Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-01-29
HORRORS OF the sALToN DESERT.


Whsre thss Mercury Rasges From 100
Above to 90 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, both of which be has traversed.
There are to be found the largest, hottest,
most unredeemable deserts in the world
hottest and yet coldest, wettcst and yet so
arid that life is sometimes impossible. The
bottom of Death valley lies deeper beneath
the level OF tic sen than any other valley.
The desert district of California covers
Sc, 900 square miles, embraced by Inyo,
LerD, Los Angeles aud San Bernardino
countiss. Death valley is il the south of
Jnyo cos.nty, not very far from Mount
Whitney, which is 5000 feet high. The
valley is Is miles long and from 6 to Is
miles wide. 1t Is 430 feet below sea level.
Mr. Monsen described his trip from Dag
gett. which is l66 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.
Sonrs idea of the temperature was con-
veyed by the fact that meat can be cured
IA one hour, eggs can be roasted in the
sand, flour breeds worms in a week, and
no man can be more than an hour without
water without becoming insane. There is
something less than / per cent of mois-
ture in the atmosphere. While at the Red
sea 121 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
transports of borax. BY this road are many
unknown graves, filled by wanderers who
have perished through the heat. They are
430 feet below SCI. 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 ehugwallah,
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 ratller" 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 their
lives. Stereopticon views of fragments Of
their skeletons, wagons, etc.. caused a
shadder among the spectators.
Much interest attached to the portion
of the lecture describing ''freighting by
teams" Two immense wagons, each
weighing $500 pounds. are coupled so as
TO carry $4,000 pounds. and with y tank
tender of 500 gallons capacity for water
are hauled by go mules. The mule, or tug
of the desert" the teamster and swamp
en-" or transfers assistant, were given a
chapter.
The absolute necessity of profanity in a
Transfers equipment was illustrated by
the failure of teamster after he had Eeen
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 and
simply gazed in petrified astonishment.
Saton is over $50 feet below sea level
and comprises Is square miles of salt.
Here immense salt works are in operation,
and 700 tons of salt are plowed up in one
day The salt covers the marsh to depth
of from 10 to 90 inches. The work is chiefly
done by Indians, who alone can stand the
terrific heat and binding glare which pre-
vail.-San Francisco Call.