The Weekly Visitor

Dear Friend—Thinking you might like to hear from us I write you this letter After a pleasant visit with our children, at Yankton, we left there Monday, May 30th. On our way, by stage 65 miles, we encountered a terrific storm of rain, wind and thunder, when near the great Sioux Bridge: it became so violent that the driver was obliged to stop his team: we arrived at Sioux City that night. The next day we got as far as Omaha and remained over night, and the next day, at 12 o'clock, started in a Pullman car for San Francisco. We had a whole section, which gave us much room and comfort. On our way we saw large numbers of the Indians, who came about the cars at most of the stations to beg. none but the squaws and children beg, only one instance of a man asking alms: this was one painted highly and bearing a good rifle. There are large numbers of soldiers (cavalry) stationed along the road. Great numbers of the squaws paint their faces, and many of them have a papoose on their backs

When we arrived at the Shuman House which is the highest elevation between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it being 8242 feet above the level of the sea, there was snow upon the ground: many of the passengers indulged in snow-balling, and others were eating the white flakes. Snow was to be seen upon the top of the mountains until we got to Ogden. When we were to enter the Weber Canon some newspaper men and Doct. Henry who had much to do in building the road, got an open prospect car put on the rear of the train, and gave us an invitation to ride with them, which we accepted We could see "in all directions, and the scenery was much finer than I had expected. The Governor of Wyoming Territory came aboard the cars to visit the Shoshone Indians. "Wash A Kie" is their chief The Governor had authority from Washington to treat with these Indians, and to report in person at Washington. Many of the Indians came aboard the cars to ride they are permitted to ride where and when they please without charge

After we left Ogden we came in sight of Salt Lake The scenery is delightful on the Central Pacific Railroad, although some forty miles is obscured by snow sheds. The view is fine at the summit, 7042 feet above the level of the sea. We arrived at San Francisco about 6½ o'clock P. M. June 5th, and took up our quarters at the Grand Hotel, a house recently opened, where many of the Boston delegation are stopping. We have visited Woodward's City Garden, and went out eight miles to the Cliff House. We saw the Golden Gate and large numbers of seal; I counted twenty-one on one ledge: they are large, some of them weighing 2000 pounds.

Wednesday, June 8th, a party of us, Mr. Foster Stafford and son, Mr. Mathewson and wife, Mr. Easton and wife, Miss Sarah Stafford, Miss Mary Stafford and ourselves, started on a trip down the coast. We took the cars to San Mateo, twenty miles, then by stage thirty miles, to Pescadero, over the sea coast mountains. This place is small, I call it "Appi-dorum," for it had three taverns. It would frighten many in coming over these roads The next day we took private teams for Pebble Beach, Shell Beach and Pigeon Point We saw two whales which were towed in here to make into oil on shore: they would make about sixty barrels each. The men were waiting for flood tide to bring one in. We went down further to Moss Beach, then we came over the mountains to the railroad, and went thirty miles, to San Jose, where we took carriages to the Almaden Quicksilver Mines, a distance of fifteen miles. We went up the mountains to a great height. The miners have made a tunnel of one thousand feet into the side, near the top, and there the engine is placed to draw up the ore, five hundred feet perpendicular We next visited the smelting works, which was a place of much interest to me.

Saturday evening, after an absence of four days, we returned to San Francisco. Sunday we attended church at Rev. A. L. Stone's, visited three Chinese Sabbath Schools, and one Sabbath School at the First Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Cox. Wednesday we are to visit the Geyser, or Hot Springs, and next week we expect to start for the "big trees" and the Yo Semite Valley.

Yours truly, J. W.