The Newtown bee., 1904-05-13
SOUTHERN CALIFOR-
 MIA. As Seen Through the Eyes of an Esteemed Newtown
 Gentleman,
E. L. JOHNSON.

UenCleman,
 E. L. JOHNSON.
 We left our readers in our last, as we had taken our bedding with the help of our guide, down to the old de serted ranch house Tor our Sunday nights sleep, and to our guide we owe much of that nights comfort. He 1t was who gathered big pile Of pine limbs, with which rousing fire in the vised a seat with two boxes and a ten foot board before the open fire, fixed up discarded home made bedstead on which to spread our blankets, swept of the floor, and added besides, two rick. ety chairs to our Scant supply. We needed no electric lights, for the pine knots made glorious blaze, all that one could desire. As the shack was not more than half mile from camp, we had not much more than settled, before our party all appeared at the door to spend the evening with us: O1 course we were delighted to see them, and we had just furniture enough to go around for seats. We melted from our one SpoFm CduOl0 oOuC O1Opo Ou the mantle shelf, in which to hold our candle in an upright position, asked them to excuse any blemishes they might see in sides or ceiling, and we spent a very pleasant evening in social converse, which we will long remem- Der. We were keeping good hours in camp, and when our friends left us, it was with the promise on our part, that in case we remained on the place, we would have our new furniture in, and oar walls papered anew, and be inevery way better prepared to entertain our guests. In our new quarters we went to bed, and soon fell asleep. We had slept four nights under the stars, in the open air. The fire in the fire place gave out lots of warmth, no trolley cars, hacks or ice wagons rattled over the pavements to disturb our slumbers, and when daylight came the cheery notes of the mocking bird. the sweet voice of the meadow lark, and the fa- miliar notes of the blue bird and robin, together with the view of valley and mountain, all combined to make it seem an ideal place in which to rest. In the valley to the west of us, a herd of horses were quietly feeding, while in the valley to the east of us a large bunch of cattle were roaming in un' restricted freedom, beautiful land scape with the old ranch house it's cen. tral figure.
 Before we went to camp for our breakfast, we took a look about our room to see if any clue could he found of family history. The side walls were bare, save little Sunday School les son picture card, with this text, "Now is Christ risen from the dead and be- fho Arcf fr17ita nf fham that slept" On the plastered wall of the chimney were several pencil portrait drawings, not very artistic to be sure but typical of mountain life, and under meath, "Drawn by William Johnson, , while over the door was the following notice, Johnson Ranch, May l, 1900 Pasture for stock, cows or cattle over one year old, 75 cents, under one yea1 50 cents per month. Horses $1.5O. all payable in advance and at owners risk. We will not be responsible fol stock under any consideration"
 Several long rows of gooseberry bush and five apple trees full of blossoms and though the trees reminded mt strongly of home, yet they had thai sickly look that is sure to come aftel l long neglect. Our driver told us that few years ago an adventurer cam' into the valley and put $45, ,0O0 int wild land, horses, cattle and sheep only to find very soon that he had mis taken his calling, and now the real es tate is the property of bank in Lo Angeles.
 We bade adieu to the old shack tha had given us shelter for a night, ant walked to our camp to find breakfas ready. At 10 o'clock our belonging were all packed, and we were read. for our trip down the mountain. ex pected to shudder more lthan l did ol the ascent, for the road is literally cut down along the mountain side, a mer shelf in the mountain, but the horses as we'll as the driver seemed to realiZ that self preservation called for grea caution, and we moved along so smooth ly as to take away all fear, while thu great variety of mountain flowers wer ever a source of interest and delight At the foot of San Jacinto mountain the San Jacinto valley opened out be fore us, and for several miles we drov through long stretches, where thous ands of cattle were quietly grazing, 0 resting under the shadow of the noun tain. We passed several corrals, Wher the night, to be followed out in tn
 morning by the herders with thei dogs, for the days range, to be agai brought in as night draws on. At on corral we saw the dressed carcass of :l fat sheep hung from 1mprovtSe shambles, ready for use when the hur
 gry men came in from herdfAg:7 l al
 told that meat can hang out here
 the open air with little or no fear (
 taint, because of dryness of the atmo
 phere. and when cattle die on tE plains they arernot buried, but left
 dry up where they fell, if they do n<
 become food for the hungry coyote
 who live in the mountains. We sa
 the carcass of large steer as we vel
 driving along, lying. by the .roadsid
 drying away under the hot rays of u
 sun. We reached the town of San j. cinto about 4 o'clock in the afternool
 on our return trip. It is 9 quiet lit
 viting. A large stretch of open cou1
 try lies around it, and many cattle a.
 to be seen on the ranges, but the SC
 is an alkali soil, as rule not respon'
 ing literally to cultivation. Hot su ' phur springs are frequent. Four yea
 ago last Christmas there was a hea'
 earthquake shock that shook dow
 several buildings and killed a few pc
 sons. Large cottonwood trees line u > main street, and large tract of vall' ! land near the town is heavily cover.
 with cottonwood trees upon which u
 lime kiln depends for part of it's need!
 fuel. Not much surface water is to
 seen. Near the town of San Jacin . in the foothills of the mountains, 2,2 r feet above the sea, are the Relief Fl
 Springs possessed of curative prope | ties. Among the group are the 1rt :. Arsenic Spring, the White and Bla
 Sulphur Springs, the Hot Soda Spri'