The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-19
Epauls,ic, and the buttons, shoulder straps an,
HU MAxwELL,s JOURNEYS.

II
Rivers, and Fails.
Special Correspondence Of he Iilte!liCaen.
HMDRETH, Call, Jan. 1O.-Arriving lat
yesterday evening at my camp, after Al
absence Of nearly g month, found that I
MSS Of letters and newspapers had &C
cumulated, and we're waiting to be reat
and disposed Of. Among them were many
letters and Christmas csgds from my
friends, asking how spsnt that day, ant
wishing many returns Of the same, Then
there we're newspapOrs and magazines full
Of holiday readinss, including ale Of the
DAILY INTELLIoRECER from December 16
to the present time.
These letters and pspen were shout the
first realizatiops had OF the fact that there
had been q Christmas; and, after thinking
the matter over, have decided to write q
letter telling how spent my Christmas In
California, in 1887.
It was early on Sunday morning. !
travelled several miles in q atsge-colch, till
l had passed Fine Gold river, when dis
mounted and set forward alone among the
hills, where there was no path, and where,
had 1t not been for the little pits dug by
the miners in ancient days, would have
thought no white man had ever bsen. ]
was trying to find abort route to the
San Josquin river, and thence to Kings
river, aud was ALEC intending to pass the
ruins OF Fort Millerton, which was built
during the conquest OF California, and
arose to be considerable town, but now
IS in ruins. The distance to Kings river
by this route l thought would be about
thirty miles.
When l left the stage coach, I climbed
the eide OF Saddle Mountain, intending to
follow II 10 the 5sn joaquin; but in an
hour or two l abandoned this idea on &C.
count OF the roughness OF the way and the
scarcity Of water, and l came down to the
canon OF Fine Gold, and attempted to
make my way down that stream. But my
progress was SLOW, Tor l had 10 walk in
the bed Of the Tlye'-Hhich was nearly
dry-and it was full OF falls, powders and
catarsCts. Jungles Of tangled brush grew
so dense on the banks that could make
no headwsy there. The river also aeamed
to trend too lar east for my course and l
again loft 1t, and climbed to the summit
OF the mountain.
From there l could gee where Iwas 10
90, and found no difficulty in getting along.
In an hour or two came down into 9
region OF lower hills, entirely destitute OF
trses, but covered over with peculiar
formation OF rocks which were interesting
to study. The ground wss covered with
grase, green Ike q meadow, and tbs rocks
ross up like tomb stones, varying in
height from one to ten feet. Tho appear
arcs was that Of an old graveyard where
the tombB uro leaning to one side, and
partly broken down. There were thou
sands Of them-perhspa tsns Of thousands
covering the hills for miles. They we're
mostly in thin slabs, two or three inches
thick, a foot vide, and Eve or ok feet
high. At places they stood 80 thick to.
gether that l could barely walk smong
them; sgsip, they were In groups fifty
yards spsrt.
They are the work OF nature. The
hands Of men have had nothing to do
with them. They are the remnants OF old
Lodges otan1ing vertical, the surrounding
coil having been washed away, leaving the
slabs Of rock standing up like gravestones.
|
The rocks themselves were Of bright
slate, which l have never seen anywhere
else except on the Selkirk mountainB in
British America. But they were over
grown with wonderful moss Of three
colors, red, yellow and green. The oolors
were as bright Rs II fresh from q painter'a
brush. Red and yellow were most abund-
ant, and were frequently arranged in such
proportion that they looked like hero
glyphics. The whole scene wac strange,
and one who has seen 1t will not soon for.
get it. It looked like graveyard where
GhenSis Kahn might have buried his
dead and erected for them these unnatural
monuments OF Pagan idolstry.
1t wRs nearly noon when reached the
brink OF bluR and saw the San Joaquin
river in the narrow valley beneath mo,
and the ruins Of Fort Millerton in the dis
lance. II was no easy matter TO descend
the blud; but made my way down with.
out accident, and found myself brought to
q staDdstlll.
The river must be crossed, and 1 had
no way Of crossing 1t. / had anticipated
such q predicament all day; but, having
in early life resolved "never to Cross {
river till get to Il" | had come ahead
hoping to dnd an Indian canoe or raj
on which TO cross. But none were to be
seen, aud an hours search up and dowr
the bank failed to find any logs Of which
to mako q. raft.
Not wanting to immitate goose, which
will walk day back and forth along 9
single panel Of fence hunting for plact
to get through, quit walking up AMI
down the shore, and proceeded down the
river, 10 40 hour or two came to {
shallow place and tried to wade over, bu
was mistaken in the depth, and had y
retreat, or be carried down by the swift
current. tried at two other places 4
wade, but with the same result TIT
water did not look deep nor swift, but l
was both. l could not keep my iootini
in the current, and Tor the third time re
traced my steps to the shore, eomewha
bStll ID, but still determined to 20 over.
thought OF swimming, but was uncertain
whether could make 1t in such stronI
current and among so many sunken rocks
MY attempts at wading had made ny
clothing as vet as 1t could be, and hal
nothing further to apprehend on tina
line.
But, not having made up my mind,
passed on down the river mile or two
and came to o narrow eddy where tn
river Yves less than three hundred fee
wide. II was very deep, and looked greer
and ugly, but was not swift. This woul'
be good place to swim over, and ! mad
up my mind to do 1t. Although It va
Christmas, the water was not very cold
sill I was not pleased with the under
taking, and stood like Bunysn's Pilgrim
wondering II there was not some othe
way 10 get over. While thus standing
: come one called to me from the ban
!. above. Looking up saw spanisid VIII
/ wanted 10 know: "Tisne reHtird Riiede d,
!, dOuaf" (Ars you afraid Of tho WRterP)
Iexplslnsd the situation, and he toll
me where | could fiaS bridge, and ll.I a.