Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-11

more rapidly and Hnclines straight to-
ward the earth instead Of obliquelys with
e tendency to turn back toward the
detiser atmosphere This angle OF light
causes reflection. The objects ON the
earth are Swallowed in the lower strata
and reflected from that upon the higher.
And vet this was NOT satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION to us, for the mirage astonish |
ed and amused us after the sun had gone.
One evening we were sitting on the I
steps of ranch cabin when, looking to-
ward the south, we saw a magnificent |
monastery. We were surprised that we
had not seen it before. 1t was then
growing dark, and we could see it until
total darkness closed. In the morning 1t I
was gone. The next morning NE were |
aroused before daylight in order that we
might see the train at The Needles, about |
80 miles south. We could see the cars |
plainly, as well as the men. The whole
scene seemed but few hundred yards |
away. This, we were told, may be OBJ
served almost any morning in the year.
The next surprise, the mirage gave US
was near the Pagago Indian reservation.
One morning we were presented the pic
ture of lively city. The houses and the
markets were plain, and the inhabitants,
wearing their serapes and sombreros.
Many were going to church, the water
carriers we're hurrying about, men on
mustangs were going here and there and
there was no installing the fact that It
was a real city. We learned afterward
that it was the town OF Magdalena, Mex
leo, a hundred miles or more south.
But the most wonderful Of all the
scenes is that of the Jim Jam valley, in
the San Relnardino mountains. over the
Arizona lire in southern California. From
Yuma to the mountains we passed many
scenes, the most interesting being the
mud volcanoes" The mud is thrown
up from many openings, some springs
spouting several feet in height. There is
continual making and destruction of
mud pies These so called volcanoes are
sometimes below sea level and generally
quite cold. though few are boiling hot.
Both are accompanied by a rumbling
noise One sees the skeletons Of many
birds that in their search Of water have
persisted by the fumes Of the volcanoes"
We saw the remains of mocking birds,
golden eagles and the Mexican snowbird.
When we entered the Jim Jam valley
through Dead Mans pass, the sun was
shining brilliantly. We had not gone far
when we witnessed strange things. The
walls of the cliffs are frightfully scared
and the peaks twisted into tortured
forms. Not living creature of any
kind inhabits TIE valley. which is only 20
miles or so in length and probably half as
| wide. So far as we could tell, when in
our right senses, not plant or living
thing of any nature inhabited this valley,
Yet we saw many lakes and rivers and
| foliage and birds and water fowl which
vanished as We proceeded and formed
again beyond. We saw strange beasts
| coming toward us in all directions, which
| made US restless and the women Of our
| party almost hystcrical.
| Beyond we saw Indians IN their canoes
/ and thought to reach them, but they, too,
1 vanished. In their stead we saw a
mountain rise in lake of silver. Great
| birds of different hues seemed to hover
over the lakes: beautiful trees, with FAM
1 tastic forms. hung over the water. The
mountain seemed to move, and us it
moved its summit was crowned by a
| great ball Of blue FIRE, which was sur
rounded by halo of light. We were
! astonished to see the mountain nearing
4 us. OF course we knew it was an illu-
sion, but when the mountain top appeared
to break off and to be falling upon US our
nerves were quite unstrung. The women
! were almost Frustrated. We knew that
storm was brewing. SO we hastened
back. The storm broke before we reach
ed Dead Mans pass. the lightning fash
ing on NIL sides Of us. forming in crosses,
stars. halos and other fantastic forms.
The thunder crashed from wall to wall
and seemed to tear the mountains and
| the very atmosphere.
Upon leaving the valley a feeling Of
relief came to us. and we all agreed that
! if it had not been named we certainly
4 would call it the Jim Jam valley."-De-
troit Free Press.
Marine Creatures That Catch birds.
Zone of the names Of the great,
/ clumsy moon shaped. wide mouthed fish
commonly called the angler" said an old
! fisherman. sis goosefsh. There is moth
ing gooselike in the anglers appearance,
but somebody once saw an angler, big
| and clumsy as it is, come up unaware
] and nab goose that had settled on the
water and drag it under; hence the name.
4 "But then, as for as that's concerned,
| you wouldn't expect seals to be bird
catchers. would you? As matter Of
fact the 4larbor seal does occasionally get
bird. such as duck. which it might
so chance upon as to be able to capture
/ it."