Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-03
WONDERS OF THE WEST.
Some Curious Effects Ofthe Recent
Colorado Earthquake.

Some Curious Effects Ofthe Recent
Colorado Earthquake.
About two and half miles from
Cimarron station Ceboia creek enters
the Cimarron from the east, says the
Denver Tribune-Republican. North Of
this creek the crests of the noun aims are
composed of eruptive rocks. South Of
the creek the formation Is entirely differ.
ent. The mountains here terminate in
eroded, stratified rocks and table lands,
fanked nv foothills OF water-wOrn gravel
and boulders often cemented into huge
masses of cOnglomerate. These foothills
are arranged into several distinct steps
or terraces, and furrowed by valleys
opening TO the river. These hills are
called hog backs, and valleys extend from
the mountain or table land northwest.
The valleys are crossed by transverse
hills, forming great NUMBER Of small
ponds or lakes. which vary In height ac-
cOrdlng to the terraces upon which they
are located.
The scene OF the present CONFUSION was
at the upper end of these valleys.
A small lake, situated under the first
bench or terrace at the foot OF the Trident
mesa, seems to have been the centre of
the upheaving force. This lake, which had
depth OF water of about twenty feet,
was upliited so that its bottom now forms
rounded knoll OF considerable elevation.
The hogback or the hill on the northwest
Is split In twain through the crest. aud a
portion nplifted to a height of twenty We
feet above its original level; another por-
IL depressed several feet below. Both
sides or this valley for a half a mile are
scanned and furrowed by cracks running in
eve'y posslb direction, varying IN width
from few inches to several feet, and of
considerable depth.
Through the valley trickled a little riv-
ulet, bordered by willows and other
shrubs. The bed Of this stream has been
thrown up several feet, the shrubbery up
rooted ana the whole surface OF the valley
thrown into memorable confusion. In
places the pressure from below has thrust
up great columns OF black, moist earth,
the perpendicular sides OF which are
smooth "a If turned up with huge plow-
share. Columns of dry, gravelly earth
now stand several feet high with the sage
bush undisturbed. The sspens growing
in the vicinity OF the lake are thrown into
such tangled mass that it is with great
difficulty one can pick his way through
them.
The force was not confined to this one
val ley, but extended over an area OF
about two square miles, 1t being much
more marked in the valleys and the sides
oi the hills than on their SUBMITS. The
sides OF some of these hills are timbered
by growth Of spruce and other ever.
green trees. These now stand at different
angles, leaning in different directions, in
terlacing their tops in great confusion.
Scrub oaks and other shrubs standing
upon the disrupted land are now wither-
ing.
Several hundred acres Of land which
were the favorite pastures for cattle are
now SO completely shattered az TO make
IL difficult for man TO pick mis- way over
the surface. Several head OF Mr.. Shields
cattle we're imprisoned by the upheaval
ana were rescued with great difficulty.
Before the upheayal the dead trunks of
aspen trees Of considerable size stood in
the lake. This indicates that the lake it,
self was ofmOdern origin. These trees must
have grown upon comparative dry land.