The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-23
HORRORS OF, THE sALToN DESERT.
Where the Mercury Ranges From 100
Above to 80 Degrees Below Zero.

Where the Mercury Ranges From 100
Above to so Degrees Below Zero.
Fred l.. Monsen in a lecture in San
Francisco gave some interesting particu-
lars regarding Death valley and the Sal
ton basin, boFh of which he has traversed.
There are to be found the largest, hottest,
most unredeemable deserts in the world
hottest and yet coolest, wettest and vet so
arid that life is sometimes impossible The
bottom of Death valley lies deeper beneath
the level of the sea than any other valley.
The desert district of California covers
30, 900 square miles, embraced by Inyo,
Lern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino
counties. Death valley is in the south of
Inyo county, not very far from Mount
Whitney, which is Is, 900 feet high. The
valley is rs miles long and from to IS
miles wide. 1t is 40 feet below sea level.
Mr.. Monsen described his trip from Dag
gett, which is 166 miles from the valley,
by means OF team and blackboard. No
single habitation can be found en- route,
and provisions, water, even hay for the
horses, had to be taken in the equipment.
Some idea of the temperature was con-
veyed by the fact that meat can be cured
in one hour, eggs can be roasted in the
sand, -four breeds worms in week, and
no man can be more than an hour without
water without becoming insane. There is
something less than l per cent of mois-
ture in the atmosphere. While at the Red
sea 127 degrees of heat are recorded, at
( Death valley 1877 degrees in the shade is
not uncommon. Yet, on the other hand,
the mercury sinks to so degrees below zero.
A feature of the valley is the curious
"salt road, which was graded with sledge
hammers right through the center for the
transport Of borax. By this road are many
unknown graves, filed By wanderers who
have persisted through the heat. They are
430 feet below sea level and are probably
the lowest graves in the world. Only shall
low graves covered with blocks of salt are
necessary for the desiccated remains, for
there are no animals there except snakes,
tarantulas, scorpions and lizards.
Of the latter one, the chugwallah,
dresses three pounds in weight and is eat
en- by both Indians and whites. The meat
is said to resemble that of chicken. Of the
snakes the ''yellow RATHER" is the most
formidable. The name of the valley was
derived from party of emigrants from
Salt Lake City. The party endeavored to
cross the canyon in 1850 and lost theii
live,. Stereopticon views of fragments OF
their skeletons, wagons, etc.. caused 8
shudder among the spectators.
Much interest attached to the portion
of the lecture describing ''freighting by
teams' Two immense wagons, each
weighing 1880 pounds, are coupled so as
to carry 1000 pounds, and with tank
tender of 500 gallons capacity for water
are hauled by 90 mules. The mule, or tug
of the DESERT . the teamster and "swamp
err or Transfers assistant, were given Q
chapter.
The absolute necessity of profanity in 6
teamster's equipment was illustrated by
the failure of teamster after he had beer
converted by an evangelist. When invited
| to move without the usual decorative en-
phasis, the 20 mules with one accord turn
ed their heads over their shoulders an(
simply gazed in petrified establishment.
Salton is over $50 feet below sea leve
and comprises Is square miles of salt
Here immense salt works are in operation
and 700 tons of salt are plowed up in on
| day. The salt covers the marsh to deptl
| of from 10 to 20 inches. The work is chief,
| done by Indians, who alone can stand tn
| terrific heat and binding glare which pro
| vail.-San Francisco Call.