1956

Vol. 35, No. 7 Published by J. M. Hutchings & Co. San Francisco, California

EDITORS NOTE:

The illustrations used this month were copied from Hutchings' California Magazine.

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DIVISION AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, INC.

Wil. Colby, Superintendent D. H. Hubbard, Park Naturalist L. J. Wilson, Assoc. Park Naturalist W. C. Bullard, Asst. Park Naturalist R. W. Carpenter, Park Naturalist (Trainee)

XXXV_ JULY 1956 NO. 7 HE BROUGHT YOSEMITE TO THE WORLD

By Emil F. Ernst, Park Forester A hundred years ago this month, in 1856, there appeared the first issue of Hutchings' California Magazine. Hutchings, originator and managing editor, had a long and adventurous life. These experiences came and went its way but in its short life of five years it left marks of its passing that are being felt today. The engineering genius of its creation and management was James Mason Hutchings. Like many another magazine, up to and including the years of publishing his brain-child, were enough

to last a normal person a lifetime. But these years were only the prelude of things to come.

James M. Hutchings was born in Towcester, Northhamptonshire, England, in February 1820. His higher education was obtained at the Edgbaston Proprietary School, which was then in the suburb of the Midlands city of Birmingham. His later writings show that his education in subjects including the sciences, particularly botany, English literature, and history was good. Perhaps the most important turning point of his life occurred in Birmingham when sometime in 1844 he viewed George Catlin's American Indian Exhibition. Catlin had brought his immense collection of Indian paintings, sketches, artifacts, and two live grizzly bears to England in 1839. Several Ojibway and Iowa Indians joined the exhibition a little later to give it life and authenticity.

Hutchings has said that his "love for adventure was awakened" after viewing Catlin's exhibition.

In May of 1848 Hutchings left England. After several months in New York he proceeded to New Orleans. There in the fall of 1848 he heard the

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II is \' :\I,I.I :I';t :."F :1ZAI. A Iti\V OF.111F 10-11AIi-L FF; VALLEY stupendous news of the discovery of later by more fortunate individuals. gold at Coloma in the newly-conHe had good times and bad - +! quered land of California. The fol- "ups and downs" of the miners. I. lowing spring he was on his way to 1853 there were signs that most the gold fields via the Overland the good deposits of placer gold h, route from St. Joseph on the Missouri. Arriving at Hangtown (now Placerville) in mid-October, after suffering much hardship on the journey across the plains, the Englishman thus became one of the fabulous Forty-Niners and he used "Forty-Nine" as a signature to several of his popular publications which appeared later. The next several years Hutchings devoted to placer mining for gold, generally in the vicinity of Placerville. In his 1855 diary he mentions several times passing over rich deposits of gold that were discovered later by more fortunate individuals. He had good times and bad "ups and downs" of the miners. In 1853 there were signs that most the good deposits of placer gold had been found and removed. The literature indicates that Hutchings was employed in the spring and summer of 1853 on the Placerville Herald, as a "greeter" to the newly arriving immigrants and he may also have been part-time editor. The Herald was a Democratic campaign paper published from April to November 1853, by Frederick A. Bee and W. Wadsworth, names well known in Hangtown and Placerville. His connection with this newspaper brought about the next important turning point in Hutchings' life.

In these rough days in the mining

nn it was the custom that all finding tour which took him through e of business including banks, most of the inhabited and much of States companies, stores, gambling the wild portions of California to no, landangoes and bordellos be the north of Mariposa. This under e open for trade on Sunday. A taking he financed through the sale ply religious man, Hutchings did of lettersheets, and later, engraved approve in the least this desecration of envelopes which he composed, had of the Christian Sabbath day. illustrated and published. Sales were Joined the campaign then under made to bookstores and through exy k, return Sunday to a day of press agents in the various towns. tncreation and devotion as pracToday these lettersheets and enin the more stable communities graved envelopes are sought eagerthe, various homelands of the minly by collectors of Californiana, stuHe wrote a sort of Fourth Corndents of express company history, dn ►ent, "Thou shalt not rememand philatelists. what thy friends do at home on Sometime in the spring of 1856 he Sabbath day lest the rememcos should not compare favorwent to San Francisco where, with with what thou doest- " It came Anthony Rosenfeld, he formed the him that this was not enough so he went on to compose The Miner's Commandment. This he signed "Forty Nine."

