Preview
Circa Date
circa 1887
Transcription
55
Earthquake continued from pg [page] 44
P844
A third severe shock occurred a few moments after sunrise in the movements of which there was less of an angular shattering kind fewer flashing lateral thrusts & vertical upjoltings. [but] It was chiefly made up of a few vigorous horizontal thrusts followed by smooth undulations & quiverings [such as may be seen in soft jellies]
The leafless (light-sprayed) Kellogg oaks whipped & shuddered as if struck near the ground by a battering ram, frightening birds that chanced to be on them at the time.
The massive pines laden with heavy tassels responded to the shocks less promptly as if in groping bewildered surprise & anxious in a deprecating way to discourage the disturbance.
Yosemite River Pools in Autumn
The traveler who has witnessed the grand display of waterfalls & river floods in Yo Val. [Yosemite Valley] during the springtime when the snow on the mountains is melting can not readily
56
conceive the hush sleep of these same Yosemite waters in the tranquil days of Indian Summer
The river then forms a series of pools united by trickling whispering currents that steal softly over smooth brown peebles [pebbles] with scarce an audible murmur. The several pools have each a character of their own. Their extreme beauty would hardly be guessed, because though almost currentless they are yet bright & cool & pure on account of the coolness of the nights & the shading trees on their banks
Their shores curve in & out in bay & promontary [promontory] giving the appearance of lakes
The banks are overhung with wild rose & azalea & sedge & grass, & above these in beautiful combinations & in [all their] the glory of autumn colors are willows & alders dogwood & balm of Gilead, a full blaze of mellow sunshine above, cool shadows beneath, with only flecks of sunlight on the bottom. The strained light filtering through painted leaves like colored windows produces a dreamy enchanting atmosphere like that of some old cathedral. The banks of moss & liverwort & tinted ferns that overlean the placid water are reflected with charming
Date Occurred
1871-1874
Resource Identifier
MuirReel31 Notebook11 Img031.jpg
Contributing Institution
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
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