West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-03-09
PHANTOM OF The DESERT.


The fact is authenticated by many
travellers in the heart of the Colorado
Desert, hundreds of miles from the sea-
coast, the apparition of a vessel under
full sail is often seen in the distance. ap-
parently in mid-air. That this is not an
actual ship upon real water, nor even
the reflectionsof one in the atmosphere
rs attested by the fact that it is not seen
at such great distance inland, and also
because ii is not as often observed when
the travellers face is turned toward the
middle of the continent 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 as
sign a real cause for the phenomena or
name of the craft from which the mir
age is produced. In truth, we must ac-
cept it as a veritable phantom, since it
comes like shadow and goes like amist.
A great many years ago-more than
care TO compute-the land and water of
this particular part of the globe were
far differently disposed than the geogra-
ply of the present day indicates. The
Gulf of California, which meets its
most northerly confines some distance
below the border of the United States,
then extended, an unbroken waste of
waters, over all the present Colorado
Desert. Our savants say that, by some
mysterious action of nature, the waters
were driven out or disspated from the
upper portion of this estuary, and, mid
way in its length, a barrier was raised
which proclaimed thenceforward to old
ocean, "Thus far shalt thou come and
no farther" We are told that the broad
stretch of sand alkili which is some
times called the Sahara of the American
continent was then exposed for the first
time to the light of the sun, and the
seal of harrenness set upon it. Some,
who draw their conclusions from geo
logical research, hold that the barrier of
land which divided the gulf was the up
heaval of an earthquake, and that a
vast inland sea was thus created without
tributary or outlet; that the waters
of this sea, subjected for a long period
TO the action of dry atmosphere and a
fervid sun, were dissipated in vapor or
gathered to the clouds.
Thus did nature not only employ the
violence of storm, but al.o the more
tedious warfare of siege to wrest from
the great deep portion of its domain.
AS q proof of this the theory of our
geologist points to the ever-shifting
sands of the desert, which bear the un-
mistakable marks of former water-bed.
and TO the fact that large portion of
this territory is known TO be below the
level of the sea. With the diverse and
contrary vagaries of scientific people I
do not care to speculate; but have a
theory OF my own, founded upon we'll
remembered legend, which offers most
lucid and satisfactory explanation of the
phenomena.
In that long-forgotten past of which
history is dumb and tradition gives but
a vagrant hint, we know that the shores
of this Upper Gulf of California
bloomed in semi-tropical beauty, and the
land was inhabited by n 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
practiced the arts of peace. 0n the
outskirts of a settlement not far from
the shores OF the Gulf there stood the
Temple of Tescuco. II was built with q
dome Of cerulean blue, studded with
stars of gold, in imitation Of the sky
II was dedicated TO the Omnipotcnt and
invincible God and over it's portal wa,
inscribed in cabalistic figures the senti
ment, Let us apire to that Heaven
where all as is eternal and where corrup
ton never comes" In this temple no sac
rifces we're offered save only those OF
sweet-scented flowers and gums. Its al
tar fires, kindled from the light winds ol
Heaven, were never permitted TO expire
but remained always as emblematicai
Of the mysterious and never-dying Deity
whom this simple peOple revered The vir
gin soil of the mine was beaten into mum
berless ornaments which hung upon In,
temple walls. Fine woven tapestry
dyed in the rich hue of the cochinea
and adorned with gorgeous plumape o.
humming birds, covered the fittings o
the interior apartments. Implements O
bronze and lacquered wood, and eartheI
vessels, used to contain the liquor of Tn,
aloe, we're scattered in profusion abou
the alcoves and inches provided 70
them.
priest Of venerable mieu preside,
over the worship and taught the peOpl
such maxims as were calculated d
make them industrious and contented
lie dwelt alone i'm the temple, and hi
own hand supplied the fuel 10 the never
failing altar fires. To him the ric