New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-01
THE FLOOD IN THE DESERT.
IT SOAKED THROUGH THE SAND FROM THE
SWOLLEN COLORADO.
AN INDIAN RUNNER AND TWO SAILORS IN A
BOAT LOOKING FOR THE BREAK IN THE
RIVER BANK-FLoODs IN OTHER YEARS.
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE -RIBUHE.1

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE -BIBUNE1
San Francisco June 3o-There is little that is new
to report from the flood in the Colorado Desert. News
came this evening by way Of Los Angeles that the
water spreading gradually but surely, making a
great lake eight miles wide and thirty miles long, with
tie water in places eight feet deep, though it does not
average more than fourteen inches In depth Reports
from Yuma say that an Indian runner was sent ont
with Instructions to find where the water leaves the
river, such be the case ard to make thorough ex-
animation to how II passes through the sand hills
and reaches Of the desert 1t is believed that the
water leaves te river just above Pilot Knob, near
Yuma, nearly sixty miles rom Salton, and works its
way through the dry sand to the low ground on
this side Of the river 1t will probably take two or
three days for the Indian to make his report.
fourteen foot boat with two sailors was sent from
san Pedro TO Salton this evening. From that point
the boat, provisoned for weeks cruise, viii sail
south and attempt to reach the source of the how
while the Indian follows the bank Of the river
from Yuma
As the water does not come within mile OF the
railroad track there is no obstruction to traffic
and no immediate trouble Is apprehended. The water
has risen about inch during the last twenty -four
hours. For twelve miles along the Colorado River,
near Yuma. the water is pouring over the banks into
the low region about Indian Wells. 1t is supposed that
this water reaches salton through underground
channel and that the overflow from the New River
near the Colorado also passed through the suberranean
course The New River Is river only in name, being
merely dry channel with grade toward the sink in
the desert in which is situated Salton. The Colorado
and New rivers are only few miles apart. At a
poirt west OF Yuma the Indians have their irrigation
ditch from the Colorado which discharges waste water
into Alrodone's Slough. eventually making its way
into New River. Owing to the washing away Of a
sand hill large stream OF water Is now running from
the Colorado through Algodones Slough into New
River The Colorado, which IS high now, owing TO
melting snow al its head waters, Is 140 feet above the
sea level at Yuma salton 263 feet below sea level
and Is ninety seven miles north OF the river, and the
lowest point below sea level the railroad Should
the Colorado continue TO cut its banks westward
OF Yuma IL is not likely that considerable How OF
water may reach the neighborhood Of salton
Don Juan Warner one Of the oldest residents OF
Los Angeles and an uncle Of the late Chief Justice
Waite said Of tho overflow: "This is not the first
time nor the second within my knowledge that the
Colorado River has sent It's waters into hat lowest
depression Of the desert The fact is the Colorado
River by its waters collected into place this great
bodv OF salt and every few years it sends out a
detachment to look over the ground and examine into
its condition.
Yesterday Superintendent Blaisdell Of the Cargo
Muchacho mine received word from an Indian runner
that break had occurred in the Colorado between
Pilot Knob and Ogleby at point sixteen miles belo"
Yuma and that II occurred some two weeks ago, but
tho norous and absorbent sand delayed the passage OF
the food until last saturday, ealtOh DemS Se'ehS
miles distant from the break . =,
The Indians around SaltOn arc grelty alarmed by
the flood ON the first appearance OF the water, an
cid and intelligent Indian narshalled his family ana
marched away from SaltOn. All he would say was
TOO much aqua and shake MS nead one & ih4sa ht
who has his mother-inaw living with him, says that
her mother described similar hOOh years ago. WHICH,
the valley was all under water.