The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-29
A CiIIEORNTf COiCT DRYER.
How n Veteran from New Hampshire Shakes
up his Team.


CAIIsTooA. June 3O-On our return TO
Cnlistoga from the pctrifled forest we found
Clark Foss awaiting US with splendid iOur.in-
hind TO convoy our party To- fVssyllc. I'VE h ME-,
drive was splendid. the road threading In
among the hills and through tho canons, whcro
stream flowed unsteady along, while. grocn
boughs OdorOus with the scent OF Wild flowers.
hrusned our very laccs as we swept on ana on, On
handsome team WINS refined in as we reached
the vernndah in front OF the lovely country
home Of foss. the renowned stngcman, ~ whom
everybody who ever heard of the Great Gcyscrs
OF California, hns also hcnrd, since he csmb-
lished the line and drove the first stage to that
remarkable locality, and has been engaged in
travcrsng the route in that capacity over since
now moro than twenty years.
erful built man. Il native of New Hampshire,
standing a little over six feet in height. and
benrd are frosted with gray and the sixty years
Of active pioneer life which he has passcd
through have not robbed him OF the IheSSrY
courtesy. Here in this lovely little Wiley. ct
ling in the morning SHADOWS Of Mount ,,i ~,
and one son comprise the family. and the home
il paragon of neatness, beauty. and hospital
ity. The long, low building is bordsrcd on
while an extensive park filed with choice trees
and plants lls the space between the, main
fountain Of crystal water from the mountains
near. PLAYING in We garden out upon which
tne burlOr 'llulus IOpu lpohS uNi'SS
broad vergndah festooned with roses and
honeysucklcs.
A happy evening. passed In music and songs
and social gnmcs. followed by n night OF pro-
found slumhcr on the most comfortable OF beds
prepared us for the magnificent driye-twsnty
miles up the mountains. Not ono Of our little
pnrty Of seven two others joined Us at Fossviel
but felt strengthened. eNhiaratcd. and inspired
with admiration of the scenery. us we spcd
along the splendid road behind the -in-hand
with Clark Foss holding the rcins.
:, We entered knights valley soon after leaving
several miles. through the fair valley land. Of
which 1000 acres belong to ono man and 1000
~ another. These large tracts OF land, owned
10y two or tlrcc mcn preclude the possibility OF
frequent habitations and we passed but very
few dwellings in the whole valley. The grade
up the mountain is pretty heavy and the ascent
rapid bringing the beautiful Sonoma and Rus
sian river valleys into full view, spread out like
II magnificent piece Of mosaic.
The road is tortuous in the extreme. some OF
out Of sight on one side while the coach Is
rounding the other. II is here that the wonder
ful d. Nterlty OF the driver Is best displayed.
and the remarkable control which Foss eNrr-
cses over his horses is demonstrated. Hold
ing the reins Of his six horses with a firm grip,
/ his whip. which echoes through the mountain
/ dcilles Ike a pistol. He calls to his team, and
| they obey him with wonderful alarrty. When
| u favorable stretch Of road Is reached the driver
! last word dies away the horses ar. flying along
| AT a run. The next instant he saws IN u gentle,
| tone. Down. and the running gait is changed
! 10 u slow trot, when Way down is sounded.
/ and the horses come 10 dead stop * suddenly
| IA IL each one were paralyled. The next in
or whip, at the single word Shake, they ny
] of like the wind.