The San Francisco call., 1913-08-17

lures Of a trip up the Lake Tahoe
wagon road that 1t is impossible to
give an adequate description. and many
of the most beautiful scenes defy even
the skill of the photographer on ac-
count of the magnificent distances and
the tortuous course of the road. For
some miles there is nothing to distin-
guish the country from an ordinary
mountain region, the highway grad
ually mounting higher, with beautiful
valleys and pastures on either side, re-
lieved by swaying pines and the dim
outlines of mountains beyond. Passing
through the village of Smiths Flat
and the town of Canine, with its man.
moth lumber yards, to which the huge
pines of the Pino Grande region are
brought over a cable that crosses the
American river canyon 1900 feet above
the water, and thence by a logging
railroad to be transported to all parts
of the world, via the Placerville and
Canine railroad and the Southern Pa
cif1c. few miles farther. at Fyffe,
2,500 feet above the sea, r. e. Sherman
grew the famous Rome Beauty apples
that captured the first prizes at two Of
the Watsonville apple shows.
SCENE OF ROBBERY
The next place of interest issports
mans hail. famous resort in the early
days, and three miles more brings us
to Bullion bend the scene of the rob-
berry of two coaches of the Pioneer
stage line June 80. 1854, when six ban
dts held up the drivers and took the
treasure box of the express company
and the silver bullion that was being
transported from Virginia City. New
At Bullion bend the road turns almost
at right angles, and few feet beyond
there still stands. somewhat above the
road, growing out of the bank, huge
pine, behind which the bandits are said
to have hidden before opening fire on
the coaches. There Is some dispute as
to this, one tradition being that the
robbers waited for their prey right in
the bend. Most of the booty was re-
covered, but some of II is supposed to
be buried in the hills.
The American river Is now seen rush.
ing In Its mad course on the north.
down In the, canyon, and the traveller
keeps IT In sight until nearing the Pa
cfhc house. another famous resort, be-
low and behind which the stream
passes. while the road continues In
front, but comes in sight of the river
again little farther on. growing grad
ually nearer and more on level with
the road until reaching Riverton, where
the river makes an abrupt turn south-
ward and is crossed by a concrete
bridge built by the state several years
ago.
RIOTOUs NATURE
From this point the road keeps within
a short distance of the river, with its
swirling waters dashing over boulders
OF granite and capped with foam or
gliding placidly along level stretches
for while until 1t Is lost In the noun
tains. And each new view reveals
scenes of more marvellous beauty in the
rugged majesty OF riotous nature that
speaks of a power that transcends hu-
man conception. Here, too. the nature
of the country changes from clay and
calcerious rock to granite, and al
Though the state keeps the road
watered as far as Bullion bend. tho
change is welcomed by the traveller,
who finds that the road Is now made of
disintegrated granite.
Huge boulders of granite. as big as
cabins, are strewed about as though
pitched from an eminence by some
monster. between many of which the
road passes as though guarded on
either side by mute sentinels left by
the stone age to guard the approach
to hidden treasure. Wonder dis ths
breast OF tho behe1deaSAaA the amar1ks Of
the tremsndous,nphsavaE has left