The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-10-30
An Ext.nc. rexa. volcano.

5A4@1etter from Bracket, Kinney
county, Tex, to the St. Louis Globe
Democrat, says: A visit to the crater
ef an extinct volcano is something of q
novelty in the state of Texas, but an
exploring party had that pleasure a
few days since. Leaving the town Of
Bracket about $50 o'clock in the
morning, they drove over a fairly good
road to the Manposa ranch, and thence
up the Pinto creek toward Pinto, or
'.Painted," mountain, which is the
volcano, or what was an active volcano
years ago. There is not much of 3
read after leaving the creek, but no
difficulty is found in pushing through
toward the mountain; which looms up
in full view Along the course OF the
creek there are some noble forest trees,
consisting Of live oak, blackberry,
lpccan, and black walnut. The plain
4between the creek and mountain is
ceyered with a dense grove of thorny
bushes, and among them great quanti-
tiles of cactus stand up in every direc-
ltioa.. Near the foot of the mountain
lrScka are piled up in great confusion,
land huge masses of scoria or black
|cindcrs block the way. Only .. short
distance up the sides could the carriage
tbe taken, as the way was too rough
and the horses were considerably
faded by their exertions.
The north and south sides Of the crater
are filled high. up with walls of rough
stones, as naked now as they were ages
ago. The east side of the crater has
been blown off bodily and the stones
thrown miles away. The distance
across the crater is probably over a
Thousand yards, and as years have
passed since it was active, the crater it
self has become some filled up, though
the place whence issued fire and lava
liz as distinctly marked as if the
eruption occurred but yesterday. Black
Irocks, huge in their proportions, lie in
idetached masses on the sides of the
tcrater, showing what mighty power
lmust have been exerted when the
flames issued from the heart of the
mountain. Altogether it is an inn
lmense affair. and well worth the visit
iof the student of nature.
This volcano belongs essentially to the
Mexican group, and was noticed many
Years ago by Humboldt. The route
Igoing and returning looks across many
an acre covered with lava and blacken.
led scori@, attesting the volcanic
character of the region, though this il
frequently relieved by patches of ver-
dure and tracts of practical fertility
talong the Pinto, as if nature were
ldesirous to compensate by these efforts
for the barrenness which surrounds the
mountain for many miles. Among the
notable features of western Texas tn.
extinct volcano is not the least, and will
ATTRACT persons who have desire tt
extend their knowledge as far as ma,
lbe into the regions of the dim past. Tn
mountain itself is distant twenty mile
Ifroua the Avache range, and is worth,
lof more study than has yet been be
stowed upon it. 1t can be seen TO
miles around, standing boldly out o.
1.-The plain. The stones piled up on it
summit give it peculiar appearance
accounting, no doubt, for the name bt
slowed upon it by the Spainards whe
they discovered it. However, the crate
might have been quite different fror
what it is now, and many colors Nigh
have then been seen.