The daily gazette., 1879-10-06
THE GREAT GETSERS.
A FAMOUS ROAD AND A FAMOUS
DRIvER-CLARKE FOss, THE MON

cACltlIlk buu ptchSuiC-BiNinS vi di OuT |
trips through the Napa Valley was to
the Great Geysers, one of California's
most marvellous natural wonders. A |
visit TO this famous abode Of Vulcan in
cludes a ride over the celebrated Foss
stage road. unequaled for the grandeur
Of its scenery, the number OF Its short,
sharp curves { which in fifteen miles
amount to 275 }, the unusual width of
the expensively made mountain roads
and the immense size and beauty Of The
oaks, pines, frs, madrona and other for
ct trees which cover the mountain sides,
around which this road winds and climbs.
We have found the roads of California
wherever we have driven this trip COW
cred 343 miles) to be unsurpassed. TheJ
are broad, smooth and hard as floor,
and the most of them aie natural roads,
and throughout their length and breadth
are shaded by the grandest oaks eye ever
rested upon. No need to sing "Wood.
man spare that tree. D." There they
stand protective branches shelf ering
from the MONDAY sun, not only the mid
day luncher, but the lazy, munching
COW and the grnnting materfamilias with
her litter Of sweet-roasting young (happy
in their unconsciousness of coming
events) gathered about her. Again and
again we blessed the hand that spared
those magnificent monaichs venerable in
their growth of years and pitriarchal in
their gray, moss-covered, outstretched
arms, which brought down verdant shell
ter and protection to man and beast.
We passed many Of shese fallen mighty
ones, and thiuk there Is no more pitifil
sight in nature than one Of these old
giants, worn out by the wear and the
winds Of ages, lying PROSTATE, with bare
imploriug arms lifted up appealingly to
heaven for help and protection. Often
the clinging moss or creeping vine on
bleached, enar,ed limbs, not only cover,
bit beautify the dead with their mantle
of verdurc. The Foss rOid was built
and owned by Clarke Foss, the celebra-
ted crack whip of California, who is CA
led.
"THE MONARCH OF THE CoACH-Box, :"
He is New Hampshire boy, six fe, t
one inch in his stockings, and weig, s
240 pounds. He drives skin hand, and
guides and directs his team by the voice
alone. A seat beside him is always con-
sidered a privilege, and to those fair
ones who impress him favorably he pre-
sents his picture. The management of
his horses is very remarkable. Gather
ing the rcins of the six in his left hand,
and taking his long whip in bis right,
he gives it twirl, which causes an echo
among the cliffs and the caverns like the
repor. of pistol. He speaks to his
team, and they are off. If the road is
level, he says, "Shake, shake One!" ard
before the last word is finished, they are
flying. Tie next m)ment he will C III,
"Down" and the run is changed to a
slow trot. When he says, "Way down v'
they come Immediately to dead stop,
and the next instant by simply saying,
''Shake - they are off like the wind. It
reminds us of "The night before Christ
mas" when Santa Claus makes his
wonderful ride with his tiny reindeer
and calls to them son, Dancer on,
Prancer 70 etc. A ride on the box with
Foss, winding around heavily -woooded
mountains, whose winding zig-zag paths,
and below which are deep, dark ravines
shaded and impenetrable, through which
murmur and blink the cool, clear pebbly
streams, In which the timid trout unmo.
Tested pursue their own sweet will, is
grand exciting, exhilarating and inspir-
ing, In the extreme.
PLUToN CANYON.
The Geyser Springs Hotel, is butt
against tiee-coyered mountain. and the
front is surrounded by oak and other
large trees, so thaC before we know 1t we
are beside Its broad, spacious piazzas,
where stands the host, Mr.. William For
sythe, smiling and hospitable, to well
come us. The hotel Is very beautifully
located in Pluton Canon 200 feet from
and 100 feet above the Plutou Greek
which flows through it. The Great Gey-
sers are on the other side of the creek,
directly opposite the hotel, whose piazzas
afford an excellent view Of the clouds
which is constantly arising from the sui
phurous depths of the chasm formed by
the waters and other forces. This chasm
extends half a mile up the mountain
above the creek aud is called the Geyser
Canon. At the opening of the canon il
is very narrow, but gradually wideDs as
II ascends. Before sunrise is the favora-
BILE time for visiting old Luciter's domin-
ions for then the waters are more ac-
tive, the vapors denser and the various
noises more defening. Everything is pre-
faced with his majesty's name. Here are
found the DEVILS Office, the DEVILS arm
chair, the DEVILS inkstand, the devils
kitchen, his punch bowl, paint shop and
score or two more OF requisites for
housekeeping and business. There are
over 200 mineral springs cold, warm,
hot and boiling, sweet ans sour-con-
tanning in their waters sulphur, iron,
alum, magnesia, soda, epson salts, borax,
nitre and ammonia. Some are black as
ink others clear as crystal, and their
taste and smell is as varied and inde-
scribable as their number aud properties.
OF them all the guide, who carries a
glass mug, will invite you to drink. One
moutbful ofthe sour spring water sufficed
us, and into this we were inveigled by
the name given, Lemonade Spring.
A narrow trail has been made up the
canon, SO steep and slippery in places
that but for the help and ENCOURAGEMENT
of our faithful and attentive guide, we
would scarce have ventured the ascent
BY the bye, he is Pennsylvania from
Bucks county, and to Nicholas Rock
would we commend all timld, sulphur
coincidence that Old Nick should be the |
guardian and convoyer of these regions
From the vent holes all the way up the |
chasm are necessarily issuing not only |
steam and vapor but noises of every |
variety, from a gentle murmur to that of |
a locomotive under high pressure, and |
variOus OdOrs, sickening and sitting, of |