New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-09
PRICE THREE CENTS.
ON THE GREAT DESERT LAKE
EXPERIENCE OF TWO SAN DIEGO MEN.
CAUGHT BY THE RISING WATERS AND NEARLY
DRowNED-THEY BUILD 4 RAFT AND
GET TO LAND AFTER LONG TRIP.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUSl

GET TO LAND AFTER LONG TRIP.
[BY TELEGRAPH TKIBUSE.i
San Francisco, July S-A dispatch to "Ths
Chronicle from San Diego says: Wv w. Webb
and L. y. Gridley, two well-known San Diego
men, have just reached the city from prospect
ing trip on the desert, and the story they tell
throws some light on the source Of the water
filling the big lake at Saton basin. Two weeks
or more ago they started ont with an outfit pre-
pared TO make long stay in the desert country.
When they reached home all the outfit they
brought was two horses, but they are
thankful to have returned with their
lives They made their camp one day
in dry slough of the new river. about 20 miles
northeast from this city, and while filtering
stagnant water the slough suddenly began to I'LL
with fresh water from the river; and before
they could get out of the aeighborhood they were
nearly drowned. They at last reached dry land
with their outfit but were compelled to move
again and again to escape the flood. They finally
reached some sand-hils. twenty or thirty miles
from Yuma. Tho hills were being eaten awav bv
the encroaching waters and the men were again
compelled to move. On June % they
reached another elevation. and were
surprised TO find a rude fort. This was twenty.
I'VE or forty miles north and east of Indian Wells
Ihe Tort, which had long been abandoned was
300 feet square; its wells were SIX feet high. and
inside were the ruins of house and the charred
remains of heavy wagons. The next day the fort
was pretty well surrounded by the great but
shallow lake.
Then the prospectOrs set about making boat.
They took cracker boxes and fastened tbpn To-
gether with sticks, and stretched their tent over
the imWovised raft tying it down al
the corners. Then they embarked. pushing tb.
rude craft with ng-handed shovels The horses
were led behind but their wagon and burros
were abandoned. The voyage began on June %
and last Friday the party landed at Covote Uoles
on the eastern slope Of the Cuyamaca Range. The
heat experienced was something terrible. and the
! Adventures look more Ike Indians than white
ceived ~ "
Both declare that the water comes from the
todGrado :. Riyer into the NeT River basin whence
They believe the channel Of the Colorado has per-
manently changed which will have the effect OF
keeping the present lake fun of water
Inc story told by these prospectors bears out
me observations Of those who have examined
lie stream that is flowing into tie Saton basin.
!; lHeSe are mat the current from the Colorado
the banks down deep and may divert a large
part of the waters of the Colorado into the
desert basin; thus making the Salton lake perma-
road would have to shift its track, and the Colo
RADIO would probably find its way 70 the Gun
through the New River. This would make
the changes more radical than any
effected ny changes in the Mississippi delta, as
il would entirely modify the climate Of at least
half Of the Colorado desert
engineer Mr. Swaine arrived here today and and
will get his outfit here for a trip to explore the
Salton Lake. Mr. Swaine believes the report
made by Joseph Carter to the effect that the
water comes from the Colorado River through
several channels is correct The main crevasse
furnishing the large amount of water from the
Colorado River, from Carters account will require
pi'ing to close, but Swaine is Of the opinion the
necessary work TO he done in shutting out the
water will not be difficult or expensive, and
that the water cannot encroach on the railway
hnnc