New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-10
WONDERS ON THE COLORADO
PHENOMENA THAT FOLLOWED EARTH
QUAKE SHOCKS.
A GREAT TIDAL WAVE SWEEPS UP FROM TIE
GULF OF CALIFoRNlA-A RIVER OF SUI
pHUR AND A BoTToMLESs FIssURE
yBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIsusE.1

IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsEl
San Francisco, Aug. e.-Further details OF the
-reat earthquake and tidal wave at the mouth OF
the Colorado River show that the first reports
were not exaggerated. Jose Perez, cattleman
from Lerdo, has reached Yuma He says that
on the forenoon of the day of the earthquake
several men were building fences on his place
when suddenly the fence toppled over. All
threw themselves on their knees and began pray
ing In the midst of their devotions hundred
foot tidal wave showed up The prayers were
cut short, and, jumping over an unexpected
crevasse in the roadway, the Andrade hill was
reached by the men. From that peak Perez states,
tbe sight was sublime. Across the Colorado turbu-
lent volcanoes could be seen in brilliant eruption.
On the bed of the river and some miles beyond
its banks reddish -colored, fOam-covered water
rushed ahead, at the height of fully 100 feet.
Below Lerdo could be seen wide river of blush
purple fire flowing down into the Colorado near
the Gulf, where it steamed, sputtered and added
10 the general confusion. Ihis river oil nre Is
undoubtedly from Sulphur Mountain, which, 1t Is
feared, has been set on fire from the volume OF
burning and infammable material thrown out
from the volcanoes, which heretofore have never
been known 10 throw out anything but mud and
hot water.
General Andrade head of the Lerdo colony has
received private advices from the scene OF the
earthquake. He says the force of the shock was
severe, and was much more so than was at first re-
ported One of the largest houses In the colony
was cracked from top 10 bottom, and the roof fell
in with crash that sounded like dynamite blast.
Luckily, the inmates ran out when they felt the
premonitory shake, and thus escaped death. A
large stoble. built partly of brick and partly of
adobe, was levelled TO the ground, and several
other buildings were more or less severely dam
aged The most striking phenomenon was a
chasm three feet wide and between 200 and 300
feet long Although weights attached to lines
several hundred feet in length were let down, no
bottom could be found. From this remarkable
fssure issued smoky vapor, which disappeared
after a few hours but the air is permeated with a
gaseous odor irritating to the lungs. The people
in the neighborhood are alarmed, fearing rcpet-
ton of the earthquake, and the superstitious In
dians are holding religious rites to placate the
Evil One.
Yuma, A. T., Aug o-Reports continue TO come
In from the earthquake region at the head Of the
Gulf of California. Two Cocopah Indians, of
the tribe that live near there, arrived here yes
terday They tell thrilling story. Early Thurs
day morning hundreds of mud volcanoes thirty
miles of burst into violent eruption. The
air grew denser and many infants were suGocated.
At last a violent thunder storm cleared the air.
only to show the tidal wave approaching with
frightful rapidity. The waters rose swallowing
up their cattle, horses and grain fields and driv-
ing them for their lives TO the top of the mesas
a hundred feet above the river. The earthquake
shocks then began. The fourth shock threw
every one down, seriously injuring many. The
dust darkened the air. The rumble of the earth
quake. the sharp explosions of the distant vol
canoes, the bell6wing of the crazed cattle, made
unbearable the uproar, and the frightened Indians
led wildly up the river Two only succeeded in
reaching here, who tell the story. The others
dropped exhausted along the route.