The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-04-18

Ten Pages.
HOME NEWS.
400
600

HOME NEWS.
W. G. JoHNSON'S TRIP TO SAN
JACINTO, CAL.
EXTRACTS FROM A HOME LETTER.
Fred and left Redlands, yesterday,
for San Jacinto, with horse ana
buggy. 1t is a 32-mile drive. He was
to Exchange with Rev D. T. Booth for
services on the following day.
We reached Moreno, IL miles from
Redlands, about noon. Fred's friends,
the Carriers, made us eat dinner with
them. Nice people they are; and az
ter lunch with them we started on
to see about a place where Rev Mr.
Welton would be likely to find shelter
should he want to go to Moreno to
now looks after. l saw large apiary
up on the hills and thought | would
like to see how it seemed to be near
1000 hives of California bees, so | cut
across the hills and on my way found
a horned toad, about as large as my
thumb, which l let go, and he also let
me 90. But not so on the bee ranch.
The owner lives in RedlandS and
drives over now and then to look after
them. No person was about ana L
went nearer, but soon bee found me,
and did not let go till he had touched
me right over my ear. Others were
buzZing too near for comfort and
concluded that this glorious climate OF
California had made no great change
with the business end OF the bee. l
remember Grandpa Camps remedy
when we boys used to get stung with
humble bees. AS luck would have it,
l had just downed couple of clippers
of water, 50 had spit enough, and dirt
enough to make mud. The swelling
soon went down, but the bee followed
me we'll down the hill. l took no'snap
shot, and none will be needed to call
the bee ranch to mind later on. About
3 o'clock Fred and l started again
toward San Jacinto, having still about
| 20 miles to travel. We saw jack rab-
bits, cotton tails, quail, horned toadS,
and stopped to catch an owl which
was roosting on fence post, but the
old fellow was not so sleepy as he look
ed, and flew away. AS we drove along
the Moreno valley, we passed great
droves Of cattle and sheep, and saw a
mirage. Taunton pond never looked
more like water or Wetter than that
looked to us, yet there was no more
water there than if the Lord had never
made the sea. Within about six
miles of San JacintO we came across
hot sulphur springs where those who
| have rheumatism sometimes are cured.
| There were several patients there and
| wished, if the results are as claimed,
that Brother Charles might receive
their cure. The water runs out the
| mountain at a temperature of 118 de-
greeS. Steam rises from it, and it is
all the proof l want, with the hot
water springs we saw in Nevada, that
beneath this old shell here, there is a
terrible commotiOn and hot place,
call it by what name you wish. We
reached town about 6 O'Clock. 1t is
about five hours drive from Redlands
used up eight hours. This is a very
good hotel. Board and room one dollar
a day. Horse keep fifty cents a day.
Sunday morning l went to church.
About IS made up the cOngrega ton
Singing by choir of five and music
ground out of an ordinary organ
sounded good. 1t is just a mission
and in my own mind l doubt if San
JacintO ever sees anything more. AT
Hermit, a town site three miles dis.
tant toward Strawberry valley, things
| N)Ok uullC DIIRllU w lit. Ii lldN SOl
to choose between a long life which q
home in this place might give me, ano
dying young in New England, | would
say die young in Connecticut. After
dinner Fredand l drove over to Soboba
an Indian reservation about three
miles away. There are about 15(
Indians on it but we found only few
Squaws; the bucks, as they are called
were off on hunt after jack rabbits
We saw one jack cross the road right
in front of us, and the dog hot after
him. The rabbits ears, which are
immense, lay back on his shoulders, as
close as he could get them, and>he was
likely to beat the dog. 1t was anus
to get some squaws to pose for a pic
ture, but mo" They wanted ';much
money" We offered 1.-TWO bits" But
no good, and while they were scoldine
and growing, Fred snapped the kodak
and it remains to be seen with what
results. They would growl worse if
they knew we had them. Just as we
were to leave, three bucks. came
around on bronchos, two passed on,
and one came up to us. He had jack
and dog. We tried him for picture,
but he Sputtered and walked sidewalks
like you have seen a hog walk when
| SSCoAi!6 AS"NJ AoA h6AU. " 1ououO
stopping he passed on, and l pressed
the button, catching him with dog
and rabbit. If good, will be tickled.
We visited their burying ground, of
which we can tell you when we see
you. Saw one adobe hut, or the re-
mains of one, where six squaws were
killed, by walls falling on them at
time of the earthquake in 1890. From
there we drove to ranch where they
invited us to supper. We had nice
visit and then drove back into town
to evening service at 7.30. 1t is now
1918 and we are seated in our bed
room. AS they turn off the electric
lights at 1870, I will close and go to
bed.
1t will be interesting to many
friends of Lewis Booth, who went
years ago from Bridgewater, Conn.,, to
Minnesota, to know that the Rev Dan
iel Theodore Booth, who is mentioned
in the above communication, was a
son of Lewis Booth, and when a boy
was at school at the Newtown ACade-
my when J. Homer French was prin-
cipal. After leaving school he learned
the carpenters trade, and while work.
ing at his trade, studied for the minis
try. His home is in Minnesota, but it
is his son who is rector at San JacintO,
Cal, but in failing health, and now in
the mountains for rest, while his
fa ic his S11Dn1v in rho ~