Year: 1874

which will be appreciated by our


readers. AS the nom de plume adopt


ed by the correspondent may not con-
tain any particular Specification for
the average reader, we will say that
the word "Colorado'' means in Span


ish "red," and this was adopted as the


distinguishing feature of the writer.


Colorado" is not exactly red but has


very much of a pink tint. The letter
is as follows:


EDITOR La CRoNIcA: Having
promised in my last to give


you a description ofa trip to the quick
silver mines located in this county, 1


hasten to make good my word, though,


verify, tits not "as easy as rolling off


log." You know how it is yourself:
four or five young men, bent upon


having q good time, start away from


a Local Option town well provided


with the good things of the world;


we'll, they are bound to reach
such o state of Observation-Disclosures


that they neglect to take notes on


the way, and that proved to be my


case, Mr.. Editor; but my memory is
good and will do the best can under
the circumstances, to recount the in
cidents of our trip.


Twas one Summers evening in the


merry month of July that we started
on


OUR JOURNEY.
The hour, midnight, with a full


moon shining. Had you met us on


the outskirts of the city as we made
our way to the foot of the mountains,


you would have thought Vasquez had
broken loose. 1 think that is a very


eloquent description of our appear
ance. We passed the old Mission and
began the ascent Of the mountain at
San Rague just at day-break-one be-
hind the other along narrow path, at


an angle of forty-tive degrees, with
yawning precipices at our feet, we
would have made nice picture for
the Illustrated Press-Subject, Italian


Brigands.


AT abont seven o'clock we reached
THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN,
Stopped, dismounted, and loosened


our saddles preparatory to enjoying a


little rest, and turned around to gaze
upon what we had left behind. Good
Heavens! One need be poet, ro-


nance writer, to do justice to the scene
before us; it was simply awful in its
magnitude. Can't be possible that the
learned professor of photography TAX
ing views for the Press has not thought
of climbing these mountains? Perhaps
he is afraid of breaking his neck in the


attempt; but it is


WORTH A BROKEN NECK


To gaze upon the lovely valley of


Santa Barbara; the city with its


square blocks and streets clearly delin-


eated; the beautiful vine-covered hills


to the right, to the left the green
| orange groves; then the eye wanders


to the boundless ocean, the shipping,
the islands in the channel, while at


our feet, as it were, the ancient Mis-


sion keeps guard over this paradise on
earth, not unlike some Baron's castle
in the middle ages.


l have given you one side of the pic
ture; we will now turn to the north,
AMI


WHAT A CONTRAST!
The view brings to my mind the
Gulf of California in gale of wind


blowing from the southeast-whent the


sea rises mountains high "-nothing


but gulches, the tops of hills and


mountains, and the bed of the river
we have to follow in order to reach the
mines.


We tighten the saddles on our
horses backs and prepare to descend;


we take a good "horn" and start, our
horses most of the way travelling in a
sitting posture, and, as the side we as
cended was rocky, this is composed of


loose dirt, thereby compelling us to
actually slide down to Los Prietos,


where we stop for hearty breakfast.
After resting awhile we continued on


our way up the bed of the Najalaye-
qua river, which we followed for tif


teen miles.


On our arrival at camp, my atten-
tion was Immediately called to q high


bluff about mile distant from the
river. Here is where


THE QUICKSILVER VEIN


Was first struck. Your correspondent


was one of the original five who


climbed like wild cats over these


mountains two years ago, when we


discovered what we then paid but
little attention to. To tell you the
| truth, know very little about mining
and care much less about it. There
| fore, you need not expect graphic


and elaborate account of things don't


understand. But, having o good rifle,
| my chief desire was gratified, and l
| had the pleasure of shooting and run


ming after some deer; but don't be-
lieve their number decreased any dur
ing my sojourn there; at least through
| my efforts. And yet l did eat some
| yenison and bear meat, thanks to the
| good craftsmanship of my fellow ad-
venturers, the Breck boys.
THE MINERAL WATER.
We only remained three days,


suffering the consequences of


drinking the peculiar quality of


the only water to be had.


Its medicinal effect upon our constitu-


tion leave to the eimagination of your


readers. 1 tried to boil some beans
with it, and for two days and nights l


kept the fire going and the water
boiling; but at the end of that time
| the confounded beans were as hard as