place of about 1900 people, very citifeC
and everybody on the dash. Here
is another Mission similar il
size and construction to San Miguel, with
finer display about the altar. The
church is in use each Sunday, and indeed
all the time.
la reaching San Louis we passed ovel
the most abrupt up aud down of any OF
the trip, its southern base reaching within
three miles of the city, nestled among high
abrupt mounds Of rocks. Our return was
on the same way to the old Mission, ther
crossed the next range of mountains,
running north and south and up Peaci
Tree, Long and other valleys. In passing
down Long Valley the road runs near
stream called San Baneto. the waters Of
which go rushing, tumbling. foamng near
by, aCd at many places we are at a fright
full height. Huge boulders in the creek
below US stop the water in its headlonp
course, but with laugh and tumble il
glides around and over smaller obstacles
tearing its way to its ocean home.
On this creek is situated the Quicksilver
mine lin prospeCt) of our old townsmar
Ben. Morey. This is drive never to bt
forgotten, so full of all that is romantic
and beautiful. AT last we reached oul
camping place, called Paicines, and very
soon had very pleasant call from Mrs
Mary Ramsey and james Bowie. hel
son. Mr. Jas Bowie (now deceased) WAS
in 1855, foreman in THE ARGUS office.
Very soon we arc all most agreeahlv sur
prised ut receiving a call FROM more Rocl
lslandcrs-Alr. and Mrs. Ezekiel More,
and son. They al look well and appea
ltp