i= PULLMAN PACIFIC CAR COMPANY, (MONROE tie i | ch Ear ty BR i Vol. 1. Laramie, Wyoming, Tuesday, “TNT EVERY STHEP BE AN ADVANCE.”? June 28, 1870. 9. Ghe Crans-Continental, Published Daily on the Pullman Hotel Express, Between Boston and San Mrancisco. W.R. STEELE, Editor. ke Communications and Hxchanyes for this paper should be addressed, TRANS- CONTINENTAL, 46 State Street, Chicago. Notes from our Log Book. Friday, June 10.—The first Yo-Semite party reached Clark’s, and visited the Mariposa grove of big trees. Oursecond division—a party of thirty-eight per- sons—left San Francisco at 4P. M. in a special car, over the Western Pacific Railroad, for Stockton, and slept at the Yo-Semite Hotel. Saturday, June 1llth.—The first division rode from Clark’s ranch to the 12-mile house, where they found a good dinner awaiting them, after which they pro- ceeded five miles further, to Inspiration Point, where they received their first grand view of the Yo-Semite Valley. From here they descended by a serpen- tine trail, nearly two miles into the bed of the valley, and after riding along the base of the Bridal Veil Fall, in four miles further distance they reached Black’s hotel, where most of their num- ber took lodgings. Four members of the excursion party visited Sentinel Dome and Gracier Point. Meantime, the sec- ond division was crossing the San Joa- quin Plains by four-horse Concord coy- ered wagons; dined at Roberts’ Ferry, at the crossing of the Tuolumne river, and lodged at Snelling’s. Sunday, June 12.—Our first division re- mained quietly in the valley, where, at 5 Pp. M., an excellent service was con- ducted by Rey. E.G. Porter. The second division continued on to Hornitos, dined at Mariposa, visited the Fremont quartz mill, and slept at White & Hatch’s ranch. This evening sharp lightning and heavy thunder com- menced before sundown, and continued, with torrents of rain, throughout the night; an occurrence said to have been unknown before for eighteen years, at this season, in that locality. Monday, June 13.—Nearly all the mem- bers of the first division visited Vernal and Nevada Falls. The thunder-storm in the valley was grand and imposing. The second division leftWhite & Hatch’s by stage. and rode to within four miles of Clark’s, where they mounted horses, and accompanied by nine mounted guides and five pack animals, they reached his ranch in season for trout and venison atnoon. In the afternoon they rested, and in the evening sat around a monster camp-fire until bed- time. Tuesday, June 14th.—A portion of first division left for San Francisco by way of Mariposa, another larger portion by way of Coulterville, and others by way of Big Oak Flat. Fourteen returned by way of Calaveras Big Tree grove, while the balance remained and made excur- sions to Mirror Lake aud various parts of the valley. The second division re- mained at Clark’s whence they made an excursion of four miles and spent the day among the Big Trees of the Mariposa grove, over four hundred in number. They are known among naturalists as the Arbor Vite Sequoia Giganta Washingtonia, and are a species of cedar. Their bark is nearly two feet thick, and the wood ofadeep pink color, Some of the party attended a rodeo and witnessed the lassoing of wild cattle, while others did some good trout fishing in the south fork of the Merced River, Wednesday, June 15.—The last portion of the first division (two members ex- cepted) left the valley for San Francisco by the Coulterville route, and reached the hotel at Bower Cave before dark. The second division rode from Clark’s, and entered the valley at Inspiration Point. The larger portion took lodgings at Hutchings’ Hotel, while some put up at Leidig’s and a few at Black’s. Thursday, June 16th.—Many members of the second division visited the Vernal and Nevada Falls. Others united with the Nickerson-Howes division, and vis- ited the lower Yo-Semite Fall and the Strawberry patches, where berries were found to be fully ripe and in almost fab- ulous quantities. Members of the first division continued on their way to San Francisce by the several routes they had taken, Friday, June 17th—Members of the second division visited Mirror Lake about sunrise, and found the refiection perfect as could be desired. In the af- ternoon, three members of the party, accompanied by a guide, reached a point about four hundred feet ahove the base of the upper Yo-Semite Fall,a feat sel- dom before accomplished. Others vis- ited various places of interest in the valley, while seventeen left for San Francisco, and rested this night at Tam- arack Flat. Saturday, June 18th.—The balance of theseconad division, with all others who had remained behind, (excepting our artist,) left the Yo-Semite Valley soon after sunrise, and rode thirty-two miles on horseback to Pilot Knob, where our carriages were in waiting, and conveyed us eight miles to Bower Cave, by the new road now building into the valley. Many of our ladies expressed regrets at parting with horses which had become favorites with them, and all felt they had accomplished the trip with less fatigue than they had anticipated. While this portion of the party lodged at Bower Cave, the advance slept at Coulterville, and the first Yo-Semite di- vision were safely at San Francisco.