The Washington bee., 1899-07-08

along the arbitrary portion OF the
boundary west of the Rio Grande. but
most of these landmarks were simply
rude piles of stone, and the ease with
which they could be destroyed or re-
moved was soon discovered by the
nearby settlers, never loath to seize
an opportunity for quarrel with their
neighbors on the other side Of the in
ternational fence. Finally, in 1882,
owing to continual boundary quarrels,
a convention to settle them was ar
ranged between the two countries.
But on account of various delays it
was not until November. 1891, that
members of the International Boundary
Commission were at last appointed.
BY the month OF June, 1894, all work
along the entire line, both surveying
and mountaineering. was finished.
Two hundred and fifty-eight monu-
ments, some Of stone, and some OF iron,
had been placed along the seven hun
dred miles of boundary west OF the Rio
Grande. The intervals between them
were varied to suit the requirements
of the different religions, but the dis
tances averaged about two and three
quarter miles between each two.
Some of the experiences Of the men,
bers of the survy are we'll worth more
extended description than can be given
here. The mountainous region for
many miles about NOgales, Ariz., is one
of the toughest and most arid on the
continent. In this neighhOrhood was
seen for the first time the strange and
ungainly giant cactus, called the 'su-
guaro" by the Mexicans. Its fruit,
when ripe, is used as food by the Pa
pago Indians of the region, who eat it
fresh, dried and preserved. and make
from it, besides, a slightly intoxicating
drink. In the broad valley called the
Moreno Flat, west of the BaboQuivari
Mountains and about fifty-fve miles
west of Nogales, a frightful standstorm
was encountered on July 8, 1898.
About o'clock in the afternoon, a
dense, dark-brown cloud was seen ris-
ing in the south. The brilliant sun was
soon overcast, and in few moments
after the cloud was first observed the
storm broke in all its fury. In ten or
fifteen minutes it was as black as mid
night; the atmosphere was filled with
loose soil of the valley to height OF
several hundred feet; respiration be-
came almost impossible, and ii was on
ly by breathing through handkerchief
held in front of the mouth that suffo-
cation was avoided. In half an hour
the wind began to subside, the darkness
diminished. and in a little more than
two hours the setting sun shone family
through the dust particles that still
filled the air.
Wonderful mirages were seen while
crossing the lonely deserts. Just be-
fore sunrise craggy peaks would ap-
pear, capped by similar inverted peaks,
which would gradually fatten out into
strange forms. Once a city, with all
its buildings, appeared in valley to
the northwal j, but the morning sun
resolved ii into a mass OF large bowl
ders near the base Of mountain. At
another time, on the bare Yuma Desert.
the reconnaissance party seemed to be
In a level depression, surrounded on
every side by vertical wall OF rock,
fifty to one hundred feet high, which
moved with them as they journeyed
toward the river, but lessened in height
until ii finally vanished The COM
monest deception was seen in the heat
OF the day. when beautiful lakes, firing
ed with trees, lay apparently only
few hundred yards away. The details
were so perfect, even to the reflections
in the water, that the party did not
wonder that thirsty travellers were Of
ten lured from the road to procure this
water. which never could be reached.
The mirage distortion Of the size and
form of animals was also remarkable.
In one case a herd of wild horses was
mistaken for a herd of antelope and
followed for several miles before the
mistake was discovered. AT times a
jack-rabbit would loom up on the de-
sert with the apparent size of COW,
while occasionally the legs Of animals
would be so comfcally heightened as to
make them appear mounted upon stilts.