The completed Commandments were published in the July 2 issue of the Placerville Journal, in the form of the well-known lettersheet, and 100,000 copies were sold. Hutchings' The Miner's Ten Commandments in this form and this lettersheet is undoubtedly the best known of his publications. Its tremendous success and popularity lead him to give up mining activities in favor of more remunerative and less laborious business of writing and publishing. Although at this time there were several papers and magazines published in California, Hutchings came to the conclusion that nothing did justice to California and Californians. He decided to publish a monthly magazine that would provide more information on the territories of wonder and curiosity of his adopted state. He embarked on a two and one-third year fact-finding tour which took him through most of the inhabited and much of the wild portions of California to the north of Mariposa. This undertaking he financed through the sale of lettersheets and later engraved envelopes which he composed, had illustrated and published.

THE YOSEMITE FALLS, HEIGHT 2,500 FEET

Hutchings had considerable courage entering into the bookstore business at this time in San Francisco. The fact that there were forty bookstores then serving the 40,000 population in the new City by the Golden Gate apparently did not cool off his intense desire to proceed with his project. Settling down finally after his long and costly fact-finding tour of California, Hutchings undertook the publishing of his magazine. The first number was in the hands of subscribers and reviewers by the middle of June 1856. The reviews were good and boded well for the future. The high quality of writing and illustrations that graced the initial number prevailed throughout the five years of Hutchings' ownership and editorship. The text pages were uniformly 48 in number and 6x9 1/2 inches overall in size. Early issues carried additional pages in back devoted exclusively to advertising. These advertisements are as interesting as the reading material. The cover design illustrated on the cover of this issue of Yosemite was engraved by Harrison Eastman. Eastman's cover continued to be used until the magazine was sold in 1861. Hutchings was clever in the selection of illustrations for his publications and the cover design was no exception. He wanted his magazine to be typically Californian. In the upper three-quarters is a scene showing a miner's cabin and four miners digging for gold at the junction of two streams in the mountains. A small illustration at the bottom shows the Golden Gate at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. This is undoubtedly an adaptation of a sketch purchased by Hutchings.

With the publication of this issue of his California Magazine, Hutchings launched himself upon a tourist promotional career of approximately fifty year's duration. This career actually had its beginning with Catlin's exhibition in Birmingham. Catlin proposed in 1833 a "nation's park" to preserve examples of the fast-appearing culture of the American Indians, the Plains tribes in particular. With his magazine Hutchings became a force that helped make the "national park" idea.

During his fact-finding tour Hutchings employed daguerreotypists (photographers) and sketch artists to obtain the pictorial materials needed for his magazine. One of the sketchers was the well-known Thomas A. Ayres. He was developing into an outstanding young artist when he met his death in the sinking of the schooner Laura Bevan near San Pedro in 1858. In late July of 1855, between these two scenes, Hutchings had taken Ayres with him on what is now considered to have been the first tourist party into Yosemite Valley. This trip was a business proposition of Hutchings' to gather material for his magazine. In October 1855, Hutchings published the first Yosemite Valley scene to reach the public. This was a lithograph of Ayres' well sketch of Yosemite Falls. Ayres had made five sketches on the trip into the Yosemite Valley. Normally the advent of a new magazine includes a statement of the objectives of the venture by the publisher. Hutchings did this with an "Introductory" on the first page.

HUTCHINGS' CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE.

No. 1—JULY, 1856—Vol. I, be on the side of virtue, morality, religion and progress.

We shall admit nothing that is partizan' in politics or sectarian in religion; but, claiming the right to please ourselves, we shall accord to the reader the same privilege.

