The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-12

ATTRACTIONS At THE MOUTH OF
THE COLORADO RIVER.


TO DO Kiiisd-senas strange People.
the Coeopah Indisns and shs Papsges.
According to Charles Thielsen, the
gentleman who made the trip from the
mouth OF the Colorado River to Salton In
an eighteen-foot skin, paradise awaits
the man who will take up his residence
where the Colorado empties into the
gulf. The picture he paints Is certainly
an alluring one, and the wonder Il that
this land has not been explored by the
hunter. Every year men call out for
some new territory wherein TO expand
their iimitless energies. They have
grown tired OF the peaks of the Yosemite,
the high Sierras have been exploited to
very WEAKNESS, the Siskiyou Mountains
are too well known. even Mr.. John
Muir's discoveries on Kings River have
not satisfied other than the most ardent
lovers Of nature.
But Mr.. Thieisen promises tothe sports
man much joy il he will take his advice
and voyage tc the Colorado's mouth.
There will be sufficient novelty in the
Journey to give IL spice of adventure,
for though he will meet no furious, saw
age beasts, the natural conditions are
such that he is unaccustoned to. OF
Jewish to the mullet, and besides he will
have the opportunity OF making and en-
joying clam chowder and he will discover
an oyster which cannot be equaled for
deliciousness.
IA man can live there and be happy"
said Mr.. Thieisen to a San Francisco
Chronicle reporter. And he will have
the finest kind OF food. The jewish,
when fresh, is particularly sweet, and
weighs about 100 pounds. used to shoot
them in the head, and MS one charge will
only stupefy them had to let them have
both barrels. Then there are turtles in
abundance and mufletEand oysters, while
on shore there are thousands of quail and
rabbits. The climate 10 superb. Agentle
breeze blows In from the gulf and keeps
the place ut delightful temperature.
Indeed one can live there the year round
and have the most enjoyable hunting.
The Cocopah Indians occupy that terri
tory, and to the southeast the Papagos
range.
The Papagos are warlike and fight
ing race, but do not know OF their hav-
ing troubled anybody. The Cocopahs are
strange people. They never eat fish,
but prefer the mesquite bean. Some Of
tho younger Cocopahs will kill and eat
the Colorado salmon, which they find In
the reeds, but the older ones look on fish
with perfect abhorrence. The Papagos,
am assured, are very fond OF CLAIMS, and
the huge piles Of shells testify that they
must have eriodically INDUCED In clam
bakes.
Any purpose In going down to the
mouth OF the Colorado was to hunt the
plumes OF the egret. This Is heron,
about the size Of half-grown rooster,
and its feathers are highly priced In New
York. It is said these plumes are at their
best during the breeding season, and are
found between the wings and tail. They
are light, extremely light, and their mar
ket value Is S26 an ounce. An entire skin
fetches about $3.50. The birds travel in
great colonies, and II man il in luck he
win fall into quite q nice little sum OF
money!
Do the Indians hunt these birds?"
"No. The Indians can never be made
to understand business. They would
rather work for fifty cents a day and their
food than have $500 in prospect. II they
devoted their energies to the chase they
would make money, for there is a man in
Yuma who buys all the feathers and pays
cash for them, SO there is positively no
risk. ! am told that their feathers are
used on hats. The egret is common on
the Atlantic seaboard; but the best feath-
ers comes from the Colorados mouth.
81 am positive that some day, not so
far distant either, enterprising men will
start a fish cannery there. The jewish
is sweeter when dried than Goldfish, and
considering the millions that run there
the business would undoubtedly pay.
Besides ifescmust be remembered these
Sch ~ ,n1 pxy ha
distance is only seventy-five miles from
Yuma, and by water 49,"
"Did you experience any difficulty?n
"No, nothing to speak of. was once
greatly put out by losing matches, and
was at great loss to make light. 1t,
however, struck me that ] could make
fire by discharging my gun at close quar-
tiers into some dry bushes and setting
them into q blaze. This worked Ikea
charm, and secured all the fire / wanted
. Is it easy to get Cocopahs in a trip
down the river?"
ttNothing is easier. They are good,
faithful workers and will gladly go for
fifty cents day and their food. In fact
they are pleased to go, and are extremely
proud to show their people that they are
acting as guides to white man. It is
best to take one Of the Cocopahs, for they
know the country and are at home in it,
while to the Yuma Indian all Is strange.
II party got a houseboat and went down
the river in the fall am prepared ostake
my reputation as a hunter that they
would have more enjoyment and better
living from the proceeds OF their guns
than in any hunting place in the, United
States.
"There are many objects of interest
down there, such as the Volcano Mount
aims, the sulphur beds, and on the Sonora
side are wonderful hot springs, while
those who have never seen bore can have
this experience. do not mean the com
mon ordinary bore such as can be found
in every city, but the great tidal wave.
These are enormous tides from thirty to
thirty-fve feet at the mouth. This is
during the spring, and great care has to
be exercised or else these tremendous
waves would entirely swamp the boat and
raise mischief generally
Grea+ Dynamo.