Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-09-21

Once more We are off for our annual yaca-
ton and a. nothing reminds one 50 much
of dear old Vermont as the mountiins, |
am glad to Join party to the San Jacinto
Mountains, about 90 miles southeast Of Los
Angeles. The first night out We camped
by the side of the Santa Aua river, under the
fine old sycamores that fringe its banks
This river is the foundation of the prosper
Gus towns Of Riverside and Anaheim, and
other other smaller towns where its waters
can be utilized. a. upon the water supply
Tor irrigation depends everything Fruitful
vineyards and orange proves would be as
barren as Sahara, and where are now
thrifty, enterpri,ing villages there could be
rOthIng more than, at great intervals. a
forlorn shepherds hut. with his flock feed
ing upon the dry parched grass leff from last
Winters growth. By counting Noses we
find our party to consist of eighteen, with
the usual preponderanee of gentlemen. The
'hb'b HtJi thhb I'i'ohs IL Inu
broker, who has founded town and named
it-not after his wiie-but after himself.
lle is also wealthy and influential member
Of both church and society, but for all this
he treats the words grow and know "a .esu-
lar verbs, and makes use of such elegant ex-
preSsipns as ''this ycr,""I Dw," "have
saw" &c. lie is accompanied by mis- wife
whom he married when she was thirteen
years old, and who is linguist after his
own heart and style. | am next interest
I'd to hunt mp u Nermonter whom am
tod is one of the party; but when find he
thinks Burlington northeast OF Brattleboro,
where he was raised, and that the battle OF
Bennington occurred since he left the State.
twenty Yeas ago. am sorry | took the
trouble to find him. As the men sit about
the camp fire, they naturally fall into DO
ltical talk !; but this becomes insipid, as all
are Republicans and soon the theme changes
to "reminiscences of the war. There are two
old soldiers, one Of whom lost a leg at Chick
amauga. After lying three days and two
nights without food or water he was taken
prisoner. How awfully you must have
suffered, said sympathetic listener. mo"
he quietly replied, 81 did not suffer so yery
much, only wanted water did get awful
dry"
Erly morning finds us off up the river,
which we cross and recross, always fording,
as bridges are no, considered essential to
good roads here, now down precipitous
banks and again over wide stretches Of sand,
twisting and winding about, until finally we
are through the Cajou Pass, and leave the
river bottom, and take road over the hills.
For twelve miles there is not the least sign
of life, either animal or vegetable. The
earth Is not only destitute OF vegetation, but
the soil being dry and baked, the winds
have swept the dust of. and it looks like
newly brushed tarthen floor. The noun
tains rise bare and brown, with patches of
darker hue. caused by various dry az with
cred shrubs which flourish in the Winter
season. We are on an old stage road
from San Bernardino to San DIEGO.
and southern route by which
thousands of sheep and cattle have
been driven to Arizona the present year.
Our road, however, now winds down the hills,
and fringe of green in the valley indicates
the presence of water and, We NAV be sure
the presence OF man. This We are certain
of when We descry a guide board,
which has been mischievous!y turned so
the index points directly under ground. and
announces, "Temescal Hotel and Warm
Springs, four miles" We pursue south
erly course and find that resort apparently
in hourishing condition above ground.
in between the hills, and surround
ed by an orchard of peach, fig ard orange
trees, palm trees and bananas, with an
Of ferns, old fashioned smart
weed and yarrosa, the first had seen in the
State, growing in the most delightful confu-
sion. The spring is Just back of the house.
and bubbles out warm and sulphurous in
odOr from the hills. One taste is quite
sufficient TO satisfy all desire for that water.
And bath is not to be thought of, especially
as there seems to be no rinsing water near.
The mountains abound in sulphur springs.
both warm and cold. To a stranger it seems
almost impossible to use the water, but the in
assured US it was very healthful and
one soon became so accustomed to the taste as
not to notice it. Aside from the hotel. there
is little hamlet of cultivated fields and
thrifty vineyards, snugly fenced in "a rari,v
in Southern California,-andr rows of cotton
wood trees by the roadside. 1t was with
regret we left this oasis behind and wound
our way again over the hot, bare hills.
After short days drive. We came upon the
blue waters of lake, set in framework of
brown. There, upon low wooden building.
We are told, is "Laguna. store and post
office" This building, with Spanish house.
constitutes the town. The stock IN trade |
at the store, We are credibly |
by the investigating committee |
consists OF half a dozen boxes of sar- |
dimes and limited supply of powder and |
shot. But the owner is not dependent en- |
.irely upon his mercantile business. as he
and the Spanlard are monarchs of all they
survey, and control the grazing land the en-
tire length OF the lake, about seven miles,
and have great possessions in cattle and
sheep; yet we are obliged to drink our coffee
without mill, as it is too much trouble to
procure that fluid from the cows feeding in
light. We find that these large stock own
RS rarely milk more than one cow, and
good many not even one Butter is an ar
.icle they hardly know the use of. The
country between Laguha and Temecula, our
,ext objective point, was rolling, the road
Is smooth as a pavement and the soil adapted
@ almost any kind of grain or fruit But
low, towards the close of a dry year. it was
ike all we had passed, perfectly bare. The
leSOlate nature OF such n place can hardly he
imagined unless one has seen it,-nOt bird
" even a cricket to disturb the stiffness. or
living thing to be seen, animate or mani
nate. The existence of Temecula began to
&c matter OF some speculation, as we had
lready travelled, according to our best iudg
nent, twice the distance We were directed.
But about = P. IN. our leading carriage
Rove up to low whitewashei building,
'alt stoIehouse, half dwelling and announced
'emecula reality, and this was Temecula.
All through the valley, which only needs
sater to make it a rich farming country,
Eere ruins of adobe houses, showing that
his sometime was populous section, and d
title out from the the town was an enclosure
'hich. seen at a distance, excited much curl
sIty. The wall was adobe of some strength,
nd some thought it for defence against
he Indians, and Others a corral for stock (;
ut Il nearer view soon finished the tale the
eSerted houses had commenced. 1t was
ickly studded with wooden crosses, and
I'D how smallpox had nearly depopulated
he place. A half-ruined church stood near
here the few Indians remaining still wor-
zip. Our next camp was upa grassy ravine
here we found an old settler who had lived {
| this very spot 20 years. Grizzled and S
rinkled he was, though well preserved, for I
is 76 years. For several years he was gov
'nment blacksmith and interpreter, but had I
ng since retired to private life, and the /
lsom of his family. lie said he never had '
white woman, hut supposed he must have
nd fifteen or twenty Indian wives. Are /
icy all Dead" mournfully asked one of a
IT party. "Oh, no, " cheerfully respond +
this much married man "they soon got
red Of me and ran off. but then it {
dn't matter much. could get another for o
ON four bits to five dollars any time" The |
d reprobate was at this time living in a hut a
ade OF cane or rushes and covered with
atch, presided over by the twentieth, | a
esume, of his harem. p
We left in the early morning for 5