Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-07-27

a Hollow NJ the Earth Whore tho Their
uiomcicr Registered iss Above.
Death valley IS known as the region
81 the lowest depression IN the world,
besides claiming She nattering appclln-
tion of being the hottest place ON earth.
II Is also four hundred and thirty feet
below the level Of the sea. The valley
g. scrcnty-fvc miles long and from eight
20 fifteen miles wide On the cust the
valley Is bounded by The Funeral mount
nine, which attain an elevation OF from
six thousand 20 eight thousand feet,
and on the west Il Is inclosed by the
pnnamint range, which reach height
of from eight thousand TO ten Thousand
feet We arrived at the entrance or
lcvcl Of Death valley and from this
point saw for the first time n sandstorm.
when we saw Il the northern part Of
The valley was obsctucd in brownish-
colorcd cloud. which gradually thinncd
ont until Il crossed the entire valley.
Never at any moment did It entirely
obscure the sun. which looked like a
more ghost OF itself. The cloud moved
with great velocity in our direction and
Boon advance runners or hot puffs OF
wind reached us On arriving at the
end OF Furnace creek wash we
saw the sandstorm IN the north
crn part OF the valley. This was
shortly after sunrise. The entire hori-
zon ANA sky were obscurcd by the sand
and gravel, '~hieh was buoycd in an at
Inosphere opp lively hot and sitting.
Soon we wera cn~el"r'd by n dense
cloud OF sand. ani occasionally, as a
stronger pun OF wind came, gravel and
even small rocks were hurled in our
faces We covered our heads with
blankets, and the mules instinctivcly
turned their tails 10 the wind.
With all these precautions we did not
escape, for my guides face and my own
became badly bruised and laccratcd. In
our exposed position we experienced all
the fury of this desert simeon, and as
the winds Travelled across the alkali
sink they increased in heat 10 such an
extent that breathing became a matter
of difficulty This storm lasted two
days, and In all this time It was impos-
siblc TO move from our position. We
had 10 camp here for that period, being
unable 10 light any fires or prepare
meals. Most OF this time we were COW
cred with blankets and literally
starved. ! never want 20 undergo
that ordeal again. This was in
tire fall. The puffs of wind were so
intensely hot and suifocating that they
can be lilscned unto blasts from a fur
nace,and seemed 10 draw the very breath
from our bodies. The storm piled the
sand around our wagon and covered
everything. Occasionally looking down
into the valley We could see large
sand auger or spout waltzing hither
and thither over the country, carrying
the sand and allSali dust high into the
air. Though this storm was exceed
ingly severe to novice like myself, IL
is incompatible to.the ones that sweep
over this country in middle summer
In July or August, with the ther-
momcter registering from l30 10 181
degrees in the shade, it would be i'm
possible for any living creature TO ex-
ist in 1t for even an hour After hav-
ing safely passed through this sand
storm we continued our journey, and
made thorough inspection OF the val
ley. There is much of interest 10 be
told, but owing 10 the absence Of much
of my data and statistics ] would not
venture 10 give You any description Of
our observations. as many Of them are
based ON scientific examinations or
tests San Francisco Chronicle.