Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-09-25
"JERUsHA BEN"
BY MARVIN HILL DANA.

| IheV calleu MIN cIuoha DcH, pc'auoo
rben he first came to Jalisco he succumb-
sj ia the prevailing fever, and through
al his DAYS of delirium he called continu-
,ilv on the name 'Jerusha.
When finally, by the fortune of strong
constitution rather than from any particu-
Ia arc care layished upon the poor waif, he
was able to move about and converse in
brokpn speech with the people who had
iodged him they renounced the difficulties
n his proper name and called him simply
Jerusha Ben,
somehow the name seemed to please
him although he never heard it but his
hce wore ii panied look, and he made no
affection to the nomenclature.
After time Jerusha Ben became strong
and hearty again, and joining company
with commercial band of poems, began
his Journey to the silver country of the
Coriilleras. After seven days hard tramp
inc he heard of a barranca of i'll repute
somewhat to the north, and as it had been
but little explored, as far as he could learn,
he determined to try his fortune in that
Erection The barranca ran east
md west. and he had no cause for
missing it, for, as the poems told him,
aman in balloon might unknowingly
pass it in a black night, but no man other
wise.
Asamatter of fact, Jerusha Ben arrived
At the south wall of the barranca by noon
Of she second day. 1t was as gloomy and
wild spot as the most eager adventurer
could demand. From his feet to the bed
Of the barranca the distance was 1000 feet,
and to the east and west the huge rift ran
Il course until the eye could trace it no
longer.
These barrancas are the chief point of
unity between the Mexican and South
American Andes. They are vast crevasses,
hendng east and west, gigantic canyons,
created by the mighty processes at work
within the bowels of the earth, and they
occur at intervals throughout the whole
length of the chain. In form they offer
every variety, but are usually deep riffs in
the earth, reaching oitentlmes far toward
the deep recesses whence the mountain has
its source, and revealing in the farthest
abysses the primeval porphyries, sur
mounted by cliffs containing the anlmon-
ties and various other fossils of the juras-
sic and cretaceous ages, injected with
igneous rocks.
Above these are often conglomerates and
Nher indications of the tertiary period,
all deformed by the exhalations of the vol
anc vapors which corrode the rocks.
Upon the bed of many barrancas the way
Brendered dangerous by lava lakes and
hot streams, from which the steam arises
in great clouds, as if to draw shroud of
white over the mysteries of nature, that
are here partially revealed But most of
the volcanic action in the Andes results
only in mists, vapors and scorie and these
more wonderful demonstrations are rare.
letn some of the crevasses they seem
esSenced Lava, acids and inner heat,
presented in visible form 10y boiling
waters, all conspire to render the man who
ventures into these places amazed by
the might and majesty Ct the earth's
forces. Deep down within the earth
enormous walls of naked rock towering
togard the vault of heaven, hateful gases
4entlmes arising around about, curious
Jets Of flame from out the inches and heaps
adorned pumice scattered loosely, the
ashes Of past fires fallen on the way. the
loarSe muTmur from a assure whence
OeIches forth molten torrent, one and all
are gruesome, grand and awful.
The cliffs are often altogether impossible
out occasional breaks and ridging lodges,
aeCked with scanty trees that cling hardly
10 the fallen soil, offer hard and danger
Gus descent.
Jerusha Ben lay for an hour fiat on the
brow Of the precipice gazing amazedly at
leStrauge sights beneath him. Then be
k0Uubt 4pr ly.,,.. b. H,l n 20
10 the foot OF the wall and was finally sue
CeSsill, although his arrival at the side of
t1e tiny river which flowed TRANQUILITY
song the bottoms found him worn and
,Tulsed, and his appearance sadly damaged
y the rents in his clothes. He found
uecently safe place for the night among
some bouders and, by means of a night
weep and his needle and thread, contrived
WTestore his good appearance, his strength
ana his courage. Then he began his
%arch for treasure and first tried some
Tashmgs Of the brook beside him. Gold
" found but so painfully little that in
I'suSt he began farther search, turning
uP lne stream and hoping that he might
sehtualiy come upon some larger and
"gIe easily attained deposits.
Strange traces of volcanic action sill
ifooWei themselves on every hand, ana
. .sl9shd Ben was forced to take his way
aIA The utmost caution; for round about
u.I We're boiling streams and sulphur
EI!,ns, and the br ook of pure water, to
, sAtl4 ne had first descended, soon con-
..a'el It's source. Finally his course was
,,I.lP4d completely by huge lake Of lava.
sA'el occupied the entire width of the
.a'TTalnce. Upon Its border Jerusha Ben
nm down and marveled on the mighty
,r-aiIH"ork of God. For this was no rude
inner thus alone amidst the marvellous
fountains of Mexico, but a man of refine
.7ll and education, and so much means
.,G anPort as are represented by these
1''lrS united to an energetic DISPOSE
,'I 1iil a capital of 300. which latter was
nett at his waist He had failed in
rr -,llg5's, honorably paid ali his debts,
Due e,lsl Ms nerves in consequence, aud had
,;F'Lliined to seek the wilds of Mexico
5o ,--'fiIy because he knew that he could
gY,s easily restore his physical and mem
I. "he there than elsewhere, and secondl :,
'lse he trusted to his scientific knowl-