New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-15
CAMPING IN CALIFORNIA.
Nv.
THE PACK TRAIN.


When we broke mp our camp IN the MsuiIa
Canon we were at the end of the wagon track,
aud there lay before usan extremely rough and DIN
eult path into the heart of the mountains barely
practicable for trained horses Ii is said to be an
old Indian trail, used by the red men before the
Spaniards came to California, and travelled nova
DAYS bv occasional hunters and prospectors who
ust suffce to prevent its obliteration. 1t
was made by merely following the
streams towards their sources, over the stones
through the brake, and mp the gorges.
good load for horse over such track is 2oo
mounds When we got our property together we
estimated the weight at 1900 From this you Will
realize. what believe I mentioned In former
letter. that this was a camping party OF somewhat
extraordinary kind. There were three tents-'ent-
poles we did not attempt to carry-two small mat
tresses sackng for cots, twenty blankets ana COM
forters. euamelled cloth to put between the beds
and the ground, various shawls. rugs and bags Oh
clothing boards for the top of small dlniag taoie
tthe legs and frame to be made at each
stopping place., one invaluable shees-iron
cooking-stove, the Dutch oven for. bread
a pretty large assortment or Kettles
and pans, plates and cups OF enamclied
iron (agate-ware, much stronger, cleaner and
pleasanter to than tinl, spade, an axe a
hatchet hammer, small bag of other tools and
stock of supplies embracing about ten DAYS rations
for seven people, and small store of barley for the
horses and the COW. The problem now was how to
convey into the mountains seven riders and seven
full horse-Ioads of baggage with only seven horses
all together. We might have hired more horses
but we had more already than we quite knew now
Tn feed Ferguson swore that he would reduce the
loads and for two days he tore around
the camp on a sumptuary perquisiton, the total
result of which was the discarding OF
an empty cofse-can. spool of thread and knife
sharpener, the last of which articles Cadmus re-
CLAIMED. Something was said about leaving
half-emptied jar of honey, but tie doctor thought
we mnst have that "'oneyhow." 1t was finally
arranged shat two of the riders should not ride,
and that the camp should move in two divisions
and by short marches the advance hating some
where while Soper drove back the horses and
brought up the rear
We were dressed at dawn on the morning of the
DIST and before breakfast the demolition OF Bay
onet Camp began. Two of the tents were corded
up; the picturesque kitchen was reduced to ruins !;
the dining room became a wreck; furniture was
knocked to pieces for the sake of the nails. The
work Of destruction flied the forenoon. Then came
the loading. Soper was the owner of two stout
packs saddles and two more were improvlsed with
the aud of grain sacks. ropes and sai[needie
Small articles were stuffed into the sacks, pair
of winch were tied together and slung across the
horses back. Large parcels. such as tents aud
mattresses, and the stove, were then placed on
top, and the load was tightly corded. canvas band
with rings passing under the animals belly. Pack
ing a horse so that the weight may be well bal
anced and hung low, and that nothing may shift
and nothing project enough to catch in the bush
is something of fine art. There is
room for no little SKILL too, in get
,o;i bot and
saucepans of course filled with stores and
tableware. There were no paper bundles to burst
open. but all our provisions bags distinctly
labelled: eggs and the few bottles allowed our
selves were In boxes; and the stove turned up
side down it had bottoml. held surprising
variety of articles from side of bacon to the camp
library tins collection of books including Don
Ouixotc," The Arabian Nights" =" The TREE
t;uardsraenn and The Swiss Family Robinson"
as well as sundry compositions OF somewhatlater
date. In the heat of the day the advance set out
four loaded horses, SOpeT and the doctor
afoot THE doctor rather enjoys getting
tired out and wading through riversl
and All Hing. radiant with pleasure, on Diana's
mare. At evening Soper returned with the ami
mails in time for some of Albert DureIs hapjacks.
By early rising the second division was able to
move in the cool of the next morning and before
The sun grew hot we clear of the open vale
and winding among the shady ravines. A mile
above our camp the Matilda Canon splits into three
valleys each traversed by branch of the river
We took the north, or hand fork, and passed
immediately INTO new country. Tho long green
slopes she distant perspectives the bue peaks IN
the remote background. gave place TO savage
gorges precipices whose contorted and per-
pendicular strata were evidences OF violent
cenvulsions, narrow passes where the only
patb was the water itself, dark .dslls where the
trees brushed our faces. The difficulty of the trail
was partly in its steepness. but more IN the fire.
quency Of rocky places over which the horses had
literally to scramble. Only once. however, were we
Obliged to dismount and lead them by tho tether'
ropes: and though one inexperienced and too eag0'
pack-animal fell great damage followed the
accident We wound around so many sharp corners
and went SO deep into intricate valleys that we
quite lost the points of the compass. We were only
conscious that we were always climbing, and leav-
ing far below US those uncertain coast
valleys vhero the winds suek up
from The sea contagious fogs" Where the
caiion widens little we found our comrades loung-
iur ON the edge of the brook. All Hing rushed for
ward. shouting in an excited voice. "Ho-o-o!
catch 'em plenty trout, heap plenty L go way up
mountain. heap far. come back, catch em all tinle
Aud there in q pan, covered with willow twigs and
set in the running water. were lOG fine hsh, about
20 of which represented tho morning work oil our
industrious cook. It is perhaps an illustration OF
the thrifty habits Of his race that he caught 4S
trout with one worm. Fisherman's Camp was the
name we gave this fortunate halting-place. We
rested a few hours under the oaks Toasted on the
fresh fish, and then went on. the second division
Row taking tho lead, while Hing and the doctor re-
raaiued another night to catch more trout.
The afternoon march was entirely different in
character from that Of the morning-more varied,
more beautiful and impressive; and the al
formations of green ridges rocky defies, blooming
natural gardens and far-reaching views Of valley
ouenipg into valley were moro sudden and sar-