The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-09-30
California Notes.

INC BlOOci anu seen tLe APPS anu tne
Himalayas in all their glory, has given
US in private letter his impressions of
the grand and beautiful scenery of Cali
fornia:
In visiting the Yo Semitic by stage,
found the roads absolutely worse than any
others that | ever saw My time was
limited as had to return to San Fran.
cisco within a few days to take the ste: in.
er to Dragon and Alaska. The Journey
was more difficult than expected to find
it, The horses were often driven down
hill on a gallop or run, to mako up for
the exceeding slowness of their upw ard
movement. And think Of going 10 such
q manner, and over such roads sixty.ei ght
miles in single day | have not yet
heard of single person who accomplish.
ed what | did in the same length of time
Some persons much younger than gave
out and had to rest day or two before
going on.
have spoken Of the unparalleled
scenery Of the Yo Semitic. There is moth.
ing among the Alps to compare with a
certain Titanic grandeu: and widnes1 Of
this place. Think of granite rocks rising
precipitously more than mile from their
base | do not affirm that there are any
sheer precipices mile high although
there are many very nearly that height.
In some places man could, if so inclined,
jump down about two.thirds of q mile,
alighting ma3y feet from the base Of the
ovcrhanging rock. The idea Of maSsire
strength which the rock presents, is one
Of the grandcs. features Of the scene. In
most places it suggests no more the idea
Of crwmJljng than a mass of solid iron
would do.
In my opinion the Nevada Fais las
they are termed) arc the grandest OF all
the falls The whole Of the Merced
river is thrown down precipice Of 700
feet Occasionally there is very slight
interruption near the top-caused by
what might be called a shoulder in the
rock; but have no doubt that when the
water is full it will pass over with a
clean sweep Even as it is, the interrup.
tion is scarcely perceptible. Read Byron's
description OF tho Falls of Terri :.
There we sec Terni magnifed ten lold
The Mcrced | should say contained about
twenty or thirty times as much water as
q good.sized mill.stream. | know this is
very vague--still it may give some idea.
Tho most beautiful fall is that known
as the Bridal Veil. Imagine fine large
mllstream poured over sheer precipico
of 740 feet Nothing in the shape If a
waterfall can be more beautiful.
The various falls Of Yo Semitic wers in
an unusually fnc coalition, the streams
being full Had | waited two months
later as proposed they would have been
pitifu in comparison. The fine delicate
mist that begins to rise about one.fflh OF
tho way down, has doubtless suggested
tho name.
was moro than satisfied with the big
trees. That whole region seems TO and
to the production Of gigantic trees
never saw such magnificent pines. Ii my
of them over two hundred feet in he lht,
besides immense cedars and frs. found
in that region many beautiful aowars,
several of which had never seen be- re
Our garden coreopsis was growing Wild
in great abundance.
In connection with my visit 10 Yo
Semitic, | will relate an snecdoie, to 81 ow
the kind Of adventures sometimes met
with in such regions DR.. Hooker son
OF Sir William Hooker, superintendent o!
the famous Kew Gardens Of Englandl
| went to India to explore the aorl OF the
| llimslayas, IA pretty extensive job, by
, the way and he states that he had ap.
f pointed a certain day to meet friend.
In going to the place OF meeting, Dr II
+ met with an accident, which might have
been attended, as he remarked. with eri
, ous consequences, the horse en- viii, q he
, rode fell down a mountain prccipice ou
five hundred feet and was dashed tC
D pieces. He slipped of the other side and
saved himself. Now, if in my stat OIL
D fatigue | had been on that horse, in ecnl
down those steep 70 Somitc horse pa hs
. in all probability | should have gon,
along with it,
The puma, called often tho Califogni;
lion abounds in all the Yo Semitic regior
and in other parts Of the state. On M
trip | saw the skins Of two that had heel
8 recently shot. Ono Of my friends tasin;
= lately, with a comiade, a little walk ron
: llorni;os, where We stopped for di ser
u, saw q puma passing a hundred yard, ol
, so from him. lie confessed to being ID,
:. :. frightencd-he had no offensive arm
:, except small pistol. iIo and his com
panion began to retreat; the nois c
>, their movements attracted the puma
- attention, and he Immediately mad, o.
). in the opposite direction. In these region
. the puma rarely or never attacks NC
>, unless exasperated by a wound, q i
- defence oc young. Tho iavorite gam
>, consists OF sheep, calves and young colts
- Bears also are common My guide saV
~ recent bear tracks ON The mountain at
:, We were travelling.
y Ii coming up the Columbia We AL
y three capped mountain pcaks a on
\ time-St llelens, Mt, Hood, and | Thin
4 Ms. Rainier. They we're glorious ; gb
- ST. Ilc.,ns and Hood seemed ike va.
!, pyramids OF snow, shining in the 6 de
y, a light of evening. The former especial
n was very beautiful, being regu sri
- formed cone
=, / hayo found in Oregoa the Gne
y, ~ cherries decidedly that ever ssw,
- - prodigious size aud most delicious, I'll
:, plums were also ne--CouptiB GraH
! man.
j ,childo Harold, canto ~, ,aun 80 ,'I =
"The ronr of the waters sc.
W The latest story Of brave lhous
d chilG-liko form, faithful at the po,t
or dOty, comes from Ohio. he was Il
er sen Of village editor, aud, having ii
y covered a broken rail just outside Of Il