TO THE READER,

Whatever we believe to be for the permanent prosperity of California, we shall fearlessly advocate, in any way that suits us. We have no expectation of pleasing every one; nor that perfection will be written upon every page of its contents, for the simple reason that we are human; but we shall do our best, continually, and those who do not like the magazine are not required to buy it.

It is as it will be our aim to make our monthly visit to your fireside as welcome as a cheerful countenance and social intercourse of some dear old friend, who just drops in a friendly way to spend the evening. We wish to picture California, and California life; to portray its beautiful scenery, curiosities; to speak of its mineral and agricultural products; to tell of its wonders, resources and commercial advantages; to give utterance to the inner life and experience of its people, in their aspirations, hopes, disappointments and successes—the lights and shadows of daily life. Therefore, placing ourselves in the hands of a generous public, we make our bow, and introduce to your kindly notice the first number of HUTCHINGS' CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE.

It will ever be our pride and pleasure to be on the side of virtue, morality, religion and progress.

HUTCHINGS' CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE INTRODUCTORY.

With the "Introductory" out of the way, Hutchings presented on the next page his lead article. This was entitled "The Yo-Ham-I-Te Valley." The first sentence, "There are but few lands that possess more of the beautiful and picturesque than California" shows his enthusiasm and dedication to his adopted state. This article of eight pages and four illustrations was the first of a tremendous number on the Yosemite Valley which Hutchings wrote and published. Its illustrations were engraved from 4 of the 5 sketches that Thomas Ayres had made the previous summer. The first illustration in the article was the well known general view of Yosemite Valley from Old Inspiration Point; the second was entitled "The Yo-Ham-I-Te Falls;" the third entitled "The Twin Domes"—today known as Half Dome and North Dome; and a fourth illustration called "The Indian Lake," today Mirror Lake. Hutchings, apparently from notes he made on his trip, gave an excellent description of scenes that the party saw and admired. The article also included the history of the marvelous valley known up to the time of his visit. Concluding this outstanding article, he made the all too true prophetic statement "Before many years have passed away the Yosemite Valley will become famous as a place resort."

Following the Yo-Ham-I-Te Valley article was one of the few spot-news items to appear in the five years' existence of the magazine. This item was entitled "May 18, 1856 in San Francisco" and gave a resume of the assassination of James P. Casey of James King of William, the fearless editor of the Evening Bulletin.

"THE TWIN DOMES"

"THE INDIAN LAKE: MIRROR LAKE"

Hutchings describes the rebirth of Committee of Vigilance, the execution of Casey and another for murder committed, and the tense situation prevailing in the Bay Region at the time. Several pages later he published the text of the Constitution of the Committee of Vigilance which had been adopted on May 15, and later pages still, an Address of the Committee of Vigilance, June 9.

As an enlisted member of the Committee, Hutchings, in conformity with the policies enunciated in the "Introductory," refrained from making any editorial comment on political angles. He gained his personal views through publication of the clarion call to arms in a clever full-page poem on page 42 entitled "The Vigilance Call." A few lines suffice for showing the spirit of the times:

"The Ballot-box is naught to thee, 'tis wrested from thy power, Thy fathers purchased it with blood, and left it as thy dower, But villains of the darkest dye, the time. Several pages later he have wrested it from thee, ~I+Ilnhed the text of the Constitution And now stand up a freeman, the Committee of Vigilance which or forever bend the knee. '" hl been adopted on May 15, and Included with several more artilater pages still, an Address of Hes were a learned one on The CaliCommittee of Vigilance, June 9, fornio Silk Worm; a tear-jerker on, signed by the Secretary. Al- '1'be Po.ct Office; Do i lntelli,tence; and uh an enlisted member of the a humorous sketch of an Irish school `Irtmittee, Hutchings, in conforrnity entitled A Hedge School. A serial, Nh the policies enunciated in the Arlie,+tures of Dickery Ilickleherry, P ltuductory," refrained from makwas started to encourage desire for (my editorial comment on politifuture numbers. The author is not angles. He gained his personal named but it could well have been lives through publication of the Hutchings. Several poems, of not outstanding quality, graced the availu clarion call to arms was hand able spaces between the larger cleverly by a full page poem on items. The droll humor for which the Ipa 42 entitled Tbr Vigilance Call. English are so well known pervades this, the first, and all the succeeding E4r lines suffice for showing the numbers of Hutchings' California Mar of the times : gaaine.

