Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-26
The Mineral Springs and Deaths VAL
ley of Southern Utah.

A correspondent of the New York
Tribune, who is writing up for that paper
sketches of trip through southern Ne
vada aud southern Utah, gives the an.
nexed account of a remarkable country
|. near the MomoIimbo pass through the
Black Rock range of the mountains of
southern Utah. lau r
While riding slowly there with Nick
and our Indian guide, my attention was
attracted to small valley in the gorge
of the mountains. A light, blueish
looking vapor was seen ascending from
it in little eddying whrlpools and Jets of
mist. This vapor proceeded from q
large number of hot springs. The valley
WAS not particularly inviting, but as the
men and animals were tired, | thought
we would camp in it for the night. The
guide, however, assured me, that it was
certain death to breathe the deadly va
pors. We went into camp elsewhere,
but tn, next morning the whole party
started slowly down the slope toward
the valley, feeling as we'll as smelling our
our way cautiously. The doctor had
provided himself with a couple of Indian
dogs and several live rabbits for the pur-
pose of making experiments. After
serambling down some two hundred
yards, the doctor, who was in advance,
detected an absence of oxygen IN the air
by the Sudden change Of temperature and
the increased difficulty he experienced in
respiration. A nauseous, suffocating
smell was also percept.ble every time the
wind blew toward us. The valley was
about quarter of mile in circumfer-
ence and oval in shape. Not even
blade of grass, or a single sage brush,
or any living thing was to be seen within
it; but ghastly human skeleton perfect
y white. lay besides one of the nearest
springs. Scattered around where the
skeletons of buffalos. deer, and ether
wild animals. The bottom of the valley
appeared 10 be hard, sandy soil, dry
aud cracked, as if by heat, in various
places. Que of the Indian dogs was
fastened to the end of lariat aud lower
ed down, while some of the party, watch.
es in hand, observed tie effect. In four
teen seconds tue dog fell motonless, and
IN three minutes was dead. The other
dog, which now trotted down to his com
panio1, was motionless in twelve seconds,
and lived only five minutes. A rabbit
thrown in died in a minute aud half,
and a second lived only minute and
twenty seconds. Our guide Informed Us
That the existence of the valley had been
known to his tribe for several years.
Two of their braves persisted in it while
endeavoring to corral some antelope, all
OF which die toe Tho springs in the
valley generate such largo volume Of
carbonc acid gas as to completely poison
tie whole surroun!ing atmosphere. We
had no opportunity Of obtaining any Of
the water for subsequent chemical exam.
nation. As the place is entirely out Of
the way Of overland emigration aud is
anything but inviting there is not much
danger that 1t will ever be freqaented by
bands of pioneers or pleasure parties.
We named this canon on our field book
the VALLEY Of the Shadow of Death"
and y lille some Of the men we're erecting
stone pyramid on commanding posi-
ton, we cut from an old pair of saddle
bags a stout piece OF leather, burnt ia tue
warning death Valley, Enter no." and
securely fastened it to the pillar.
Near our camp was a large number of
hot and cold mineral springs. From one
the water was elected from single crew
ice in rock, kissing and foamiug with
powerful effervescense Ike soda water
from fountain. 1t had pleasant sub.
acid flavor, was highly charged with car
bonc acid gas, and, with the addition
of little sugar, made an agreeable and
palatabIe drink. Across the entire val
Iey-some five mies--there was several
hundred of these springs, large and
small, few cold as ice, while others,
not more than four or five feet distant.
were almost at boiling heat, From
one hot spring was continual discharge
of white polished stones about the size of
a duck shot, perfectly round, and present
ing somewhat in appearance the pearls
found in oysters, though rather more
opaque. The quantity of these small
pearly pebbles was very great. They
could be gathered By bushels, and are
well adapted to manufacturing paste jew
elrv, and would also form quite an inter.
esting subject of investigation for the
geologist.
u Two HUNDRED MILE RAcE.-Yester
day large numbers of people visited Bay
View Park, to witness the two hundred
mile race between William Walsh and
Neil Mowry, for stake of $1,000 a
side and championship gold medal pre-
sented by Mr.. Slas SilIeck the proprie-
tor. According to the terms of the
race, each man was to be allowed twenty
horses. with five in reserve. AT an
early hour the contestants presented
themselves and the horses provided for
each were Examined. The riders started
after nine o'clock, and up to the compile
ton of the fortieth mile the chances
seemed about even. At this point,
Walsh, on changing horses, fell, and was
so badly injured as 10 cause delay of
some two minutes. During the early
part of the race, Walsh was decidedly