The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-06
fGLORiD NlD VOLCANOES.

From the san Eraucis-o Crpnieis.

NOWherc KS" IN America.
From the san Erductsr RI g irDnicis.
or the many strange and wonderful things
10 be found on the colorado desert, perhaps
the strongest and mos; remarkable Of all are
the mud volcanoes. Of which little II known be-
cause of their inacCesability Attention Las
been called 10 them recently because Of their
intense activity since the earthquake which
visited southern california on Christmas morn
ing, and they are now spouting mud higher
and more diligently than ever.
The action Of these volcanoes varies almost
constantly They subsiGe al times into almost
a state Of placid!ry. while again they will scetlc
and boil like vast c%aldrons, hurting showers
of hCt mud or senGing columns Of steam many
feet into the air. The eriptions are preceded
by explosions that can be heard for five or SIX
miles. So far as known there are no otter
mud volcanoes in this country. and for this rem
son these are Of particular interest TO scientific
men and others.
In order to get n good idea Of the origin and
location Of these volcanoes il is necessary to
give a brief historical sketch If the country.
That the Colorado desert was formerly an arm
of the Gulf of California there is little doubt
This was the case in recent geological times,
as investigation has PROVEN. Al that time the
Colorado aud the CHA rivers flowed INTO the
gu1 about wher" Yuma Is now located. The
Colorado brought down Il large amount Cf
sediment from the country through which II
flowed and deposited II on The desert, forming
al enormous delta. sufficiently large To Cut
of the upper portion # tie gulf and what IL
nov the desert from the lower. Al the sem"
tim" there took place IN elevation Of land that
helped cnt of The, sea. This condition has
remained practically unchanged. The north
ern part OF the desert Is stll depressed. the
SIltOn sink being 27J feet below sea level, The
highest portion Of the desert Is on the Mexican
80. ~, I"A n.4 tIA a,.t R... l-,Aa l.,..,
ward on both sides, The Sa!ton sink ait"rward
became a fresh water lake, which covered
nearly all Of the desert al one tine.
The Colorado River next built up a food
rlane around its mouth 80 that Us path was
diverted and il flowed on over TIRE deposit 20
the sea. The lake. sonrC, of supply being cut
covered with millions Of fresh water shells.
remains 10 tel the story Of tie lake. IT j.
thought that the DRYING up took rlGce IN re-
cen, times. as the Cahullla and Dieguito In
dams have traditions about tire reCcoing water.
The whole region = on" Of active volcanic dis
tnrbances, the biggest volcano beng known
Us Sierra Prlata. or Black Butte. This volcano
has long since ceased 10 be active, but It's huge
crater remains. II was not . mud volcano,
but was n regular volcano OF the basaltic rock
kind It rises ont # the mud plane a few miles
east Of the COcopah Mountains. the base of the
volcano mountain being five or SIX miles n
yards wide and The bottom is nov covered
with sand.
south Of the Sierra, Priera is the dividing
Inc Of ,he watershed. TIE Col9raf%o Go over
fow being the subsistence Of the once great
division Of water The water flows frs, south;
there DIVIDES, the New River Towing north
into American territory and the Hardy River
south 10 the Gulf cf california. Tho division
takes place at Volcanic Lake. This Volcanic
Lake is five miles south " Sierra Prieta. and
a group Of mud volcanoes ere ON lis edge,
ANOTHER group are near the south edge Of The
Salton Sink
These volcanoes we're first heard Of in the
early sos. There were n ntmt or Of heavy earth
Quetes. so severe that Chimney Peak. a fG-
nous landmark near Yuma. was shaken down.
After the EARTHQUAKES. the troops stationed
AT Fort Yuma noticed a cloud Of smoke hover
ing over the desert Major Hcinizelman,
who was in charge Of the fort, started ont with
a party TO make an investigation. and they
discovered the mud volcanoes in active erup-
ton. They were what are called salSes, or
sion Of steam in the earth which throws up
the mud TO a considerable height and builds
regular cones. Ever since this discovery
the volcanoes haye continued active. shortly
af,erward DR.. John IR Corlo made a trip 10
This strange country Rnd puhlishct his ~invesi,-
cations lie WIS followed by Ir ioln, N.atcl.
Sink AMI described them as being very active,
throwing mud to n heigh, # sixty feet u more
Al the present time there are about fifteen
active volcanoes and twice that number
that are quiet, having srhsiHed and left Their
cones. \ large cloud Of smoke iGngs over
the, place, and there are . Great many CRACKS
uIh NlI - III lIF f'i VIZ W " ~ u NV = ' ~
escapes, The explosions can be heard frr
many niles.
Prof David P, Barrow. Of III" san, Diego
State Normal School visited these vOlcauC,S
several months auo for the purpose If invest
eating these strange freaks Of nature. IT."
overflow was very high at the time and Prot
BarroNs had to striu and swim the Hardy
River, about one hui ITed yarcs wild" to reach
the volcanoes He found a number submerged
in volcanic Lake ana NE others w"rH ,r on a."
ion If Prof iarTOws that the ground X t~-
snred TO regions Of heat. and thc water
Iercolating down Lec"mes converted into
steam and is forced NJ again with an explosive
force, carrying mud with II. A number Of
volcanic gases. sal aminoninc PRINCIPALLY,
are thrown of with the steam. One volcHIo
under the lake was very active throwing mp
a big column Of mud and water. On al sidt,
WIS tho sound 81 escaping gN- IN" soI was
hard and baked and sal,-incrusted
The springs were full Ct boiling water and
pools OF water which had run of registered u tenn
pcrature Of rom lito iSndcgr"es The wn'"r was
earth i lett an absolutely pure depcsit OF salt.
Prof. Barrows diJ not have his shoes with him
and found II difficult 10 walk on the "aItn be-
cause OF the heat. This VOLCANIC heal l. a crustnl
heat and geolog!s's are not agrecd a. to what
causes l.. In nearly every region where there
Is a b,g delta d"po-'t mis- crnsuH teat occurs.
rounded by sandhlll-, Tie only vegetation
is reed grass. Atsrlble pest known as the mos
ca fly ahOunds in the section. This fly VIII Eat
the SKIN from a mule OF a horse. and Prof
Barrovs found i Necessary To plaster himself
with mud or projection. iicswam the Hardy six
times and on his second trip over he tnOk his cam
era along. placing il on "A ralt, which Dc tUWcd
over by a rope held IN hs mouth The largest Ol
these volcanoes j. about III teen ieet hiCh. and IA
appearance greatly resembles "A South American
ants nest. There are boiling springs and gey-
ser- in the Yellowstone Park. but nothing O' this
kind. 1t is rare to find springs in a mud plain
Beau HOOkcr 81 san Diego VISITED the vol
canoes three wears ago and found them qult"
active AT that time, lie found that the mud
and water had great medical value, which
would render them equal to many 81 III" Ia
nous healing springs The volcanoes are
rendered Interesting by a iund Of Indian e.
gends and myths. The Cocopah tribe. who
are the original inhabitants of hi. region,
believe the volcanoes to be- III" abode o. the
evil spirit. and even To thr day they approach
them with mingled awe and terror. In earlier
times Il was the custom 81 the Indians To put
their criminals or any white man who ChgnC"d
10 stray within their confines TO death by
throwing them into the volcanoes. This served
n two'old purpose It appeaSed the wrath Of
the evil one and rid the tribe OF Objectionable
persons These ceremonies were performed
at night, and the weird. unearthly picture
presented can easily be- imagined.
HARRY DFHM,