Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-04-21


is complete. nor win pen ever
express In adequate manner
the beauties, the charms. the
grandeur Of 80 marvellous a place. OF
which one might we'll say that 1t Is a
terrestrial paradise.
The Yosemite Valley Is situated in
the heart OF the Sierra Nevadas. al
most in the middle Of the state OF
California. and between the eastern
and western foothills OF the noun
tainA the distance between them be-
ing y little more than 100 kilometers.
The word Yosemite Is an English
corruption of the Indian expression
"AJomitai" (Big Gray Bear. which.
It IL supposed was the nickname Of
IN Indian chief, and Is the name APP
piled to a tribe that lived in the re-
gion stretching eastward from the
valley to the plains. However. the
word was not the name which the
Indians gave the valley. for they called
1t "Awahni." which IL equivalent to
the Spanish word canon"
Formerly the valley was inaccessi-
BILE for almost half the year. because
the SHOWS in that region fall with SO
much abundance that they completely
obstruct passage over the highway.
At present a railway line goes to
FL Portal, which is distant only some
twenty kilometers from the valley.
this distance being covered by stage
coach over q magnificent highway con-
structed by the federal government.
under whose control Is the valley.
Thus then have been eliminated the
obstacles which formerly made the
trip so disagreeable. and that beauti-
full point can be visited at any period
Of the year. The railroad goes from
MERGED to Ell Portal. the distance be-
tween the two points being IL kilo-
meters. more or less 1t traverses
the picturesque valley OF the MERGED
river, and crosses II at various points.
On reaching the foothills of the noun
tains the railway follows the course
OF the river. which at times is at a
very great depth below the road and
at others almost on level with It.
The line from Ell Portal to the Yose-
mite 10 travelled. as has already been
said. by means Of a stage coach, and
Is very comfortable as well as pic
turesqus.
On the way to the valley. still at
some distance. there are presented to
the sight of the spectators huge rocks
and mountains of the most capricious
forms: one is like an elephant. farther
on another has the aspect Of camel:
still another has the form OF castle;
and from all these stand out sharply
those called "El Captain" THE SEN
tinA." THE Cathedral Spires" and
"The Three Brothers"
As the road ascends the grandeur
and beauty of the landscape are en-
HANGED; look whatever way one will
he sees foaming rivulets falling from
high rocks: old and mysterious pines
sigh to the measure OF the music Of
the waters; here and there are seen
mountains. gigantic rocks and preci-
pices, the contemplation of which In
spires admiration mingled with awe.
While the mountains constitute the
element of grandeur In the landscape,
the streams of water give 1t the touch
of beauty; nothing more picturesque
can be conceived than the torrent, the
pools. the falls OF the MERGED. In
some places 1t flows sweetly below
leafy trees, in others 1t rests In placid
pools, that II may precipitate itself
afterward with vertiginous rapidity
in cascades like nantes of foam and
drift OF diamonds. At many points
enormous rocks obstruct the course
of the river, fragments OF the tall
rofks that lie on either side of IT,;
surrounding them or leaping over
them, the water follows its indefatig-
able way.
There are no two sights alike; and
the journey is for the eyes Of the
traveller q succession Of delight after
delight. such is the variety of the
landscape.
Finally a presentiment tells the
traveller that he is near the valley. A
little later there presents itself to his
eve "The Bridal Veil." one of the
finest waterfalls Of the valley; farther
ON, at the right. stands out the rock
"El Captain" which majestically as.
cends to the height Of 1000 meters
and on the left rise elegantly to an
elevation of 500 meters THE Cathe.
dral Spires" these two rocks forming
what might appropriately be called
the southern door of the valley. Once
in It are discovered the countless mar.
wells which It shuts in. such as Wash
ington's Column" a rock on the left
of 700 meters altitude. which shoots
its twilight shadow across the Hall
Dome. whose height is 1900 feet
Above the level Of the MERGED. THE
Sentinel" is perhaps the greatest and