With the first copy Hutchings started a department, the "Editor's Table, " that appeared regularly each month. In this department he commented on the problems facing his fellow Californians. He copied the name from the kuick erlw, ker, a very successful magazine published in New York. Through this department the editor of Knickerbocker had made his publication popular with men of letters. In it editor Lewis Gaylord Clark encouraged budding wriiers. Although Hutchings used the name, he changed the objectives. Later in the career of the California Magazine Hutchings followed Clark 's methods but gave the department another name, "Our Social Chair." The initial number of Hutchings' California Magazine gave to the world the first widespread illustrated pub licily on the wonders of Yosemite Valley. For his lead article in his first issue he could not have selected a more fitting subject to do justice to California and Californians than the Yo-harn-i-te Valley story. Previous accounts were indefinite in description and buried in newspaper columns. The best of these had been written by Hutchings for the Mariposa Gazette in August 1855. He subsequently published in October 1855 the first sketch of a Yosemite Valley scene. The Gazette had a limited circulation but fortunately his description was reprinted in the San Francisco Chronicle of August 18. Even the Chronicle was limited and newspapers are usually quickly read and as quickly destroyed. The California Magazine must have come into the hands of people interested in California and its development. In later numbers additional illustrated articles on the Yosemite Valley appeared. The scenes illustrated undoubtedly were known to those active in the moves that resulted in the United States laws which Abraham Lincoln approved, to set apart "that Cleft or Gorge known as the Yosemite Valley" to the State of California "...the express condition that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation, shall be inalienable for all time..." It should be noted that Hutchings used the word "resort" in the conclusion to the 1858 article.

The 60 numbers of the California Magazine contain a wealth of contemporary information on California. It is quoted as often as any source of the day. A complete file is preserved in the library of the Yosemite Museum and the value of this file is considered greater than the price which Hutchings reputedly received for his right and title to Hutchings' California Magazine in June 1861, supposedly a suit of clothes.

