Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-30

lAC PAOcOLSO VA ~ s@A .
body of water on the Colorado desert, in
the vicinity OF Salton, is as fully treated
OF below as the information which could
be obtained yesterday will permit. A
special correspondent was sent to Sal
ton, yesterday, by the HERALD, and to-
morrow's issue will contain full report
from him of the situation.l
SALToN, CAL, June 29.--TSpecial.
Water began coming in last Wednesday
and gradually rose until it covered an
area eight miles wide by thirty miles
long, to the depth of two feet-the most
mysterious thing ever known since the
white man has been here. Today the
wind began blowing from the north
and the water is showing signs OF di.
minishing. A boat and crew came from
San Pedro tonight, and will explore the
waste of water tomorrow and endeavor
to find its source. All of thei Indians
: are alarmed and have fed to the hills.
A sUBTERRANEAN PASSAGE.
Tucson, Ariz., June pa Star special
from Yuma says the Colorado desert
basin at Salton. sixty miles west from
here, is rapidly filing up with fresh
water from subterranean passage, be-
lieved to be connected with the Colorado
river, caused by the high water OF last
February. At last advices the desert
was converted into lake five miles
wide. The machinery is being removed
from all the factories at Salton. The
Southern Pacific railroad track passes
through the basin for more than fifty
miles, it's lowest point being
26S feet below sea level. The Colo
RADIO river is 100 feet above sea level
at Yuma. If a subterranean passage
connects with the Colorado river above
Yuma the lake will be over four hundred
feet in depth and over fifty miles long.
To conduct theswatere- Of tho 1oforrs,v
into that basin was the dream OF Cen
eral Fremont. Ii the waters continue to
rise the Southern Pacific track will be
submerged for nearly 100 miles, and the
great desert of the Colorado will be con-
verted into vast lake.
NEWS GATHERED IN THIS CITY.
At 3;20 yesterday afternoon there
was thirteen inches of water at the end
of the three-mile switch which leaves
the Southern Pacific railroad at Salton
and goes to the salt works.
The truth of the matter is that at the
hour of writing the situation at Salton
presents very serious aspect. At about
2o'clock yesterday afternoon the water
was still rising. 1t was first noticed on
last sFriday, land was exclusively an
nounced in the HERALD of Saturday.
Yesterday afternoon at the end of
,>the two mile switch from Salton station,
to the south and southwest the country,
as far as could be seen, was under water,
with more coming.
swift current, accompanied by high
wind and very high temperature, to-
gether with frightful atmosphere. The
thermometer at noon registered 125
degrees in the shade.
Mr.. Durberow, the superintendent OF
the salt works, since Saturday night has
had large force of men at work build
ing dykes, with view to saving the
company's fine mill machinery and
buildings. The water was at the hour
above mentioned spreading very fast,
and as far as the eye could see the sands
were transformed into sea. From the
southwest the current was very strong,
and with it came in steady wind, hot
as from an oven, with the velocity of
what sea faring man would call half
gale.
A sAILBOAT ON THE DESERT.
Ye sterday afternoons train from San
Pedro bore into the Arcade depot
! yacht. the first time any craft of that
nature ever appeared in that building.
The boat was fourteen feet long ana
was equipped with a mast and sails,
and comfortable looking, though neces-
sarily cramped quarters for crew of two
men. The boat was fat bottomed and
probably would not draw over fifteen or
eighteen inches of water.
This craft was at five O'Clock trans
ferred to the express car of the east
bound passenger train. BY that time
lit had taken on its cargo of provisions,
|enough to last its crew twoYweeks. The
1.-TWO men accompanying the boat were
|from San Pedro also, and were selected
lon account of their reliability and
knowledge OF navigation.
This expedition was sent by the South
Iern racine company 10 OalJ0n Wnere 1t
arrived at about midnight. AT the time
the reader is looking over this account
And slipping his cup of coffee at his
breakfast this morning, those two men
will be sailing away; headed for the
Southwest border OF desert sea which
d only three days old. A unique expe-
Hence. The instructions of the men ale
b sail until they find where the water
coming from and then return and re-
ort. There is a wierdness about the
deposition which makes the trip very
xciting and places the two sailors in
he position of explorers.
Their journey will be very hard one.
he temperature Of 125 degrees in the
lade will be frightfully increased on
pc water, and the progress will necessar-
be slow on account OF the head wind
hich seems to prevail. On the whole
be new sea does not appear to be
apted for pleasure excursions as yet.
The Southern Pacific people yesterday |
70 started the best runners OF the |
npa Indian tribe outon the west bank