Gilpin observer., 1912-10-17
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work is one of the best examples of the famous
master
The beauty of this canvas has attracted thou
sands, and not few offers have been made to
purchase it, one of $250,000 coming from a New
York 1nancier. Seven times thieves have at
tempted to cut it from its frame, but each time
they were foiled by the vigilance of the priests.
-Four OF the wouldbe robbers were captured and
are now serving terms have died in the pris-
ons of Jalisco.
In June, 1878, when the cathedral was nearly
destroyed the section of wall which this
painting is fastened stood through all the quake
In June, 1912, when crack more than a foot
wide was opened in the top of the wall above this
painting the cash ran downward almost to the
end of the mahogany frame and then divided
into two cracks fssures, encircling the can.
vas but never touching it. The Indians believe
and the priests aid them in this belief that moth
ing can harm ia santissima virgen de Guada-
lajara and SO far the terrific tremblers have
failed to njure it In the least.
the canvas given to the Guadalaiara dio-
cese by the king of Spain shortly after the PENN
sular war as a mark of gratitude for the large
sums of money turned to the crown by this
branch of the church in Mexico and it was hid.
den ten years in niche in the cathedral to keen
it from the French at the time of the occupation
of Mexico.
THE top of the bowl OF the crater beneath
Guadalajara," said Professor Garcia while here
is approximately 1,50o feet in diameter. but the
actual bowl is much wider | should say 1t is
a quarter of mile in width and how deep no
man can say.
"The composition of the escaping gases indi
Gates that they are coming from burning coal
and sulphur in a molten state precisely the com.
bination which causes the eruptions of Mount
Colima, the only active volcano on the North
American continent, about 80 miles due south OF
Guadalajara. Undoubtedly Coma, which blows
of in a regular eruption about the middle of
every September. is connected in some unknown
manner with the hot springs. miniature geysers
and many dead volcanoes which cover the fer
ritory reaching from the southern end Of the
Sierra Nayarit about 60 miles north of Guada.
lajara, to the sea at Manzanillo
Il would not to prophesy hut I believe
that the annual fall eruption of Colima will ace
some sort of disturbance here. though IL may be
only heavy earthquakes and not the breaking out
OF the volcano We ran diamond drills so deep
into the earth in the center OF Guadalajara that
they came back almost red hot no matter how
slowly we operated them We lowered the best
Thermometers into the holes made by these drills
and they recorded heat beyond the melting point
of lead
I'VE analyzed the gases coming from the fla.
sures In various parts of the city and we found
that they were not surface gases coming from
pockets in the earth and released by the earth.
quake but that they exhibited all the character.
istics or gases which have been taken from the
vents of Colma and Popocatepetl volcanoes
Lastly traced the scores of eartbou,Lo
shocks which were felt here during the ten davs
OF our stay and we found that every one was
volcanic in Its origin and not caused by the slim
ping OF faults in the earth. as are some of the
coastal quakes of this country and the United
States. All were trepidatory, that is to saw nm
and down quakes usually local in character and
not oscillatory, as are most earthquakes which
extend over a large section Of the worlds sur
face
"This was our first hint that the quakes ware
volcanic-the confined area over which Che
tremors were felt. Then the sesmograph which
was brought here from Mexico City and set up.
indicated with its needle finger that the source
Of the shocks were almost beneath the city
I'VE knew the quakes were volcanic and cor.