Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-09-29
Cro..i.g Bear River in California.


Everybody has heard OF the great flood
of '61 and '62 in California; but everybody
does not know the pleasures and perils Of
travel in the mountain regions during that
eventful winter. We were party of five,
and had been detained at Grass Valley
several days longer than our original in
tenti on, from the so-called early rains. But
the early rains that year proved to be ear
ly, late, and all the way through, and feel
ing anxious 10 finish our trip and get back
to the city, we hailed a sunshiny morning
and made preparations for a start. There
were plenty Of croskers 10 predict direiul
consequences, especially as a lady made
one of our number: but she was of real
New England grit, and laughed at the long
faces nd doleful shakes of the head.
"You can't cross Bear River" said one
old forty-niner. "The bridge IS down,
and 1t is too full to ford. l know. I've
seen it rise forty feet in forty minutes"
"Pshaw!'' was our reply. "Bear River
is nothing but cub so early in the sea-
son." A coach was procured; not one of
those tine, yellow, world.renowned Con-
cords, but what is known as "mud wag-
on" in California mountain-districts. Four
horses OF doubtful breed, If one might
judge by looks, driver who professed TO
know every inch Of the road, and whip
of undoubted length, strength, and snap
pishness, completed our equipment. We
left town in fine style,-streets dry, sun
shining, lovely breeze, and everything
promising quick and pleasant journey.
Three miles out, and first one jolt and then
another gave us the notion that there had
been rain enough TO wash out few stones
In The road, but those were of small ac-
count, VIXEN desperate lurch threw us
pell-mell forward on to the drivers shoul-
ders, and we were fast in a wallow-hole,
and mud and water running merrily over
our bags and bundles in the bottom OF the
wagon. Amer prying and lining by the
whole party, we were once more en- route.
Time wore on, enlivened by joke and
song and the constant outlook at scenery
nowhere lovelier than among the foothills
of the Sierras, till at noon we approached
the famous Bear River. To tell the truth,
we had heard his roar for an hour, but
would not allow to ourselves or to each
other that we feared his cubship had taken
a most wonderful growth, and had arrived
at bearship, and roaring, giant, grizzly
bearship at that.
"p low that there old early-blrd knew
the layout, arter ALL" said our John;
"that air du look little rily now, don't It,
to put cattle thruH"
"Rilyi" we thought it did. What was
to be done nowH No sign of a house or
habitation, person, or thing TO be seen, but
the tall pines and desolate road, the rush
ing river in front, and the steep bank on
the opposite shore.
While medi tating whether to go back
and give our business up, and looking
with anxious gaze up and down over the
waste OF waters, a shrill hslloo came from
the other side.
"Hullo, you folks, do you expect you
can cross The Bear, and not get huggedf"
Back few the answer, Eyes; is it forda-
bleH"
"You jest hold on where you be, and I'll
come over" was the replyi and, mount
Ing his horse, he plunged into the water.
In moment he was lost to sight. We held
our breaths, and each one felt his courage
ooze family out of his finger-tps, as we
thought OF venturing into such peril our
selves but loi the man appeared, and
soon reaching us, declared that he made
mistake and got into a hole, otherwise
there would be no tr ouble for horses alone,
but with a wagon and man,-"Wa'al,
1t was a Gurus thing, what women wanted
to travel for in Californyl Yes" he said,
he "guessed yoke of oxen could fetch the
thing through; but his oxen were three
mile of on The of side of the drink"
"Would be get them, and try to take the
wagon aud lady over, while the gentlemen
each take horse aud swimf" we asked.
"Wa'al, yes, he would do it for ten dollars
and warrant that the gal shouldn't scream
and frighten his nigh oxl" all Of which
was agreed to; but there we must walt,
two, three, or four hours, for the return
ing team, and we had had no dinner, and
had nothing to eat. Was there no house
nearf No, only one two miles away, and
on the other side OF the river. 1t did seem
as though all the world had smigrAted over