The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-11-11

upon it, and it is emphasized by the
swift declivity of the inclosing noun
tains. Drear and desolate it stretches
its full length along in frame of
painted mountains which define in
strong and mighty lines its aspects
of terror. Piled in vast confusion
they crowd its borders in shapes of
fantasy, not ranged in steady form
and phalanx, but tossed in chaotic
masses, as if for ages they had been
the sport of earthquake and convul-
sion. These mountains glow with
volcanic blooms, shining wildly
through an almost telescope air, and,
with the white fields of the valley,
present marvellous groups Of colors.
Nothing can exceed this dash of
vigorous coloring laid upon the land
scape with Natures consummate
skill. These painted mountains are
the most striking and interesting
features of the view. The eye never
wearies With gazing on them, though
it may tire with the dead levels and
sheen of the valley, that stretches on
and on to the south, where it lifts
into sloping uplands, pulled into bill
lows of dry and dead soil, and to the
north, where it is halted by bulk of
hills.
Descending from the summit, we
rode for miles between the precipi-
tous walls of cannon just wide
enough for the trail, floored by mas
sive bouiders that had been shaken
from the surrounding heights. These
cannon walls are formed in granite,
lime, slate and porphyry, stratified
and massed in many interesting and
curious shapes. Though leaving
the summit at p. M. and riding
steadily down descending trails, night
settled upon us before we escaped
from the cannon and reached the
borders of the valley BY the bril-
liant moonlight we were enabled
to trace The trail along the rocky
washes as we rode on into the night.
At last, worn and weary with hours
of riding, we reached the center of
the valley known as the big Hole, y
the point OF greatest depression,
where we were cordially received by
the proprietors of the Eagle Borax
Mine and kindly rendered the hospi-
Utilities of their scamp"
Strange sensations were those
| which flooded the mind as on that
summer night, under the clear hea-
vens, we lay upon the historic ground
while the dark mountains cast great
shadows under the moon, and the
long, white plains stretched, ghost
like, before US. Though safe, and
beyond the possibility of danger, one
can not shake off the presence OF
dread which seems to breathe in the
very air and take shapes from the
earth itself. Looking out from this
valleys center, and up from It's
depths, are seen the mountains that
stand around it, glowing in the blaz
ing heat. the yerdureless plains for
miles glaring with the reflection o.
chemical deposits, left by the rece-
ding sea that here once ebbed and
flowed, the deep chasms of tho
canons, the long ridges, brown and
sere, the slopes Of washes filed with
volcanic debris, which the rush o.
water for ages has left torn and rag
ged in indescribable confusion-in
fine, an endless mass of burning
mountains, reaching into dim dis
lance, where the mirage plays fantas
tic tricks with their rugged shapes
and plants at their base phantom
seas.
Though time and exploration has
| drawn from out the ancient story
most of its fearful threads, this is
still Deaths Valley, and is still and
will remain a region of dread. In
dams familiar with its face from in
fancy know its treachery, and car
not be prevailed to 60 into it beyond
their time worn trails. To the lost
emigrant it was "the valley of the
shadow of death" The daring pros
pector enters it with fear. He knows
its terrors, and the bleaching bones
of many a skeleton warns him to be
ware. Once lost within it's embrace
and mans doom is written. With
out water to cool his fevered fran e
the sweltering air drives him tt
agony and bewilderment. Confused
he wanders without aim. Reason
unseated by fantasy, gives imagin
alton reign to play tricks with his
judgment. Beholding heaven at last
in the hooking waters of the mir
age, he sinks to die in the fame Of
the desert. Thus many have laid
down forever, unknelled, uncoffined
| and unlxnovn tit1E