The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-20
COACHING TRIPS ON CATALINA,
A New Pastime for Visitors to
the Island.
Lively Driving From Avalon to
Little HarbOr.
Fine Scenery and n Most Exhilaratinc
Sport Which Adds to the En-
Joyment Of Summar
Residents.
special corrcspondcnce OF the HraA1p.

Special Correspondence OF the HERALD.
AVALON. July 16, 1891.
Catalina has never been found dull
from the beginning to the end. There
is always some new place to 60, rome
new fish to catch, and the schools of big
sea bass, yellowtail and barracuda not
to speak OF the jewish, are a never end
ing attraction to the lovers OF good fish.
ing.
The policy of the present owners
seems to be to make the island as at
tracrivs as possible, and to that end
they have made coach road that will
eventually take one from Avalon to the
isthmue, over the tops of the mountains.
AT present tho road is completed from
the iethmus to Little harbor, about nine
miles, and yesterday Captain Banning
drove the first four-in- hand over the
island road, to the delight of the party
who accompanied him. The "trip wRB
made from Avalon to the isthmus In
the Banning lannch Linda, afording the
party o Ene panoramic view OF eai1ons,
mountains and lofty cliffs that charac-
terizo the east coast of Catalina. At
tie sthmus the coach and four were in
waiting, and with Captain Banning as
whip, the first coach that was ever On
The island started on q trip that will be
revelation to the lover OF exhilarating
riding, fine scenery and contracts OF
mountain and marine views.
The road starts near the site OF the
old Indian village, where the men were
digging out tons OF nbalones-relica OF
the ancients, and with an easy grade
winds up the hill to the south, then
turning to the east and skirting the hills
of Isthmus Cows. presenting success
ion oil fine views until the little bay,
with its waters OF deepest blue appears
slmcst at your feet, while beyond are
the strange coast projections that reach
oat into the ocean from the north islaad.
Higher the horses climb, the road final
" turning to tho south, mountains and
peaks rising on every hand; Orjzaon,
1000 feet; Round Top, 1900, and Black
Jack over 1000 feet. being prominent.
The road, remarkable for ono 60 new,
will soon pack and make one OF the
finest mountain ways in the country.
Nearing the summit the ocean on the
west side comes into view, with the
eouth island.
Under the ekilled handling Of Captain
Banning, the horpse made coed TIME,
and the exhilaration of this Emo pastime
Ia enjoyed to the utmost. Now We look
down through q cai1on 800 feet and zee
the little beach at it's foot, now are out
upon the divide and 20 gallopiag down
the fine gravel road.to the astonishMent
OF tho sheep. owle and ravens, who have
never eeen q four-in-hand and who
probably wander what it is all about.
Now we pass through o forest Of prickly
pears that reaches up the mountains ON
every aide, the plants covered with the
big yellow blooms again through groves
of the dwarfed liveoak. On We 60, the
spirited horses seeming to enjoy tho ex-
element. The high peaks grow nearer
and are ever changing their shapes and
tints OF old gold and amber, while the
defiant ranges are almost in q blue haze
that reflects the SUNNI landscape in
all California. Now We skirt deep
c. non that winds below US, river of
green marking the water course. On
tho right the land rises grad
ualiy to the summit, and bts
OF abalone glistening in the sunlight
tell OF the Indian life at this portion OF
the island. The air il soft and delight.
full, with no suspicion of the soa yet
the wind that sweeps down the cafions
and brings to as tho love notes of tina
quail, tho Same soft wind that bends the
MOWERS that cover the ground in winter
and rippIos through the beds of golden
foxtail grass. is burdened with saline
odors and comes from the limitless
ocean hardly rifis shot away.
Dseper down the slopes we 60 and
finally through rift in the hills patch
OF blue CLEANS brightly, to be lost
again, and a few moments later the
rkillfnl whip makes . magnificent turn
and the coach rolls into Little harbor
exactly on time. Here 10 the present
terminus, and an ian 10 to be built at
once on u commanding eminence just
above the harbor, from which q tino
view of tho ocean lie obtained. There
are two fine beaches here, separated by
a rocky ledge that reaches out, forming
a fne fishing point. The structure of
the rock will form one of the attractions
OF the spot. Great masses OF green, red
and yellow tints meet one at every turn.
and blocks OF pure white quartz haeh in
the sunlight, while patches OF mica
glisten like diamonds.
On either side of Little harbor are In
dian mounds, tho accumulation of ages
one covered and overgrown with cac-