Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-12-24
Letter From California.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL,
har Ia 1885.

less many peOple III Olu SHePhcIustO"H
and in the vicinity of Moler's y Roads
wonder what has become of the boy they
used to call Bub Bowers. AS it is near
Xmas time and 1896 is drawing to close,
| thought | would spend little while in
writing you a short letter TO let you and
the rest of my friends know that | am
still living and am well and hearty.
Lam at present in Frisco and will
remain here over winter, as have done
for three winters spend my summers
in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. About
Central California, in Fresno, Tulare,
Kern and Inyo counties, last summer |
visited some of the highest mountains,
including Mount Whitney, the highest
mountain in the United States, which, is
claimed to be over 5000 feet high
There is monument on it and place
where every one may leave their names
Ii has been ascended by many professors
of natural science, and they ali differ as
10 the height-the lowest height given
is II. $50 and the greatest l5,51O. Prof.
Jordan of Stanford and Prof. Lecaut
nut il at Is, 100 feet, which | think is
about right. Our party had an altitude
barometer along. and we made 1t l5,3OO
feet. The weather has great deal to
do with an accurate measurement
When one is on Mt. Whitney he sees
sight that makes him wonder. From
there one can see all the highest peaks
Mt. Brewer, Mt. Williamson, Bernard
and dozen others that are over l4,OOO
feet high. From there you can look
down into the great Kern river canon.
where there are sights that rival the
Yosemite.
Kern river is the grandest fishing
stream in the world. With any ordinary
outfit one can catch all the fine trout he
can carry in few hours. many weigh
inc from y to pounds. Now, many
persons may think this is fish story.
but trout are of many kinds, like wild
ducks. We have a trout called the steel
head. that works his way from the head
waters Of some mountain stream down
to salt water. and there he becomes what
is called the steel-head salmon. When
they get into lakes and can't get out they
are called lake trout, and some people
call them salmon trout. These fish grow
very large. and are gamy and take fly
readily There is also the Speckled trout
very large, and the rainbow trout, to
II pounds. They are beautiful. and 1t
is grand sport to catch them. Perhaps
YOU have heard Of the golden trout OF
Whitney creek, the only place in the
world where they are caught. They are
a beautiful golden color, with a blood
red stripe on each side their head, and
their ewes are also red. They are quite
abundant, but few weigh over a half
pound. Their color is easily accounted
for. There are several old burnt-out
craterS near the head of Whitney creek,
and they are filed with snow, which
melts and supplies the creek with water
The water is yelowiSh color, caused
by minerals. Every rock that the water
runs over becomes in time golden col
or. OF course the fish get their color
from the water, and any fish put IN the
stream would in time become the same
color. This stream is about twenty
miles south of Mt. Whitney.
From Nit. Whitney went over the di-
vide into Owens Valley, came out near
Owens Lake, and remained awhile;at
the old mining town, Lone Pine. SIX
miles east of there the Carson n COlora-
do Railroad comes in. From there |
travelled north to independence, Il nice
little village. the county-Seat of lnyo
L
fertile where they can irrigate, but
where they don't irrigate it is barren
desert. with nothing but sage-brush and
cactus. From Independence we started
to climb the mountains again. We
dropped over into the hcadwaters of the
Kings river, and spent several weeks IN
exploring this country. as there are some
darts of il that are little known. we
took in the grand canon of the Kings
river on the south fork, which is claimed
by many explorers TO be rival to lo-
semitic From there we started in on the
middle fork, and went to Mt. Jordan and
MI. Goddard and the Palisades, the di-
viding mountains between the Kings
and San Joaquin. Here we spent four
weeks in good. hard climbing In one
dav we travelled from o'clock in the
morning until sundown we travelled
four miles and went ,, 700 feet down hill.
That day we lost thirteen horse-shOeS
and mule-shoes, killed one saddle-horse
and one pack mule. From this you can
imagine there are some rough trails
there. 1t is my opinion, and of many
others also, that the middle fork OF the
Kings river is the widest and grandest
SIGHT anywhere in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains. not excepting Yosemite. |
have seen Yosemite several times, and
think it grand but think Tahipiti, Of
the Kings. is its equal could not de-
scribe this wonderful canon. 1t is with
out doubt one Of the worlds wonders
Fish and game are there in abundance.
no one ever getting there to kill the
game. killed a large black bear there
and several fine bucks. We got out safe
and sound and landed in Fresno county.
| found several REGISTERS awaiting me,
and i'm one | found letter written from
Lake Sequoia. afterwards met the par
".
Well. now ! am taking things easy
here, and will prepare for a trip in the
spring for the mountains of Alaska.
need not try and describe San Francisco
as | think you have been here.
Some people say times are hard here,
but don't see much difference. as things
seem the same. Any one who ever has
been here will, know, always remember
the sights of Frisco and It's surround
ingS.
The greatest change is. that the old
Cliff house burnt down, and there is an
other one built that is a grand affair.
The Sutro Baths are finished, which are
claimed TO be the grandeSt of the kind
in the world. ! received the REGISTER
all right, and am always anxious to get
it, and read all the news from my boy
hood land.
close with best wishes to all friends
and merry Christmas and a happy new
year for all
The WANDERING Boy, BUB.