Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-06
OFF LOWER CALIFORNIA.
STRANGE STORIES COLLECTED IN
STRANGE WATERS.
Hydrophobia Among Misunderstanding
Graveyard = FL Extranjero
Americana.


On SHIP-BoARD, 1889.
This queer peninsula, which has by far
the longest shore line of any in the New
World, is also the narrowest, being in one
part less than forty miles between the Pa
ciic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of
California on the other, and ITO miles in
the widest place. All along its coasts are
many salt lagoons, which have never been
surveyed, aud therefore their extent is
guessed. The largest of these on the west
ern side is called San Ignacio, and is fully
twenty-five miles long. On the two occa-
sions when your correspondent has sailed
past it, the surface was perfectly black
with millions of waterfowl, which seem
to have pre-empted the locality and to feel
SO little fear of the Ito them almost I'M
known creature, man, as to scarcely get out
of the way when row-boat was pushed in
among them. There are several islands
of considerable size in this lagoon; but
what may be on, or within them, no hu-
man being knows.
The celebrated bay of San Sebastian
Viscaino-the largest off the California
coast, ninety-fve miles long, about which
all the early navigators and historians
speak with enthusiasm-is like EzekiaPs
vision of "a wheel within Wheel" being
made up of a series of smaller bays OPEN
ing into the larger one Near the north
ern end of this immense harbor-which, if
the peninsula ever amounts to anything,
agriculturally or commercially, will be the
great entrepot offuture wealth--stands Cape
Colnett, an odd-looking headland of very
dark-colored rock, rising from base of
high sandstone, shaped like Bonded bow
and rising to hight of 400 feet in the
highest part. For many miles the shore
retains this singular appearance, as of a
loaf of old-fashioned marble cake, showing
alternate layers of light and dark. There
is tolerable harbor abreast of remarka-
BILE gorge, from which
THE VILLAGE OF CoLNETT
May be seen, composed Of more tents than
houses, inhabited mostly by Surdes. This
colony is under the immediate manage
ment OF woman, who deserves more than
passing mention, not only for industry and
enterprise, but for her unbounded kindness
toward those who, looking to her for guld-
ance, have risked their all in the new
country. Mrs. Butter6eld-who was form
,erly think, from Cleveland, Ohio is an
exceptionally handsome and well educated
lady, now in the meridian of life. She has
gone heart and soul intosthe colonization
scheme, investing all her own money in it,
and has now about $50 persons in her
special district at Colnett; and no journey
is too long, by sea or land, for this excel
lent woman to undertake-no hardship
Al L
settlers.
Nearly two hundred miles below the
border line Of the United States, sailing
due south, is San Quintin pronounced
Kin-teen), the finest land-locked harbor
charts is set down as ''The Bay of Eleven
Thousand Virgins'-presumably after the
famous cathedral at Cologne. 1t is also
Hills" from adjoining nights that have
Is nine miles long. The sea breaks heavily
there is the safest of anchorage, protected
by hills and islands on every side Near
its northern apex lie some salt beds that
might be made the most valuable on the
continent. They are called Salinas" and
for nearly fifty years have been in
differently worked by few Mexicans, the
product being sent to San Francisco.
Near these salt mines, FIVE or six miles
from the landing, stands the village Of
San Quintin. The country hereabouts, for
a distance of perhaps fifty miles, cut off at
either end by salt lagoons, and with an
average breadth Of ten miles between the
sea and the foothills, is agriculturally
good. The mesa soil Is similar to the red
lands of Upper California, and these
lower valleys are especially adapted to
the Mission grape, from which, as is well
known, a champagne can be made equal
to the best product in sunny France.
Far away, fully 6fty miles from the
ocean, the
LOFTY PEAKS or SAN PEDRO MARTIE
loom skyward, from 1000 to 14,0O(
feet. Most Of the region between il
practically unknown, and beyond the stu
pendous mountain wall-only thirty-6vC
miles from it's the Gulf Of California
San Pedro is really one East mountain
not range as often represented-more
than 100 miles long, with an average
breadth of twenty-five miles, the crown o
the great chain that forms the backbone o
the peninsula. The gulf side of Sar
Pedro is covered with extensive forests o
pine. It's three peaks at the extreme east
known as La Palomas ("the doves }, bare
white cliffs, rising 1000 feet higher, lool
like sheeted ghosts by contrast with deeJ
canyons at their sides filled with dark red
woods. Much of the surface of this won
derful mountain is level as plain, and i
is said that one may drive with carriag,
and pair for miles among the pines, while
other portions are altogether inaccessible
Moose, deer and mountain lions abound
wild sheep are found in the foothills, anC
antelopes are plenty in the nleSdS. On,
who has been there says that no tongue o
pen can do justice to the Incompatible,
views unfolded from San Pedro Martir
Standing at hight of 10000 feet, he coult
look down the "Sea of Cortez" far as tn
island which is POLITICALLY named Angel d
la Guardia, $50 miles distant, in direc
line. On clear day the Pacific may ais
be seen-that matches ocean whose frs
glimpse brought hardy Balboa to hi
knees. BY the aid Of glass the mountain
ranges across the gulf, in the State of So
nora, are plainly visible, the Colorad
river, running like a thread of silver iron
Yuma TO the gulf and a score of smiling
valleys spread out below, like a great mar
DlEeCtig oNeIloohlHS the pay ana EN-
bryo town of San Quintin are the extinc
volcanoes Ceniza and Mozo Their yawn
ing mouths are wide and deep, and
Judging from the vast amount of lava tina
in many places rises above the water
edge, must have been terribly active i
days gone by. Here, properly,
THE GREAT BAY OF SAN SEBASTIAN
Begins. OF its inner adiuncts, perhap
the most notable is Lagoon Head, whicl
in the old Spanish charts is called "Cab,
Negro with its ZOO yards of breakwatel
Iaxinc directlx hollow the 2Sth naralla,