The herald., 1893-06-25
The Voyage Made by a Bold
Yumaite.
He Knocks About the Gulf of Cali
fornia in Skiff.
A Volcano San Luis Is1snd-The
Carnage Question at Las Flores
Easily Solved-Among the
Yaquis Indians.

Clark, it will be remembered lett
Yuma on the 4th of April last for
crnise down the gulf. Occasionally
parties from Yuma sometimes get down
along the coast as far as San Felipe,
and on rare occasions some hardy pros
pector ventures yet further along the
rocky coast where landing is very diff
fcult.
Clark, with a recklessness that comes
to men who have passed unscathed
through many dangers, provisioned his
craft for long cruise and set sail for
Guaymas and the Yaqui river. He had
fat.bottom, centerboard skiff. three
feet beam on the bottom and 25 feet
over all, partly decked in.
1t ives no craft for such voyage, and
Clark was alone. Though we'll prepared
for the trip in the way of charts, etc.,
yet his baptism occurred Immediately
after leaving the mouth OF the Color
ado. While riding at anchor off shore
at San Felipe he was rudoly awakened in
the morning by one of those squalls prev
alent in those parts, and which give the
navigator very little notice of their ap-
proach. Clark's first intimation of this
particular equalPs existence was ac-
ouired by the shrek OF blast OF wind.
followed by comber that keeled his
boat over and filled it half full of water.
Getting the anchor up in tremendous
sea he lit out down the coast, steering
with one hand and bailing out water
with the other. Clark. during his. visit
to the Times Office, said that it was the
finest bailing he ever fell in with in his
life. The craft was ripping through the
water, keeled over on her side
and shipping a sea at every jump.
All a man had to do was to sit
in the stern and keep on bailing. He
didn't have to dig around under the
seats after the water. He didn't have
to gun for it among the traps and tackle.
1t cams freely as salvation. 1t banked
up around him; it stopped over the
waistband of his trousers and ran down
his legs in swashing flood. 1t was fine
bailing.
After an hours run through this kind
OF sea, Clark rounded Diggs' penin-
sula, rocky promontory running into
the sea below San Felipe. and escaped
the fury of the storm in that sheltered
locality.
On anchoring at Red Bluff, some so
miles below, Clark took an inventory of
the condition Of affairs and found that
20 pounds of hsrdtack had lost its repu
tetion by being too intimate with the
sea, and 15 pounds of sugar which he
had in a sack had disappeared as com
pletely as if the sea had swallowed it.
In fsct, from q scientific standpoint, it
would have been possible and interest
ing affair to have followed Clark's back
trail from Diggs' point to San Felipe by
a somewhat sweetish taste in the water.
Landing at San Luis island, Clark
spent q couple of days in looking over
the country. The island contains about
four square miles, is of a mountainous
nature and is uninhabited. The island
is covered with pomice stone thrown
out by an intermittent volcano. This
eiecie ranges in size from a minute
fragment to pieces two feet in diameter.
The volcano is situated on plateau
and was not in action during Clark's
visit. The crater is 100 feet long and 10
wide, and the laws from it flows down
over the cliff into the sea.
From San Luis Clark went into Las
Flores, on Angel bay. This 10 town of
about 1900 inhabitants, and ia the sup
ply point for the San Juan mines in that
locality. The Las Flores people have
solved the coinage proposition in way
OF their own. The mining company that
almost owns the place, issues a coin of
its own in the shape OF octagnal pieces
OF copper numbered to suit, redeemsble
at the company's Office. This stuff goes
for money only in that locality, and is
insured only by solvency of the company
issuing it. 1t is very simple method
OF relieving financial stringency and as
for coun nterfeiters, well, if some slick,
emart Aleck tried TO shove the queer he
would probably be hustled over the
great divide loaded with handful of
bucksbot to give him momentum, or be
found come morning floating keel up on
the bay.
From Las Flores Clark cut across the
bay to Guaymss, going out of the direct
course in order to take a squint at Thu
ron island. Knowing something by
hearsay OF these alleged cannibals, and
not being fat enought to eat, Clark con-
cluded to defer his visit to more con-
venient season, and ran into Guaymas
to the astonishment OF the people, who
did not believe that any one was insane
enough to attempt such trip in such q
boat.
Clark spoke highly of the courtesy Of
the Mexican officials and of the people
in general. The customs officers se-
cured for him government permit and
gave him clearance papers without maxi
ing the customary charge. The towns
folk offered him every hospitality, and
information of mis- line of travel went
ahead of MIN.
From Guaymas Clark went to the
Yaqui river, which is little more than a
slough, and ascended it about 25
miles until stopped by fence
across the channel. The Yaquis were
sufficiently schooled in the ways of civ
ilization to enable them to ask him a
dollar apiece for watermelons, which
they were glad to sell in Guaymas for
''dos reals a dozen. The Yaquis are
the best laborers the country produces,
and are preferred by employers to the
peon element.
The next place visited was Mulege, on
the Lower California shore, town of
about 1900 inhabitants, having steam
boat communication with Guaymas.
Clark was six days in making the trip
across, owing to calm weather.
From Mulege to San Marcos island
was run OF thirty miles. On this
island are large marble quarries under
the superintendency of Mr.. Shields, who
outdid himself in offering hospitality to
the gulf rover whose coming was ex-