Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-05


FROsT-MARKED IN THE TROPICS.
A Peculiar Eject Of Climatic Conditions in
Mexico.
From the San Antonio Daily Ixprsss.
did you ever see frost-msrkeG man?" MAJ.
Tom Watson asked me today. "Well," the
ma ior continued, lit is quito common down in
Mexico on the eastern slope Of the Sierra Madre
elevation. To understand the strange occur
renee must tell you something OF thu unusual
conditions that cause it. You know what We
call a phenomenon is nothing but the result Of
some extraordinary combination Of unusuai
circumstances. Now suck combination exists
In certain parts OF the slope. You've been to
Monterey, and must remember the cloud-p;erc-
ing pinnacies that rise abruptly to the west,
and whose serrated outline is lost in the south
ern horizon.
"Tnese p!nnacles are the eastern ba.tlemen.s
OF the greas table land OF Mexico, thousands Of
miles III extent, and six to ten thousand feet
above the sea. few milos to the east, with a
deep valley intervening, is an outer defense, a
long, narrow. but lofty upheaval Of which tho
majestic Saddle mountain that overhangs
Monterey il tbs northern butsress. On its
eastern eide this range drops down to the al
most dead sea level that stretches sheer to tie
Gulf OF Iezico. while through it are occasional
riffs to drain the narrow valley between it and
the grea. table land OF the westward.
Il, IL in the neighborhood o. these riffs, that
give exit not only to water but 70 pent up air,
that the phenomenon tina. I am telling you
about occurs. You see. when ons o. the great
waves OF air that with almost fixed periodicisy
sweep. from west 20 east, even this par. Of the
earth, reaches the titanic tu-re5s that guard
the eastern limit OF the table land, it is piled
up in great masses that roll down through
hranl rs h,tA 81
ssorm-like force through the few riffs in the
outer barrier.
Now, in the late winter months this huge
mass OF air that tumo.es down into the warm
valley below is intensely cold. no. only because
Of the great elevation from which it comes, but
because OF its extreme dryness. Anybody that
has Travelled IN that part Of Mexico must have
noticed that il writing in the open air and his
letter happened to be long one before he
could finish he would dip his pen into mud in
stead OF ink. The water would have all evspo-
rated into the thirsty air, leaving nothing but
the inky extracts. "A
Here again several conditions combine to
produce the phenomenal dryness. During the
winter time the air on the table land is colder
and heavier than the same Strata overlyilg the
sea, so that no moisture-laden currens can
reach it, consequently the same air drifts about
for months over thirsty plains and against ice
cold peaks. becoming from day to day dryer and
dryer. Then another factor helps to deprive
this air OF every vestige of water. These table
lands are not barren wastes, msry suppose,
but are usually covered with thick growth Of
different species Of cactus and other plants
that by wonderful provision o. nature possess
to an extraordinary degree the power OF absorb
ing water directly from the air. While your ink is
disappearing from the bottle, and your skin is
being absolutely tanned upon you, prick one Of
these plants and water will ooze from *. In
deed. Indians make long journeys over water
aea rqcrin mi fhatr ,w.kt H.
liquid pressed from certain varieties Of these
hydrogenic plants. Naturally where the earth
is SO deprived Of its aqueous blanket, radiation
has full sway. dissipating in the winter nights
the little heat gathered from the sun during the
day.
but before come to the point must tell
you something else about dry air that may be
you have not thought OF. You see what ! am
going to tell you is somewhat incredible, but il
you thoroughly understand the causes you
won't doubt it. Well, then, II you will FIRE q
| stove up to white heat and then thrust your
finger into the red-hot but almost chemically
dry air within, the immediate sensation will
be not one OF heat, but GOODNESS. induced by
the rapid evaporation Of the natural moisture
Of tho skin.
Though within cannon shot Of the cold, dry
table land. the valley that have spoken of,
being at low level and within the tropics, Is
always moist, and would, Of itself, know no
winter. In winter 1t does get frigid winter,
and in the twinxling of an eye when huge
breaker OF air drops down on 1t from the over
hanging frozen Sierra, the resulting change
OF temperature is most sudden and intense
where an opening through the outsr range
offers free exit To tho warm air OF the valley.
''You can easily imagine what often happens.
You have seen that the red-hot but dry air Of
q stove, when brought into contact with the
skin. would produce cold. Now, what's the
result when q mass Of air just a. dry, but about
zero in temperature. envelopes in an instant Q
perypiring man? Why, sir. il congeals in situ
tbs drops Of perspiration standing on his face
and hands, and that's just what happens to
people who chance to be outdoors st work in
| the moist, warm country. 1 Am talking abou:
| when the frigid, desiccatsd air Of the table
land falls on them with the suddenness Of q
thunderbolt. Yes, sir; drops Of perspiration
are CONCEALED on the face and hands. and these
little beads o: ice being partly imbedded in the
skin provoke small ulcers that, in healing, leave
sears similar to tbs pit Of smallpox The natives
call persons SO affected picado de hieto. frost
marked; in contradistinctton to picod0 de
| cirueLds, or pock marked"