Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-05
THE MOUTH OF HE'LL.
A LOCALITY SO DESCRIBED TO DE
EXPLORED.
Departure of Party of Government Spe-
cialists for that Dread Place-Some
Traditions About the Valley.

Into the most eerie desert on this con-
tinent party of scientists will go soon,
under the direction of the federal de-
partment of agriculture.
The party, comprising Chief Theodore
S. Palmer; ornithologist. A. X. Fisher
botanist, Fred v. Coville; trappers and
collectors, Vernon Bailey, Elk River,
Mimi, f. w. Nelson, Springerville,
Arizona; topographer, J. M. Dixie
man, California; assistant botanist,
Frederick Frunston, and Mr.. +. Steph-
ems, Santa Isabel. CAL, naturalist
skilled in desert work, left San Bernardo
no yesterday on its way to Death valley,
the natural charnel-house, which ex-
plorers who have ventured along it's
edges say, is strewn with dead mems
bones, and branded with every mark of
being the very abomination of desola-
ton. The first stop will be made at
Daggett, where supplies will be taken
and the route pursued to Lone Willow
spring, where the final organization will
be perfected, and the company will
march
"1nto the jaws Of death,
Into the mouth OF hell"
Both of which terms are synonomous
As~sAs''-v~sAey-Ais s.indaa. of
frOntiersmen.
The valley, the objective point. is
about $50 miles east of north from San
Bernardino, near the Nevada line in
Inyo county. Its dimensions on an
average are 150 by 40 miles. The valley
forms drainage basin for a large extent
of country, as it is considerably below
the sea level. 1t has never been SUR
veyed, but observations made by some
explorers who ventured in it, show that
in its lowest portion it is probably 275
feet below sea level. Mr.. Colville, the
botanist who accompanies the party.
stated to a HERALD reporter recently,
that there was no particular reason for
believing the valley any more dangerous
than other deserts, beyond the fact that
the sources OF water supply, if there are
any, are unknown.
This may be so, but the traditions of
place, it is known beyond question. is
the very hottest on the continent. and
the testimony of men experienced in
NCoOAV iAAO BOOo w EAOW tilat tlI0 dIT ~
self is freighted with eickening power.
This may be accounted for by the fact
of the low level of the country, and pos-
sibly by the presence OF large deposits
of certain salts and alkalies, the powder
OF which may be more or less diffused
in the atmosphere by wind, and so affect
animal organisms. It is claimed that
no animal, insect or bird, can be found
in that region, which, if a fact, would
indicate that man cannot exist there
very long.
Among other stories floating about in
regard to Death valley are tales of won
derful deposits OF gold and silver and
precious stones to be found there. Most
of the cooks, drivers and packers who
60 with this'expedition are actuated by
the hope of being able to locate some
mining claim which will render them
wealthy.
After thoroughly surveying Death
valley the company intends to move
westward to the east slope of the Sier-
ras, and there survey Mount Whitney
and the country about Owens lake.
T. s. Palmer, the chief of the party, is
young Californian, he having gradu-
ated few years ago from Berkeley uni
versity. He is cousin of Col. A. T.
pa1mor Of this citv