The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-07-28
IN THE DEATH VALLEY.
A Hollow In the Earth Where the Thel
movnefcr Re~tstered 137 Above

Hollow In the Earth Where the Their.
smometer Registered 1871 Above.
Death valley is known as the region
of the lowest depression in the world,
besides claiming the fattering appella-
ton of being the hottest place on earth.
1t is also four hundred and thirty feet
below the level OF the sea. The valley
is seventy-five miles long and from eight
to fifteen miles wide. On the east the
valley is bounded by the Funeral mount
aips, which attain an elevation of from
. six thousand to eight thousand feet,
and on the west it is inclosed by the
Panamint range, which reach height
Of from eight thousand to ten thousand
feet. We arrived at the entrance OF
olevel of Death valley and from this
point saw for the first time sandstone.
When we saw it the northern part of
the valley was obscured in brownish-
colored cloud, which gradually thinned
out until it crossed the entire valley
Never at any moment did it entirely
obscure the sun, which looked like a
mere ghost of itself. The cloud moved
with great velocity in our direction and
soon advance runners or hot puffs OF
wind reached us. On arriving at the
end of Furnace creek wash we
. saw the sandstone in the north
ern part of the valley. This was
shortly after sunrise. The entire hori-
ION and sky were obscured by the sand
and gravel, which was buoyed in an at
Q mosphere opprcssivcly hot and sitting
Soon we We're enveloped by dense
cloud of sand, and occasionally, as a
stronger puff of wind came, gravel and
even small rocks were hurled in our
faces. We covered our heads with
blankets, and the mules instinctively
turned their tails to the wind.
With all these precautions we did not
escape, for my guides face and my own
became badly bruised and lacerated. 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 to such an
extent that breathing became n matter
OF difficulty. This storm lasted two
DAYS, and in all this time it was impos-
sible to move from our position. We
had to camp here for that period, being
unable to light any fires or prepare
meals. Most of this time we were COW
cred with blankets and literally
starved. l. never want to undergo
that ordeal again. This was in
ethe fall. The puffs of wind were SO
intensely hot and suffocating that they
can be lilencd unto blasts from fur
mace, and seemed to 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 a large
sand anger 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 4 no-ice like myself, it
is incompatible TO the. ones that sweep
over this country in middle summer.
In July or August, with the Their
mometer registering from 100 to 1877
degrees in the shade, it would be i'm
possible for any living creature to ex-
list in it for even an hour. After hav-
ing safely passed through this sand
storm we continued our journey, and l
made n thorough inspection of the val
hey. There is much of interest to be
told. but owing TO the absence of much
of my data and statistics l would not
venture to give you any description of
our observations, as many of them are
based on scientific examinations or
tests.-San Francisco Chronicle.