The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-03
DEATH VALLEY ABUSED.
1T Is NOT ATTRACTIVE BUT III IS
VERY RICH.
Travellers Have Told Exaggerated Stories
of the Region-Its Mineral
wealth.

Cotton News: Death valley is ro-
/ mantle, but it is not an attractive spot,
and the talns that are told in relation to
i. never lose their interest. The ada
cent hills are the repositories of vast
stores of mineral wealth, which always
tempt the prospector to any hazard.
The following account OF the valley and
mines appeared in the Bullion
Such wonderful newspaper tales have
besn told OF Death valley that it is
looked upon az the very acme OF every
thing that is desolate. Your correspond
ent has lately visited the much written
about spot, and finds that manv OF the
stories have emRDated from the fertile
brains of imaginative travelere, aided by
sensational reporters. 1t is true that it
lie almost barren waste, but we failed
to find in it the deadly upss tree, nor ia
the bottom paved with the bones of
those who have gone before. 1t much
resembles the country surrounding it for
miles in extent, and ia more dangerous
TO traverse
The name for Death valley was OBJ
tanned by the tragic fate of party of
! X
OF the country, became panic-strcken
in this barren spot more than 40 years
! ago, and quite a number persisted.
/ Having nos authentic Information, we
can only give the etory that is current,
and that is that between 20 and 80 pei
Hone died for want of food and water.
! That many deaths have occurred here is
attested by the numerous graves which
line the roadside, but at many places in
the valley we found fine water and q
herd OF horses were fa.tening on the
wild grass at Benuet's Holes, point in
the center Of the valley
Dsath valley proper is a sink OF the
Armagosa river. 1t is about 90 miles
long and 10 miles wide The river. go
csilsd, has dry bed for 100 miles. The
depression, which ia in parts below sea
level, was evidently blow hole OF the
earth. as the edges OF the valley are
lined with basalt, tuia, and othe: vol
canic rocks. As the centuries rolled by
on their way to eternity, the great
chasm was filed up by the decomposi.
ton and wearing down of the adjsce nj
mountains.
The Panamint range forms the west
ern border OF tie valley, and Telescope
peak rises abruptly to height of 10, 6st
feet. As there IS a sheer ascent from
the eea-level, it presents an imposing
appearance. Something like 90 miles
away Mount Whitney also raises It'll
snow-crowned head to an altitude O
over 5000 feet, the highest noun tain
in the United States.
In point OF interest Death valley doe.
not compare with the Colorado desert
which has also been visited BY the
prit In nj bat
some degrees below freezing point, anc
in the summer l40 degrees above, il
the shade. is common weather. 1t il
then that il is dangerous to crosse the
wilderness.
Passing into the Panamint valley
through Windy gap, and following dowI
Long canon. we spent four days in DEATH
valley, subsequently leaving by follow
ing up Furnace creek and crossing intC
the Amargosa at Ash meadows. But i
is the mineral wealth which sur
rounds it in which the readers will bt
most interested. To the west, q
miles distant ia this old Camp Panamint
The excitement occurred here in 1875
and hundreds made pilgrimage to tn,
new find. The town of Panamint game,
a population OF about 2000 and all wa
hustle and excitement. All linea OF bus
iness were represented. So great wa
the rush that teams would have to sta,
three days in ,line to get up the cafloI
that led from the valley to the town
Senators Stewart and Jones were the in
spring spirits. The mines were silver
then the ruling metal, and great wer,
the hopes OF Paaamint.
But the excitement was shortlived
james failed, and all Panamint fsileC
with him. Today Waterman guards
the big mill and storehouses, and two OF
three stray prospectors have the pick o.
the town for housek coping.
when the hair beg ms to fall out or turn gray.
! the scalp needs do1loring, and we know of nc
| better specific than Halls Vegetable Siclliar
| Hair henewer,