New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-16
Ill.
SOUTHEASTERN NEVADA AND SOUTHERN UTAH

SALT LAKE CITY, u. T., Sept l2.-As we ap-
preached outlying foot hills of the eastern range OF
the Black Rock Mountains. that terra incogna to all
porers and voyageurs they in vast ntermn
able chain OF black nhosptable cones and ridges with
numerous snow clad peaks capped with white feecy
clouds. This range parallel to and about midway
between the Rocky and Sierra Nevada chains They are
OF greater altitude than the former and present more
formidable obstacles to than any other range
on the continent. large number OF small streams
flow from them into the Colorado. Vast 1t is, how
ever this range constitutes but a small portion of
the mountain system lying between the Rocky
Mountains the and the coast range OF the Pacific
We have nothing to compare with this complex map OF
high ridges elevated peaks and extensive plateaus ON the
Atlantic slope The temperature always depressed OH
the ridges west OF Salt Lake. tho mercury seldom ever
ascending higher than 500 Fahrenheit while for six months
the north winds often bring violent and furious snow
storms and intense cold AS far the eye could reach
heavy OF huge powders OF black basa and dark
frownng limestone lodges thrown together in enor
nous mounds and ridges by terrible upheaval
OF nature. The dismal woe.begone appearance OF the
landscape only relieved by the deep blue OF the
clear sky overhead the gsening the peaks
and the slvery threads OF innumerable little streams
which freted their way down the mountain sides and
tumbed in miniature cataracs and cascades into the river
below. Eyerythingthe rocks, plants. spires OF grass.
and the dwarfed pines and sage bushes stained
with dusy hue Even the little desert patches OF sand
along the borders OF the rivers black gunpow
der to have completely upset all our old
artistic notions about mountain landscape cOOring when
moding these rocky barriers A more forbiddng and
Disseminating wilderness OF black basat and granite
not well imagined. and the given TO this range
by the old hunters OF the American Fur Company well
as its general appearance certainly very suggestive
OF the abode OF the evil one. few screeching owls
some spous Of volcanic fire and OF kissing ser
penis all that wanting to complete such pic
ture a Dore alone could paint
We made but little progress the first day. and went
into camp for tho night Just lit our fires bang
went Nicks rifle not than ten yards from Did
you see that ar wolf stealen IN among them mules,
responded tho hafbreed to my inquiry. and gt gltten
ready TO make IA spring" "No but don't fire 80 close
again" al let fly Capn gst In time TO Bessy thar
continued Nick, pointing. he spoke. 70 OF ia
voritc mules Must DC a cussed hungry whelp to
skulking inter camp in that way. Capn. you'll have
TO corral the animals with half dozen fires around EN-
tonight and double guard II you want TO keep these
varmints away" know It's black wolf before Hook
interrupted the doctor "why so asked the Governor.
Because where everything black these Internal
mountains are there can't be anything white" Yer
Int IL adzacty DOCTOR, replied Nick. there amt any
white or gray wolves this range. Every ono on
em gst black as that bobtailed mare OF yourn.
So IL the wild cats Is the rabbits, and SO - the black
bars" "Did you ever see white wof Nick I" asked.
Lots or en- III washington lcfltOrJ, NHbI tue SHOW
lays on the mountains all the year round Z" Are the
rabbits white :" Rabbits squirrels, and most OF the
game up thar are all white Whareyer you go farther
North" continued Nick. "away inter British Coumby,
whar the is all the time, thar you'll find whar most
of the white furs from. III the amt almost
white they got but cussed little black gray spots about
EN- No one everJ heered OF shooting trapen white
wolf or a white bar down here on this range"
When Nick had finished he skinned tho wolf and pre-.
al tha ny IN fhe al m le
back and shoulders ola deep black color, but
what lighter on the sides and belly The and tail
were shorter than those OF the common wolf. These
black wolves larger than the gray, and
exceedingly savage and ferocious Large numbers
proving around the fret week the range.
We made a forced march on Nov. 20 TO reach Momom.
bos Pass before shutdown. This pass derives Its name
from the head chief OF the Moqu tribe of Indians who
discovered IL about fifteen years ago while trading
expedition Lower salt Lake Valley. 1t is the nearest
cut of from the lower tier OF counties In California TO the
principal city of the Day Saints. The distance
tween these two points is several hundred miles less
through this pass than by the central route from
mento California, TO Virginia City and TO Salt Lake City
1t is doubtful however any very great saving of time
could be made by preerrng TO the latter BY carefu
measurement found Momolimbos Pass TO have
altitude onear 5000 feet above the base the lowest
valley had crossed. 1t Is more OF rockbound ridge
pass and unlike those In either the Wasatcb the
Rocky, or the Nevada Mountains the approaches to IL
uterlaced In every direction by perfect network OF
deep chasms. The mountains formed OF q compact
dark gray limestone without fossils ntersected with large
veins OF calcspar Some OF the bluffs formed by
congomerated granite rock The thermometer on the
lowest point OF the pass indicated 35o.
VALLEY OF DEATH
While riding slowly ahead with Nick and our Indian
guide my attention attracted 10 small valley In the
gorge OF the mountains light, BLUSH looking vapor
and Jets of mist This vapor proceeded from largo
number OF hot springs. The valley not particularly
inviting, but the and animals tired thought
would camp in 1t for the night The guide, however
assured that certain death TO breathe the dead
ly vapors. We went into camp elsewhere but the
morning the whole party started slowly down the slope
toward the valley, feeling well smelling our way
cautiously The doctor had provided himself with q
couple of Indian dogs and several live rabbits for the
purpose OF making experiments. After scrambling down
an absence of oxygen the air by the sudden change OF
temperature and the increased difficulty he experienced
perceptble every time the wind blew toward us The
valley was about quarter OF a mile In circumference
sage bush any living thing was to be seen within
but CHASTITY human skeleton perfectly white lay beside
OF the nearest springs Scattered around the
skeletons Of 5ualocs deer, aud other wild animals The
bottom Of the valley appeared to be hard sandy soil
the Indian dogs was fastened to the end OF larat and
lowered down, while some OF the party watches In hand
observed the elect In fourteen seconds the dog fell
down mOtonless. and In three minutes dead. The
other dog, which now trotted down to his companion
mOllOnless in twelve seconds, aud lived only five
minutes. rabbit thrown In died In minute and 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 persLed In IL while endeayoring to corral
some antelope all OF which died too The springs IN the
valley generate such large volume OF carbonIc acid gas
as 10 completely poison the whole surrounding atmos-
water for subsequent chemical examination. AS the
place entirely out OF the way OF overland emigration
and is anything but inviting there Is not much danger
that IL VIII ever be frequented by bands OF pioneers or
pleasure parties We named this canon on our field book
the Valley Of the Shadow OF DEATH" and while some Of
the men were erecting stone pyramid on commanding
position, we cut from an old pair OF saddle bags stout
piece OF leather. burnt In the warning, death Valley,
Enter Not and securely fastened 1t To the pillar
The cold weather. which by this time had fairly set In,
forced US TO make rapid marches through the dees TO