Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-02-22
HORRORS OF THE sALToN DESERT.
Where the Mercury Ranges From 100
Above to 90 Degrees Below Zorro.

ABOVE TO 90 Degrees Below Zorro.
Fred l.. Monsen in lecture in San
Francisco gave some interesting particu-
lars regarding Death valley and the Sal
ton basin, both Of which he has traversed.
There are to be found the largest, hottest,
most unredcemable deserts in the world
hottest and yet coolest, wettest and yet so
arid that life Is sometimes impossible The
bottom of Death valley lies deeper beneath
Pho level of the sea than any other valley.
The desert district of California covers
10000 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 Ii, 900 feet high. The
valley is IS miles long and from to )
miles wide. 1t is 430 feet below sea level.
Mr.. Monsen described his trip from Dag
gett, which is 1G6 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 he 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 1871 degrees of heat are recorded, at
Death valley 1871 degrees in the shade is
not uncommon. Yet, on the other hand,
the mercury sinks to 80 degrees below zero.
\ feature of the valley is the curious
"salt road, " which was graded with slcdge
hammers right through the center for the
transport of borax. BY this road are many
Il
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
Ell 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 their
lives. Stereopticon views of fragments of
their skeletons, wagons, etc, caused a
shudder among the spectators.
Much interest attached to the portion
of the lecture describing ''freighting by
teams" Two immense wagons, each
weighing 800 pounds, are coupled so as
to carry $4,000 pounds, and with a tank
tender of 500 gallons capacity for water
| are hauled by 90 mules. The mule, or tug
of the desert, -. the teamster and Swamp
| er, ~ or teamster's assistant, were given a
| chapter.
The absolute necessity of profanity in a
Transfers equipment was illustrated by
| the failure of a teamster after he had been
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 petrfed establishment.
| SatOn ia over ESQ feet below sea leve
and comprises - 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 a deptl
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.