The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-24
THE PHANTOM OF THE DESERT.

THE PHANTOM OF THE DESERT.
oThe Mysterious Phenomenon Which is tt
be Seen In the American Sahara Of
Colorado = Curious Ancient Legend.
Cincinnati Enquirer.l
The fact is authenticated by many
travellers that In the heart of the Colo.
RADIO Desert, hundreds Of miles from the
sea coast, the apparition Of vessel
under full sail Is often seen In the
distance, apparently In mid-air. mat
this is not an actual ship upon real
water, nor even the reflection OF one In
the atmosphere, is attested by the fact
that it Ia not seen at such q great
distance inland, and also because 1t is as
often observed when the travellers face
is turned toward the middle Of the con-
tinent as when he looks toward the
western shore. The singular spectacle
is attributed to the mirage, which we all
know is produced by unequal refraction
OF light from some object upon the dry
atmosphere, but nobody has been able
thus far to assign a real cause for the
phenomena or name the craft from
which the mirage Is produced. In
truth, we must accept 1t as q veritable
phantom, since it comes like shadow
and goes like mist.
A great many years ago-more than /
care to compute-the land and water
Of this particular portion of the globe
were far differently disposed than the
geography Of the present day indi-
Gates. The Gulf Of California. which
meets It's most northerly confines some
distance below the border of the
United States, then extended, an I'M
broken waste of waters, over all the
present
COLORADO DEsER1O
Our savants say that, by some mys-
FERROUS action Of nature, the waters
were driven out or dissipated from the
upper portion Of this estuary, and, mid
way in its length. o barrier was raised
which proclaimed thenceforward to old
ocean, "Thus far shalt thou come and
no further" We are told that the
broad stretch of sand and alkali which
is sometimes called the Sahara of the
American continent, was then exposed
for the first time to the light OF the sun
and the seal Of barrenness set upon 1t.
Some, who draw their conclusions from
geological research, hold that the bar
Tier of land which divided the gulf was
the upheaval of an earthquake. and
that q vast inland sea was thus created
without tributary or outlet; that the
waters Of this sea, subjected for long
p5IlUu w GL5 dctlOA vi duL atmosphere
and fervid sun, were dissipated In
vapor or gathered to the clouds.
Thus did nature not only employ the
violence Of storm, but also the more
tedious warfare Of siege to wrest from
the great deep portion of its domain.
AS proof Of this theory our geologists
point to the ever-shifting sands of the
desert, which bear the unmistakable
marks OF former water bed, and to
the fact that a large portion Of this ter
ritory is known to be below the level Of
vagaries Of scientific people | do not
care to speculate; but I have a theory
Of my own, founded upon q well-remem-
bered legend, which offers most lucid
and satisfactory explanation OF
THE PHENOMENON.
In that long forgotten past of which
history Is dumb and tradition gives but
q vagrant hint, we know that the shores
of this Upper Gulf Of California bloom
ed In semi-tropical beauty, and the land
was inhabited by gentle race of people
known as the Aztecs. Here they titled
the soil, mined the treasure. built their
cities and villages, reared their temples,
worshiped their divinities and prac-
ticed the arts Of peace. On the out
skirts Of settlement not far from the
pie of Tescuco.
It CHANGED one day that traveller,
clad in strange clothing and the gear Of
war, bearded Of face and with the &C.
cent OF an unknown language upon his
lips, stopped at the gate of the temple.
The stranger seemed to be in distress.
and, casting himself at the feet Of the
priest, he betokened by signs that he
was in need Of food and drink. This the
good priest would have supplied, but
when he beckoned the stranger to arise
that he had tainted, so great was his
fatigue from travel and deprivation.
Conveying the supplianto to q pallet
close at hand, the priest ministered to
him In such q manner as his great ne
cessity required, giving him sparinglY
at first of food and potions Of the in
MIGRATING liquor Of the aloe. Long
weeks the stranger lay upon his bed in
a helpless state, prosecuted by disease,
but the unremitting care of the priest
soon restored him to his natural vigor
When at last the man found himself
able to pursue his way, he supplied
himself with provisions from the good
priests store and took his departure
with many demonstration Of gratitude.
How sincere these sentiments were may
be determined before the conclusion Of
this narrative.
Now, the stranger was one Of crew
OF adventurers who had sailed from the
shores OF Spain and Portugal,
BENT UPON CONQUEST.
During an expedition inland this man
had strayed from his companions, and
when near perishing from fatigue and
want had been delivered by the hand OF
the good priest. During his conva-
IL Lnl f,n 4,
rich ornaments of the Temple OF Tus-
cuco with the greed Of avarice. and no
sooner had he sought out and found his
shipmates on the lower peninsula than
he told them Of his adventures and
described in glowing terms the wealth
in golden ornaments Of the place
where he had found shelter. They
bid him lead them thither, and
prompted by his love Of gain, he lent
them a willing service. One night, the
ship sailing up the Gulf, dropped
anchor noiselessly within easy distance