The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-02-23
FRIDAY



PHOENIX, Ariz, Feb IL, 1894.
Edi ors Democydi:
! wish / could adequately describe a
sandstorm which occurred here on the 10th
instant. About 0 o'clock m as went to
the postofiice, noticed little whirlwinds
here and there tossing up scraps Of paper
and straw and occasionally hat, the
clouds overhead had ragged and sharply
defined edges as whln driven here and
there by sharp irregular gusts Of wind.
gave up my morning constitutional walk
and went to My room. Very soon saw
OF to the southwest wall of gray clouds
rising high in the heavens. approaching
the city 1t had the appearance Of one OF
those dense sea fogs that seem 10 roll noise
iessly over the surface of the ocean. The
wind preceded the thickest of the clouds
by some minutes. Tho strongest gust
struck the city with the thickest of the
cloud and for an hoiir there was q general
shaking up Of tss pf3. iosely laid dry board
roofs, sheetiron roofs were ripped up and
small sections sen. flying into the streets.
signs were tossed about TO the terror Of
pedestrians, and doors and windows were
closed more tightly than is often seen in
this place. The dust and sand were every
where, the sun was eatirely hid and al
times buildings Just acress the stree, were
obscured by the sand and dust. il driftei
In through doors and windows until every
thing was covered, the atmosphere lust
through my window had numerous bit of
paper and straw and small stic'H which
were tossed high and promiscuous,y about
II was the gloomiest, darkest day have
seen since have been In The southwest.
After the sand had been whizziry through
the air for an hour or 81 il began to rain.
after few minutes the dust was all laved.
and the rain turned 10 snow and for con-
siderable time the snow fell in very con-
siderable quar- tities There was consider
Of IL on the roofs Of houses the next morn
ing. though little was left on the street.
What the sun did not melt the SNOWFALL
iiend gathered up. Ii has no; showed here
for fourteen years prior 20 this and il was
the first that many goo,lsizei children had
ever seen and many citizen have not seen
snow for the above period The roofs of
houses, protesting porches and favorable
street corners were all occupied with the
inevitable SNOWFALL tiend and wee 20 the
unwary footman who passed in reach.
The Arizsna hustler and rVal estate
boomer has another unusual 10 apologize
for and an explanation Of ihe storm eAn he
had on any street corner. aai il is good
For today have been siis ng ont Of dosrs
much OF the time and more lovely day
would be hard 10 nni. Buds on the trees
are swelling and even b1rsting The robin.
the herald OF spring. k2s been here for
weeks, and We may soon exPset to hear in
tie land the song Of the GilA usnster, Of
the cenupeis and Of the tarzntQla and
scorpion. People here seldom see these
things, so they say, bl; remember playiBg
hide and seek with one In pAr.or in Sill
yer City while sundry women stood on
chairs ard sighed and Looked pzl- .ls.
gentlemen Of the party kicked and scrasss-
blsd a. rate that wolld hare done credit
70 foot ball sczimmage. The os.n;ipei,. was
demolished.
Most Of your readers dont;l.ss know
what The taran;ula, oeniipeie and scorpion
are. The 5ila monster Is more rare. It's
habltaiion is along ;hs Gila riyez. A; its
largest If Is perhaps twelve inches long. /.
belongs TO the lizard family and looks like
an alligator On a small scale Its yaIioS and
black spots are similar 10 th0se on a rattle
snake. II has meath with Jaws on very
loose hinges IL looks ike mouth on legs
II any citizen Is faEurasi.%ssh a mouth of
unusual size. or Is especially garTTsicus. he
Is pretty apt 10 be dubbed the ella mon
ster-' The bite of these CREATURES II mean
the genuine monstersl is very p5SsaaoGs.
Blu; the worst thing in Arizona Is the mos
quito. ! have lived IN jersey and have
seen and heard descriptions appropriate
for ptsEyiactyts. Bat the description q
the Arizona mosquito outx2nks them all
Hts seas1B mas not vet come and wal, 10
see II he has been slzrsderssi.
livery train brings nsw arrivals seeking
relief from the rlgur of the northern win
ter. II my Imagination ever gets su.E-
clenuy diseased, CT erra;is, ] shall write :
play and en.itl- il The Coughing Chorus
By turning down the lights and u.ing some
blue light on the stage think perhaps a
stage effect might be prosiuosd equal in
ghaStiiness and horror 10 MAns6eld's por-
trayal Of DR. Jeykyll and Mr Hyde. Il
iE becoming well known that climate j the
great healer Of lung troubles, and thanks
TO the benehcence Of the Creator there is no
danger Of exhaasting the climate
The principal attraction in Phoenix this
week Is Chinese New Years. The ineyi-
table gong" makes night hide.ous. but the
frecracker is oStraeised by the city laws
shall devote my next letter 10 The sub
lect Of work and wages in this region.
meanwhile let me say there are no exoep-
uonal advantages here save those Of climate
This is my settled conviction. am yours.
very truly. JAMES ] cHARLroS.