Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-14
A CALIFORNIA CLOUDBURST

n CALIFOkNIA ILVUD0UkSI
In the upper reaches of San Emig-
do Canyon, Kern County. Cal. clouds
bursts have at many places stripped
TIE mountains slopes bare of their
forest cover and swept great trees
and masses of rock many miles from
tier source. Just where the creek
freaks from the hills Is the hacienda
of San Emigdio Rancho, and the sup
erintenaent OF the ranch, j. S. Douglas,
who has had ample opportunity to
observe the cloudbursts. gave the fol-
lowing description to II. r. johnson.
Of the United states Geological Sur
vey. who has in preparation report
on the geology of the San Joaquin
Valley. MIR. Douglas says:
The cloudbursts issued
from Cloudbursts Cayon into San
Emigdio Cayon about 8 miles above
this ranch house. I had been expect
ing the occurrence as the Fremont
tory signs had been very pronounced
for two or three days previously. viz,
immense masses OF white snowy
clouds In the forenoon. changing in
culOr to inky blackness in the after
Moons. with the accompaniment OF
thunder. The weather was sultry.
with occasional gusts of cool wind
rushing down the cayOn. an unusual
occurrence during the day In summer
time.
Some time before it made its APP
pearance. probably fifteen minutes. its
duh and heavy roar could be heard
from up the canyon. quite distinct
from and rising above all the ether
roses Of the storm xni reminding me
1f breakers against rocky shore. AS
1t !r.ued from the narrow mouth of
Cl1udbursts Canyon INTO the compare
t.,,!y broad one of Sap Emigdio. 1t
was accompanied by cloud of dust
c,:asioned by the br-aHing up Of huge
masses of dry soil torn from pro-
jorring points in its rush down the
C;.nyon
Through the dust glimpses would
be had Of great piles Of drift with
an occasional tree turning end over
end by the moving mass
behind.
After reaching the main canyon 1t
spread to a width OF probably 200
yards. and after descending about
one-half mile came to p full stop. only
to be succeeded in few moments by
another wave larger AID swtfter than
the first. There was no dust about
this or any Of the succeeding waves.
tut immense masses OF rock. many Of
which must have weighed several
tons. were apparently dancing along.
light as corks. on the surface. being
supported by the rocky mass beneath.
This wave extended about one
half mile farther down the canyon
than the first. when II also came to a
stop. having spread to the full width
Of the canyon (about onefourth mile
here).
IN a few moments another wave
OF mud swept by. followed by others
a; intervals Of a few mirr;es. each
Succeeding wave getting thinner ana
travelling with greater ve!ocity than
the preceding ones. until finally In
about half an hour II was mud no
longer. but a steady rush OF a yellow
foaming torrent. at first probably 100
yards wide in the main canyon. grad
ualiy reducing its width and increas-
ing its depth and s~iftncss as IL wash
ed out a channel in the soft mud
In answer TO your question as to
the distance and size Of rocks moved
BIZ cloudbursts. I will give you a de-
scriyiisn G. one when lies on ~
hank Ct the creek close 20 this house.
II IL . sandstone bcwider which has
come from Z miles above and as near
as u can he measured. owing to its
irregular shane. gives the following
Dimensions: Height 9 feet. length Is
feet. width - feet. On the plains
thc San Joaquin Valley about >
miles east Of here. in sec. e, 7. III
~. r. 81 W several mssscs much
larger than this can be seen. These
we're brought down the Picito Canyon
iy c'oudhursts."
Commenting On this description Mr..
johnson says:
The Interesting point about tho
ctosdhursts descTib.d above - It's cbb
and swiur. ~ has b~ep further learn
ed that the frsf wave which brings
down The coarscst ss.r:s -ffcn forms
. dam a. or near the CANYONS en-
trance n - ~ . rcSait Of the imps;r
between theso later waves snd thu
debris da.i tha, the graf 1t 1arusge
usually OCCUR. since The breaking OF
Tie dam at lis weakest ,5ipt usually