The record-union., 1891-07-08

y InvaIidS' and Sportsmen3S Paradise.
The Southern Pacific Company's COM
bination sleeping and dining-car Gar
mellon went northward on Friday night
over the Oregon railroad with party OF
newspaper representatives, accompanied
by few of the company's officials. The
car was attached to the Portland express,
but was to be switched off on reaching
the Shasta mountains and provided with
a locomotive, in order that the excursion
lists might have opportunities to visit the
various points of interest at their leisure
during Saturday and Sunday.
The members Of the party were: James
Hosburgh, Jr., w. G. Morrow, f. Med.
Johnstone, III. C. Tibbitts and w. f. Fitz-
gerald of the Southern Pacific Company,
J. o. Denny of the San Francisco Chro1l-
dcIe, f. A. Leach of the Oakland En-
q,tiYeY, Henry p. Squire of the Oakland
Times, G. f. Hatton of the Oakland Ilq
bune, Thomas c. Johnston of San Fran
cisco, c. II. Warren Of the San Francisco
Post, b. T. II. Preston of the San Jose
Herald al Murphy of the San Francisco
ErGBoiReT, S. MEG. Ewing of the Rdit-
acdy Gazette, T. NJ. Brady of Oakland and
n. e. White Of the Sacramento RECORD
UNION.
II was q Jolly party that entered the
grand canyon Of the Sacramento River
on the following morning, after leaving
Redding, where the valley and the
mountains meet. It's members were like a
lot Of school boys just freed from school,
and gave vent to their eXurberance by
shouts and songs that rang out upon the
clear mountain air and rolled in echoes
far up along the canyon, to be repeated
back from the towering cliffs that rise
on either side Of the dashing, foaming
river.
1t was the Fourth of July, and the resi-
dents of the pretty little town of Redding
were early astir. They We're at the depot
in throngs, bent on an excursion to the
town of Dunsmuir, sixty miles away in
the mountains, where there was to be
grand celebration. 1t was one of the heav
lest passenger trains that has yet traversed
that wild and rugged country, consisting
as it did of sixteen well-tilled coaches.
The Red Bluff brass band was aboard,
and at every station along the road men,
women and children were taken on, un-
til there was barely standing room.
The ride up the Sacramento River can
yon was simply grand, as all can testify
who have made the journey. The road
lies along the bank Of the river all the
way from Redding to SisSOn-croSsing
and recrOsSing the beautiful mountain
stream at frequent intervals. From the car
windows the GXcurSiOniStS looked down
into the clear. cold waters and saw the
trout dispOrting-now darting in and
out from the dark recesses caused by
overhanging rocks, then leaping from
the water To catch the insects that buzzed
over its surface.
sNow-COVERED MOUNT SHASTA.
The morning was yet in the glory of it's
freshness when, on turning sharply
around a high cliff, the first near view of
Mount Shasta burst upon the eyes of the
pleasure-seekers. 1t was a grandly
beautiful panorama that had been passing
and was still passing before the eyes of
the travellers, but when the SnOw-clad
peak-that has been well likened to a
sentinel guarding the entrance to the
great valley of the Sacramento-rOSe
magic-like from behind the rim of green,
pine-clad hills that stretched away to the
north, the effect upon the beholders was
one that they can never forget. 1t seemed
so out of place there that all they could
do was TO gaze upon 1t and wonder
whence came the giant, white-robed
specter that lowered aloft through the
clear atmosphere of that bright July
morning until it pierced the very clouds
AN old Volcano sealed IN Ice and snow,
Looking from its airy nights supreme
On lesser peaks that dwudle small below;
ON valleys haZy in the beam
OF summer suns; on distant lakes that fash
Their starry rays in green woods dense,
On canyons where blue rapidS leap and dash,
And MOSES cling to cliffs immense"
MTSARETs OF CASTLE CRAG.
As the train whirled around another
hill and old Mount Shasta was Temporal
rily shut from sight, another wonder Of
that wondrousfy grand canyon burst
upon the view. IT was the fierce, sky
piercing domes of Castle Crags, on the
west side Of the river, and which may not
inaptiy bc compared 20 the famous Cathe-
drai Rocks of the Yosemite Valley. These
crags are, next 10 Mount Shasta, perhaps
the most interesting feature of the ride
through the Sacramento River canyon.
''This startling upheaval of solid gran
ltc.' says l.. Med. JohnstOne in one of
the chapters of his charming book de-
Scriptive of Shasta scenery, with its per-
pendicular walls rising ut a single bound
to an altitude of tour thousand feet above
the valley, Is one of the most marvellous
scenes in California mountain scenery.
From the nights to the east of Lower
Soda Springs this stcel-gray sierra has
the appearance of a magnificent Jewel in
a rich oliVe-green setting; and when the
brilliant rays of the setting sun shoot
long, golden shafts through its weird
aisleS and across its peaked battlements
casting deep crimson and purple shadows
in the hush of nightfall by the the river
below, the scene is one of indescribable
beauty
Near the feet of these gray old crags lie
the Lower Soda Springs, on a lovely pine
studded plateau on the east bank of the
river. These springs are justly ceiebra-
ted for their curative properties, beside
being situated in a most romantic spot.
Looking from the springs toward the
north a splendid view Of Mount Shasta is
had, while on the west Castle Crags loom
up in all their grandeur and beauty.
CASTLE CRAG TAVERN.
II is at these Lower Soda Springs,
sixty miles north Of Redding and right
IN the heart of the canyon of the Sacra-
mento, that the Pacific Improvement
Company contcmplates the erection of a
splendid hotel, or tavern" this wear.
The plans therefor are now being drawn,
and there is no doubt the work will
shortly be commenced. II will be called
castle Crag Tavern" and ere many
years its attractions will be known and
appreciated on more than one continent.
commodate several hundred guests. In
this respect ii may vie with the famous
Hotel del Monte, but il viii be con-
structed on less pretentious hines, so far
as architecture is concerned. The chiei
aim will be To insure for all of its guests
the highest possible degree of comfort
consistent with moderate rates of board.
Right in this vicinity is TO be found
some of
THE BEST TROUT FISHING
Along the river, and this feature cannot
iail TO prove attractive 10 sportsmen.
Castle Crag Tavern will also become
the Mecca of the weary mon of business
in the cities as well as of the tourist and
-------------------------
EA "a EA EEsA E