The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-01-14
ON THE wrNss.
SAN FRANcrsco..Cai

PhHninx, jackson county Oregon. Christ
mas eve, after enjoying my turkey.
packed and lasfsed my trunk preparatory
to fresh start on my journey south.
About six o'clock the stage hove in sight,
looking as picturesque as the Willamette
Chief. Approaching the driver anxious
~ inquired '.I.ave you . loadr' my heart
beating terrincally al the while Ter tear Of
an Affirmative answer. But to my great
relief the answer was Ia the negative. and
was soon occupying seat In the stage.
Having good pilot and fair night for
travelling we launched ost into the sea OF
mud. We made the first station without
nislsap, where we added on two more
horses, for we were nearing California,
and it requires full team to get across the
line. The early morning brought US to the
foot Of the mountain, the early morning
light giving US a final glimpse Of dear old
Webtoot. The rain scoa commenced pour
Ing down in torrents, and any amount Of
California soil found Its way down to some
lower region. Here Is the most forsaken
cOuntry ever saw. Mud three feet deep
and water in proportion. and all were fear
/ ful we would be weather bound. II rainel |
more in one day in California than ever
saw IN three days in Oregon. The rain |
helped as. you know, almost driving our |
''scow'' before It, especially going down |
phiIl, carrying everything before it. But |
we landed on 70 Yreka, through one Of the |
most disagreeable days Of my experience. |
being Sunday evening. was anxious TO
| zee tile grand old town. for I tented here
on the present town site, twentysfouF years
4 ago. thought ie one Of the most desert
ed-loOking towns Of my knowledge. for
getting. you know, that it was Sunday,
and expecting too see everything in full
blast as they were years agone. But one
Of the citizens Informed us that now ''busi-
ness'' was done on week days, aud respect
was had for the Sabbath. Now Yreka has
1900 Inhabitants. but the town certainly
has downward tendency look now. How
ever, our landlord was fine fellow, gave
us plenty to eat and drink-we mean tea
and coffee, la the drinking line. OF course,
as our crowd were all Good Templars,
and drtak only in cases Of necessity-and
we soon forgot our troubles. Here we
laid over till six O'Clock the next morning.
when we were provided with another mud
scow similar to the one we had been favor
} ed with, only smaller, called q 11-passen-
ger. Eight passengers crowd into the
!. space OF seven feet Shoveis and axes are
tied on to the stage, and when inquiry was
made, passengers are told they must use
them to dig ont with when mired down In
the mud. have travelled great deal but
never saw worse stage accommodations or
. roads. This is one of the great drawbacks
to emigration to Oregon, and viii be until
. 1t Is bridged over by a railway. 1t Is true
there Is better and more convenient route
afforded by old ocean, but nearly or quite
three-fourths of mankind will not trust the
j treacllerous waters If they can help them
! selves.
: Getting out of change at Redding. the
) next stopping place, tried to get green
back changed. A man who las greenbacks
I can always find friends. was no except
ION to this rule. A friend offered tn show
me where could get the change, and even
, took me by the hand to keep me, doubtless.
!, from falling into some piffall. and safely
conveyed me to place where could be
accommodated with coin tor my greenback.
the coin from the bar-keeper and count It
into my hand. and take the greenback from
, my hand and place it In the keeping of
! the bar-keeper. OF course was thankful
! for these little civilities, and bowed N.Y.
self out, not wishing to trespass on his val
liable time further. But he followed me,
and remarked, sssee here, loan me some
Of that money! kindly refused, didn't
; have it to spare, and informed him, rs /
= was temperance man and perhaps not so
liable to tall In the darkness, that would
not trouble him farther for his company,
; and asked him to remain where he was a
: few moments until could get away In
good sfa pc. He seemed to- take the hint,
and so / rid myself OF him.
Redding, California, is = most desolate
place, and think the traveller would do
well to have an eye on his pockst-b book,
/. aud sleep none, for everything costs doub-
le that Of any other place on the route,
with less accommodations. We slept two
hours at this point, starting at one O'Clock.
Here we take the railroad. Travelling In
the night, Of course one can not see much
Of the country. At the approach of day
light we had fine view Of the Sacramento
valley. The day being clear added to the
beauty ofthe scene. and as we bowled along
!. over the iron track. we feasted our eyes on
California scenery the most lovely In the
( world. Farmers were everywhere busy,
and counted ten gang plows plowing In
! the field. Wheat here now looks IS il
! does in Oregon In April. AS we approach
i, ed Oakland, we find . most magnificent
= country.
q We are now In San Francisco. This
e town surprises us, as we have been lost
, several times already, but succeeied in
T finding our way without great difficulty.
: When r light ont Of this magnificent
s town and into Quincy, Illinois, you will
. hear from me again. will therefore once
e more say farewell TO all enquiring friends.