Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-07-21
Comrades of Sixth Vermont Tour IN
California.

Mr.. Editor:
1t may be interesting to the stsk
surviving members of old Companx
u, 9th Vermont Volunteers, one 81
the best companies ever raised in Or
leans county for the defense of our
country during the dark days of the
Clvll war, and who are fortunafe
enough TO be readers of the Monitor.
the newslest paper published in the
county, to read of the reunion of fhx
old Company recently held out herx
on the Pacific coast, three thousand
miles from home, after a separation
OF DO years. There were, however.
but two of the old company to an
swer TO roll call, William L. Smell.
who enlisted from Derby, and the
subscriber from Glover. Be assured
1t was a most enjoyable reunion
Comrade Smell is retired lawyer au6
Judge, now living quietly as the shzl5-
oWs lengthen, with his good wife m
tneIr surDurban home in Los Angeles.
surrounded with all the comforts SSszs
competency and well spent life can
afford. Their three children are ncr
out IN the world for themselves
Comrade Smell will be remenherwsx
as the smallest boy in the compaxv-
YET tnere was no braver or better soi.
oier, and as proof of herolsm hn
righI arm was shot off at the battle of
the Wilderness, May 4th, 1864
Inc occasion of this happy reunio~
was celebrated by the comrades -
cnelr wives by taking a most deIigk1
Iol B auto trip from Los Angeles A..
Dakersneld, distance of I3O miIs-
over Wnat is known as the ~1r.dp-,
IDuee. 4I but before proceeding fur-
m To
the wife of one was a typical Var,as-s
fankee girl who still retains to > -
markable degree the vivacity and haz.-
py disposition that so characte~iz.sx
ner youth. She will be plea asarff~
remembered by many of the old SIR
dents of Orleans Liberal Instifns-
OF It's palmy days as the Miss A.
Hurdy of Glover. The other was =
western girl and very lovable -,goz.-
an and the only drawback TO her
charming, personality was that She
was not born IN Vermont.
Now to return to the mountain road.
Tor 1t is worthy of special mention
the name, ridge route" does mot
line drive on the rim of the work.
the most wonderful auto road in the
world, but recently opened, full 50
miles through, up and over the Sierr1
Madre range, climbing, twisting
through tunnels, around sharp curves
not 100 feet of straight road Ia Ehe
whole distance, yet smooth as a housr
floor, still all the while climbing.
climbing, until an elevation of naiIa
is reached and then down, down, or
ten seeing a section of the road huu-
dreds of feet below and then again
sections of the road hundreds of feex
above and soon we ourselves wouN
De there, SO on we went Zigzaggixx
over the mountains at every point of
the compass amid the surroundings nf
nature in its most inspiring grandeux.
a distance of nearly go miles. At ons
point / counted seven mounfsin
ranges Between ranges we passed
a corner of San Joaquin valley, a vask
expanse of possibilities.
Bakersfield in the midst of larys
fertile valley is thriving town af
5000 population. The next day vx
visited the famous Kern river ea
wells near there, said to be the largest
oil fields in the world of over 1oB6
producing wells under control, cf
course, of the Standard Oil Compauy-
We took more time for our returx
trip, consuming much of two days.
stopping over night in the mountains
at little wayside inn, the main build
ing being simply dining room and
kitchen surrounded by "a small cot
tages about 10 feet square for sleep
ing. Meals served from 5 a. m. until
midnight TO accommodate tourists
passing all the time. By the Way
Comrade Smell with only left
hand drives his car like a veterzn-
No easterner visiting Ca1iforD7z-
should fail to go over this wonderful
route.
Sincerely,
Fred NJ Kiro+aH