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He ipalt:sts in fifty.enfv to the lulu and the hod-rock ltrhiug." Ilt' Iitu.I arts that too loathers in straw pillows should non b,. Deer six iii oa long and Inn inch sgnure. He lit—laves in the lop dirt paying,rages, and water un,. oy; and the bottom dire—a fortune. He la :l.lo:rr'e that rhcois in hotels should not he roosidrrrd.loan after five tees-hs' nos win loud washing. Ii, r. :I.trat:s that Uo!d is 'Maid iu Quartz., bat lie would Le :atisliwd to ti :nl it in pints—or 'von h:lf. pints. IIt. nrtlt y es iu :wing I.. lt,l to -lwop. and not t.ohasell,'pi mum leo, n., area tot r, Iii,i.,, that all ovor;t qu.lrtor of an inch m length sh pld be caught i.e the—landlady. He In.Lleri:. these is plenty of gold here, lint proem. little Ilk to his share—Fntuehuw; col. Ili: nraaeyN that it hint pay to s.'ll out I-srrythin0luenuue to Unli(urnlan e and thou go bottle Witlloilt the 'l imn." He: cop cotta that hattor sent I, the mines should Dot he nsool as a nn•tir.' pow-or--although strong enough for :mottling. He rriuhven that labor i, not the only capital now requirvl for a goon :Mint. He urt,t :yzs in ''tun' nod time coming,' hot think :, it must ha e • started Mr teh mountains on it prospecting trip. wldgot lost iu,,.amt';torso. Ili : Ina.teyeu that if old testis ' pint: land any rt',rd for oar prnspority. he would tuts tho jntumilo hy the our and the :Animinh hum—" tly can, if v r.. Domin o wily don't you rouse along., " ale mJaecea that hard work. hard Ilrosln_rls. laud bed: and hard living will harden him into prrlmdure aid age. Still lie ur:I.u:yes ahoy :dl that dirge or for dollars :r day is better than sitBits. He uetaecrs that hash set upon the table helm, a day Ihr two weeks;. alter that should bo tousidorrl pickles. Ihr. ne1.IF:yts that "1°'' pocting' mat hash. paid other., but it never did hint. He.tllc ts that a good Sunday dinner is not hard to make. after a stook's work and tasting oil slapjacks and um lasses. He utalerta in !lope, but thinks be. I've lived on that long enough, and would now like,northing a little more nlhslanli :l. He:;mots its it nmbml6rtable to hod Ilal.b.lckod lice stook in Inds, alter imiug olmrgc.l for his lodgings. He ma.tevE, that etcry man separated. so long from ails trolls..r friends. and the comforts and pleasures of;r good home. tenons' : to I well paid, al'lor striving hard for it, if ho isn't. He nvl ll,Es—,r rather thinks—that tin,;!• who W,or the h,irdost. are IIDt always the lost pail --:d h ad1 that, his raper 16 ntl.Il:vr:s llIs big vegetables, h,•lallse he seas them; but wuudora if 'bore is :my other kind of fruit than dried apples, dried apples scalded, and dried apples with the strings in. He um.u:vt> that evsty man who plays at cards,when he should 6.' at work, would loon: rthor foolish and asliaim d if his friends could just drop iu arid see him. He Iw:l.uart:s that nitre In-rsous shaping in o inpn only hveloe loot by ten, should nat. allow the landlord Li, dmibho Ili.' lnmher—at the amr charge. He nm. ua r : that hill diggings will last for ages, and quartz diggings forr'er; and that all tIm waders of every mountain stream yet bpi niprired for mining purposes. He : uq.leves thin blankets used oror throe year, Without tyuling or airing. arc mali g ned to •' walk on"' nn their own ul,a nd '' for parts unknown;.. :pupil Ihatnusaddlehorso :md lusau should ie kept in roadinss for their co-rapture. He Del. It:yts that his cabin looks rather Innrly at eight; soil fu'thor, !hat it would not, if sonic our that he knows lirod within it. He nt:l.ll;y1:5 that ohm to be a titan',' who f oolishly aqua does his hard varuiugs late, and allows his wife and

children In be starving at home. He a.u:re< that change of cooks in bnlols,hunfl not ulw'uys be known lo the diltl'rout cola roil hairs in his pudding. He i a;. lli,t no aL!r_bo.lied also need want ill I'alifornot if Ia, in willing to want. therefore. He Irnl.Ievis iI bolter not to wait lire" minithiug to turn u p." hut. ill goiu : to work al ono, soon toning.marei thing up. He nelson vs that where He is. them. his httniiv should be— alai lino o e Imam for min lit :n!Iv has less.epos, and nomousuraldy moo.,Inl„rt than two tail liar, He nru.tr:cps. tau. that with genl.ho hands to aid hint, geni tar wind : lo,.,r knit :DM g •alts smile; In welcome lair,, he isnild enjoy lilt as it pa,, and work hard willingly until Itrllure should or,, n i his labors with moo's= — for He air:l.lt:tea ttl'at l':li f,raia, with all its social,lruw'-Ilacic+, is not only a eat country." but tlr.lt it is in every sous,. the best Ida., in Ihu world for iu working maul,.Did only wails the,:pining of a gaud, sensible, iutdti- „enh and unheated rlaaa of noble-minded women to make ''the desert to bl.0 suul va the rose," and man to 6ecunre null, r ritcptod and happy. St) mute it In'. l im es-A ine