The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-06-22

place, known as Casa Diablo Canon. y
50 called from wonderful spirit there
IS there. This is the same canon where
the fight with the convicts took place,
in which r. J. Morrison was Killed.
Five years ago, Mr. Bircham states,
this spring was only about a ward
across. Last fall, when he last saw it,
II had got to be scventv-five wards in
diameter, and Of unknown depth. It's
waters are but little more than alum,
sulphur and saltpetre in solution, guam
titles Of each of these being found crvs-
talized on its bank and in the vicinity.
This water IS scalding hot-hotter.
1t is said, than pure water can
be made. This spring has al
ways been noted for its violent and
frequent ebullitions, accompanied with
an awe-inspiring sound, whence the
name of the canon near the mouth of
which 1t IS s1tuated-"t the Devils
House." At the time of Mr. Bircham's
visit last fall, these ebullitiOns would
occur once or twice every minute, keep
ing up almost q continuous roar, and
each time raising tons of water num-
Der of feet, though none above the
surface OF the surrounding ground.
There IS another of these springs in
the bottom of the river near by. of
such volume as to raise the tempera-
ture of the water so that animals will
not drink it for miles below. The riv.
crat that point is nearly a rod wide and
four feet IN depth. The water in the
river is as cold as ice before reaching
this thermal spring.
Near Casa Diablo is a most remarka-
bic hill, or point of hill, some twenty
feet wide and hundred yards or so in
length. Immediately under the crust,
which is about two inches in thickness
and of a grayish hue, the whole hill, as
far down rs has been prospected, Is a
mass Of hot mud-boiling hot-Of all
the different colors of the rainbow.
This mud IS about the consistency of
50 much putty.
Owing, probably, to the thermal con-
dition of the ground, the timber, for
distance of ID miles along or north OF
Long Valley, is all dead or dying. As
proof OF new and changed condition
Of the earth III that locality, Mr.. Birch
am says that eight years ago there was
Just one spot of about hundred acres
on which the timber was dead, all the
rest now dead being then green and
tlourlshlng. Many of these trees are of
Il ccntrg's growth, or more; others
mere saphngs He has not visited this
locality since the big earthquake, but
thinks some wonderful changes were
effected then, or by some of the subse-
quent shocks, one or two of which
were more violent in Round Val
ley, twenty miles south of Casa
Diablo, than that of March Goth,
which handled this section so roughly.
That shake was of little moment there
compared to what it was here, fifty
miles south. Since the first there has
not been here or at Lone Pine any
heavy shakes ut all, yet in Round Val
ley there have been some of great vio-
lence, n notable one on the 14th of
April, we believe, which finished the
destruction of several stone buildings
This shake, like many others since, was
entirely local. Bishop Greek, but ten
mile distant, beng but slightly affect
ed. On one occasion the underground
force ran through for some distance IN
a narrow streak about fifty yards in
width, finally dividing, one part going
the surface of the ground was visiblv
affected, while that on either side and
IN the forks > remained comparatively
unmoyed. This Is a singular state
ment, but we are assured that it is true
Accompanying the aforementioned
quake was an Undesirable, yet tangi-
BILE rush of air or an electric current,
winch shot across the country with a
clearly defined course, like blowing it
INTO rows, producing very noticeable
effects rs it proceeded As before
stated, the severest shocks IN Round
Valley we've scarcely perceptible on
Bishop Greek, and rice UerSa, and in
some instances were violent enough to
throw milk out of pans In one house, It
would not be noticed Mt others a mile
and half away
During the "big shake. water burst
up under house In Georges Creek in
volume nearly sufficient to have
Hooded out the inhabitants, if they had
waited Il minute for an additional notice
to vacate. Not far distant was found a
closed crack IN the earth, from which
protruded a horses foot-evidence
enough as TO the whereabouts of the
rest OF him.
Near Fish Spring COW or an OK lay
dead directly across the ploughed-up
ground, without a hair displaced. An
other was swallowed up, leaving ont his
tau rs a card indicating where he was
to be found-lost, gone in commune
", but not strayed.
One of these assures extended into
the foot halls back of the arastras Di-
rectly in its course was a large boulder,
which was smoothly split open, and the
halves now lie on opposite sides OF the
fissure.
AN absent-minded professor in going