Year: 1870

Rev. j. Peate's California Correspondence of the


Youngstown (Ohiol Courier.


Finding the guide thoroughly acquainted
with the country, we engaged him to take
us The next morning to mountain-top
called the Centinal Dome, eight thou
sand three hundred feet above the sea. The
view from it is grand beyond description.
From thence we went about mile from
Glacier Point, and had our first view of the
valley from perpendicular cliff three thou
sand seven hundred and five feet above the
plain below. l never before had such q
mixed feeling Of awe, sublimity, power, and
my own littleness. I was afraid to trust
myself to look over-there seemed to
be an awful and mysterious attraction.
The abyss waa drawing and charm
ing me. And yet little, pale, nervous
looking woman of the party crept out, and
for long time looked over, until we urged
her to come away. / then ventured to
creep out and look down. 1t was less than
a mile to the cliff on the opposite side of
the valley midway saw what seemed to
be a garden, in which l saw two small,
whitish-looking objects. l could not make
out what they were until looked at them
through my 1ield-glass, when found them
to be yoke of oxen standing before 4
plough. This will give you some idea OF
the elevation at which we stood. The little
unpainted hotel in the valley was within 4
mile and half of us; it was nineteen or
twenty to follow the trail to the same point.


I said to the guide, "Can't we get down
at some point, and not have to endure so
long a ride 2" He said there was point
about mile from there at which descent
could he made, though he had never tried
it, but two or three had. So he went to the
place. 1t is four thousand feet higher than
the valley. The way looked smooth, though
very steep. The guide said it was possible
for us to go down. Who could douDt IL
But he could not 60 with us. lie must go
on hunt next morning. General Howard
and wife were of the party. Besides him
were three more of us-three men and
two women in all. So we resolved to
90 down the dreadful way. One OF
the women hesitated, and soon all but
myself abandoned the enterprise. So they
wished me success, and / began the de-
scent alone, little thinking what was before
me. but in full confidence that in an hour |
would be in the valley. 1t was half-past l.
| went down rapidly, rs the first part OF the
way was easy. At the end OF an hour
found myself about, rs l thought, half way
down. The sun at first poured down on
me. Then the clouds came over tho valley.
I then came to precipice and walls OF rock
on both sides. For time / could see no
way down. I crept about, with all caution,
on hands and knees. peered over fright
ful place 70 turn back | was ashamed.
I let myself down the f5ees.s fes,s ~ the 5rancnes
of bushes. At one place I went down tiiG
fall of rock ten or twelve feet. At the
top it was about two feet broad and as
steep as Il gothic roof. A wall Of rock arose
on my right, and OH my left chasm. at
about half way to the bottom the rock
became so narrow that there was not
space enough for my body to lie upon,
and no place for my fingers or toes TO
hold ON. / was in a fix. TO attempt to de-
scend further would be madness and death.
With the greatest effort managed to turn
on my face to return. In so doing my field
glass got under my breast OH the rock,
making my position dangerous, and it re-
quired all the strength | had to remount
the rock. ] felt exhausted, and stretched
myself in crevice and brcathcd and
preached caution and GOODNESS to myself for
half an hour. Before this the rain began to
fall, the lightning flashed, and the thunder
reverbcrated in the valley below me. 1t
was one of the widest and g'andest scenes
of my life, though / was not in the best
condition for enjoying it, being thoroughly
water-soaked. | reached the valley after D
O'Clock. / was informed by the guides
whom | met in the little hotel at the foot OF
the cliff that was the first traveller that ever
entered the valley by that way alone. l
know that the effort was the greatest physl-
cal eXertion of my life.