The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-13
MORE OF 0REGON'S WONDERS
THE DISCOTERY or THE CRATER or
AN EXTINCT TOLCINO


JORDAN VALLEY, April 27.-Ncar here, in
Baker county. there exists an extinct cratcr,
which has been noble and terrible agent of
Nature. This crater is situated twenty miles
north Of the stage road running from Boise
city. Idaho. To- WinnDmucca, Nevada.
Securing the services Of Mr.. Samuel Martin.
II fine gentleman and competent guide The Is
subscriber to THE SUN on the 2jth Of this
month. we went out to visit and take scientific
notes. At % o'clock we ronchcd the rim OF the
crater. and looked down into its dizzy abyss.
The length Of the orator Is 5000 feet, and II
will safely reach 1000 feet in width. The depth
Of the present cavity is estimated at |. 300 feet.
The entire crater is burned out. but the ashes
and cindcrs have accumulated on the west side
for 300 feet above the rim. and still remain. On
the bottom. huge bouldcrs are lying over the
lava crust
A little vegetation grows on the west side. The
formation Of the sides shows u wall OF granite
and n stratum OF wash gravel under it. Tho
circumference Of the crater ut the present is one
mile. The elevation at the basc l. about 5000
feet above the sea level. Close estimation gives
the fact of the former height Of the crater ut
10000 feet. Seventy yards north Is deep hole
$50 feet long 60 feet wide. and 30 feet deep
This hole has been blown clean out. II YOU
~ INTO II by accident YOU cannot got out. un-
lr-s hy ropes. us the walls arc prrprndlr ocular.
Thirty Yard "a.t NJ this II another hole, about
tir sam" i'll proportions and appearance; On
/ tho northwest side II chimney hns been built ont
ol Ne ava slabs which Is fifteen feet high AND
"-hi feet Ut thr baec. My theory is that II
was built for the rurposr of n landmark. and
perhaps 10y Soma tribe pf Indians now extinct
a. place Of burial. The last eruption must
have taken place at least 300 yours ago.
From good authority find that only folr
mon have entered the crater before us.
Mr. Martin has lived where he dqrs now
! Tor seven years. and il u trustworthy man.
! I'm arm u ava rock extends back INTO the MI
west. but had no time 10 examine H. The vast
amount If lava proves that ihr Volcano was ono
! OF gigantic Proportions. The Held covers AN
| urcu ~ twenty-five miles IN length. and ranges
! FROM half milo to ten miles IN width. Its
/ thickness ranges from eight Ia one hundred
| feet. It. is ircttcd and curicd. sunken and ole
Ndl"i la the lava. about u mil' and 4
| hali from the crater. Il another small
crater. nni around II On all sides are slides
! which appear H. though old Clovcn Foot had
! been using It for the purpose OF dumping the
/ lava. Other places resemble a race track
! some Of the seams are from siN inches to five
/ i'ot in width. caused 10y the lava cooling. no
douii. There u no veg iation ON the lava. OK
c"ii mere and I'll Pc "A little bush struggling for
| existence. volcanic scent pernoales tho en-
! tire region and It L. a scene OF dcsolaton
Ih"r" l. no running water nearer than four
! miles from the crater hut there arr several hue
/ lakes iu the vicinity. one ol them IL called Cow
| trocE Lake. and j. two miles wide 10y three and
! % half n lcneih. IT. average drpI Is about ten
feet. In some places 1t IT, thirty feet. Fine fish
! abound ia 10. und the hills around the lake AFRO
! cv'.n in outline. Cow Creek Canon Is about SIX
| miles long, hut very de'p and rocky In some
! places II r. One lunrirr ui % mile wi AMI the
! walls tower upward for several hundred feet.
Ia "a narrow gorge examined some human,
/ lun"- that have turned a. fossil and urr now
/ -rmewh,u darayed. The skull has disappeared
! -l cannot tell whether they belonged L. white
/ ruu. or un Indian This whole country Is Wild.
/ iuil uf now curlo~itics. hut an excellent stock
+ range. Tho settlements nro very scattering.
| and iu ia't hU' lttl' l- at the present known OF
! n. ! am positive thai this crater and this vast
, i"li ni d.so|aii"n haIe n"v'r been presented to
/ the world Leioro. lr0IGEoRGE +. HOLLIS.