The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-04
patients from all over California, In

patients from all over California. In thu
| v%icinage of these wells, and rather more
sparsely over the desert, grows the squaw
weed, which is employed by the Indians
for medical purposes. 1t is a coarse sort OF
amboo grass, having similar compart-
ments and exceedingly bitter to the taste.
The squaws boil the spears into tea or make
poultices from them. Either cures certain
difficult complaints. So impressed was an
Englishman with its healing qualities that
he packed and sent home to q doctor in
England quite a supply of the weed.
Between Iortuga and Mesquite are the
famous moving mountains. They are
enormous sandhills about half or three
quarters OF a mile in length, and attain an
| altitude of 500 feet. They point east and
wind blows fresh and strong from the south
west the mountains of sand drift eastward,
coming year by year closer to the rail
| road track. Then in the fall the wind
sets in from the northeast and the
sand mountains shift to the west. Malvi-
observation, extending over several years,
! he has learned that these hills move some
forty feet in Il year, and, as l said, are
slowly encroachlng upon the track.
About Tortuga is sea level, and the grade
from Flowing Wells to Salton is considera-
bic. as the latter point is 26s feet below
the sea. This is the lowest point in the
desert and also in the United States.
From Flowing Wells to a little above Vol
I cano there is some vegetation. Here can
be seen thick punches of gayeta, a coarse
grass, Of which cattle can thrive. Old
prospectors have told me that it is exceed
ing1y nutritious and that stock prefer
it to hay. Here also are seen desert
flowers unlike any elsewhere. A wild
pink verbena grows luxuriantly; a species
of dnndelion displays it's yellow petals in
big bright patches; little squares Of vetch.
with the purple blossoms hiding among
the %pale-0reen sprays, delight the eyes,
while tho sandy soil is almost hidden by
the thick growth of the snake weed. 1t has
never been 80 plentiful before, owing prob
ably to the cOpious winter rains. The
snake weed is a valuable plant. Rattle
snakes, which are here known as side
w~inders-because they wiggle along side
ways-eat it when they have been bitten
by other snakes, and teamsters inform me
that Indians and others, when they have
been struck by n sidewlnder. make a poul
tice of the snake weed, and, quickly apply
ing it to the wound, have ayerted the fatal
consequences.
There is much contention about the dan
gerous qualities of the sldewinder. One
class of men emphatically assert that the
bite is fatal despite the whisky, snake weed
and ammonia: while others contend that
beyond excruclating pain naught else need
be feared. George w. D~urbrow-nnd there
IL no DetIer authority on ZIG desert ana It's
lfe-deClaies that the bite is fatal. He de-
spises the sidewindcr. and is never 30 happy
IA when catching them. Some few weeks
ago he sent to the Smithsonian institute Il
magnificent pair, male and female. Extra.
ordinary stories are told about the side
winder.
Mr.. Mulvihill is responsible for the fol-
lowing: A section foreman was bitten b,
one of the snakes. He dtank numerous
bottles of whisky and was saved. But he
became the color of q rattlesnake. hissed
and would sometimes crawl on his side.
He was positively Il distressful object and
had to leave Walters. All. in fact, that he
could not do was to rattle. He was in this
awful condition for several months, but
thank God" says Mulyihill plously, she
was cured, hut | warrant he's not banker.
ing after the desert"
The most desolate spot in the desert Ii
between Volcano Springs and Finks. Fol
many miles nothing grows. Tho red, sun
scorched plain il AZ clear of vegetation as
the palm of the hand. Nothing grows, ab.
s~olutely nothing. The ground underneath
seems hollow, and the noise made by the
handcar IN 1t passes over this subterrnnear
nknow tunnel is very loud. "Thore II
something wrong about this place." snid
Muivihill with n shudder. "One day W.
will hear Of II train falling through here
1t is indeed Il mysterious. awe-inspirinl
country. Close TO the track nre two gov.
sers. One is of yellow, bubbling, muddy
water, which seethes and fumes ~ il boil.
ing. but in reality ia cold ns ice; a few feet
distant is another we'll of thick black, blue
and greenish mud heayes and groans nnt
s%catters tho foul sulphurous soil in grea,
splashes. Mr.. Darling, the agent. told mt
that one OF his predecessors held q cat ovel